Comments on: Geoff Dyer’s “The Ongoing Moment” http://2point8.whileseated.org/2005/10/21/geoff-dyers-the-ongoing-moment/ A wide-open view of the practice of street photography by Michael David Murphy, While Seated. Thu, 17 May 2012 09:29:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: John Verity http://2point8.whileseated.org/2005/10/21/geoff-dyers-the-ongoing-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-49 John Verity Tue, 24 Jan 2006 01:29:40 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=21#comment-49 I have just finished The Ongoing Moment and found it absolutely marvelous. Thrilling, even. I didn't know it was possible to write about photography in this way - so personally yet so knowledgeably and artfully. I didn't want this book to end so now, it appears I will have to read it again. In any case, it has sent me back to look at some of the images on which he meditates, many of which I happen to have copies of in various books. The big eye-opener for me was Michael Ormerod, someone I had not heard of before but whose work I now feel compelled to seek out. By the way, what prompted me to read this book, and something that anyone interested in the book should make an effort to find, was a review by none other than John Berger himself, in Harper's Magazine for December, 2005. What's more, this book helped me find this blog, which is another bonus! I have just finished The Ongoing Moment and found it absolutely marvelous. Thrilling, even. I didn’t know it was possible to write about photography in this way - so personally yet so knowledgeably and artfully. I didn’t want this book to end so now, it appears I will have to read it again. In any case, it has sent me back to look at some of the images on which he meditates, many of which I happen to have copies of in various books. The big eye-opener for me was Michael Ormerod, someone I had not heard of before but whose work I now feel compelled to seek out.
By the way, what prompted me to read this book, and something that anyone interested in the book should make an effort to find, was a review by none other than John Berger himself, in Harper’s Magazine for December, 2005.
What’s more, this book helped me find this blog, which is another bonus!

]]> By: mark alor powell(locaburg) http://2point8.whileseated.org/2005/10/21/geoff-dyers-the-ongoing-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-33 mark alor powell(locaburg) Mon, 19 Dec 2005 22:37:23 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=21#comment-33 Hey, I've beeen enjoying your commentary on photography, I always loved this diane arbus quote too.. Hey, I’ve beeen enjoying your commentary on photography, I always loved this diane arbus quote too..

]]> By: admin http://2point8.whileseated.org/2005/10/21/geoff-dyers-the-ongoing-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-24 admin Sun, 30 Oct 2005 17:23:18 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=21#comment-24 Ooh, thanks for the pinkheadedbug thing. I know him from flickr. Good resource, it seems. And thanks for your words, too. Ooh, thanks for the pinkheadedbug thing. I know him from flickr. Good resource, it seems. And thanks for your words, too.

]]> By: erik http://2point8.whileseated.org/2005/10/21/geoff-dyers-the-ongoing-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-23 erik Fri, 28 Oct 2005 03:50:26 +0000 http://2point8.whileseated.org/?p=21#comment-23 Michael, just catching up on your posts this evening, but i'm enjoying them very much so far. The Lange quote really speaks to me, in that I have come to the realization that I can be quite obstinate in mindset when I go out to make pictures. I often think that I know what I'm looking for, or that I have an idea that I'd like to get across. So I look for imagery to capture, to communicate said idea. What ends up happening 80% of the time, of course, is that something I take note of throws a wrench in the works, and I follow that path. I'm glad I can observe and appreciate those things, but I am sure I could be much more receptive overall. Perhaps this is why I have not engaged in street photography for some time. I think it takes a willingness to be absolutely open and receptive in order to produce engaging street photos. You have to live in the moment and not pack your equipment with preconceived goals. This is probably why I've moved away from street photography. It wasn't a choice, so much as it was a gradual transition, but the occupation still fascinates me and the thought process is relevant no matter the type of photography. In any event, your writing is giving me plenty of food for thought. I'm reminded of <a href="http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/home.html" rel="nofollow">Pinkheadedbug</a>, which I used to read often when I was bitten by the street photography bug. Cheers. Michael, just catching up on your posts this evening, but i’m enjoying them very much so far. The Lange quote really speaks to me, in that I have come to the realization that I can be quite obstinate in mindset when I go out to make pictures. I often think that I know what I’m looking for, or that I have an idea that I’d like to get across. So I look for imagery to capture, to communicate said idea.

What ends up happening 80% of the time, of course, is that something I take note of throws a wrench in the works, and I follow that path. I’m glad I can observe and appreciate those things, but I am sure I could be much more receptive overall. Perhaps this is why I have not engaged in street photography for some time. I think it takes a willingness to be absolutely open and receptive in order to produce engaging street photos. You have to live in the moment and not pack your equipment with preconceived goals.

This is probably why I’ve moved away from street photography. It wasn’t a choice, so much as it was a gradual transition, but the occupation still fascinates me and the thought process is relevant no matter the type of photography.

In any event, your writing is giving me plenty of food for thought. I’m reminded of Pinkheadedbug, which I used to read often when I was bitten by the street photography bug. Cheers.

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