Randal Levenson

[htmb]

The last time I visited the Harn Museum of Art I encountered a photograph I really liked. It reminded me very much of work seen here on AnyPort. The large photo was in a special exhibit and, since I was not allowed to take a picture, didn't write down the artist's name, and later could not find information on the Harn's website, I'd given up finding out more until today when I returned for a short visit. While I was not allowed to take a photograph, a guard did let me take a picture of the label.

The photo, as well as other fabulous shots, is shown on the artist's website:

Randal Levenson: Barry Grooms in Rising Fawn, Georgia

The first photograph you actually see when clicking on the link is of two men sitting on bales of hay inside a barn in Newberry, Florida, just a few miles west of where I live. I like that photo, too, but the one currently at the Harn is the second photograph picturing a workman taking a break while sitting on the tire of his large earth moving machine.

A very interesting article in the

Miami Herald

features Mr. Levenson and supplies a lot of background regarding the other photographs in this series.

[bixaorellana]

Very interesting, Htmb. In one way the pictures remind me of those from the early days of photography, with people posed at work in their professions (the beekeeper), or making a statement about something important to them (the lady at the grave). Of course Levenson's photos have the emotional impact of coming from our own time, plus the interest of how color is employed. Actually, since all of us here strive to take good pictures, I was surprised at how sloppy some of Levenson's photos are -- crooked or out of focus in a way that seems accidental. I'm pondering at what that means in the context of taking good pictures.

I absolutely love the one of the man in the huge tire.

[bjd]

I didn't find any of the photos crooked or out of focus. I think they are intentional in what they present and how it's done. Some of them have distracting clutter, but that's the way these people seem pleased to be shown.

That said, the picture I like best is the one of the two guys on the bales of hay.

[htmb]

I loved the tire picture, also, but that's the one I've seen in real life.

The two guys in the hay barn is interesting to me. I feel like I might know them. Also, If you look at their boots, they don't look like the boots of a very poor workman. The man on the left is wearing a shirt with the UF Gator logo on it, but it's been almost covered over so it wouldn't be very obvious. I'm guessing they aren't typical farm workers. I do like the picture however.

[Deleted]

I am fascinated by people who take non-classical posed portraits. If I were to do it, I would ask the person to pose in a place that is important to them or with an object that they find important.

[htmb]

My parents didn't have many family portraits taken, but there is one we used for a Christmas card when I was about eleven. It's in black and white with me, my parents and siblings, plus two horses and a cow. We're all grouped together in front of our new home.


And, no, the animals weren't allowed inside.