Comments on: On Lists

By: pierre yves racine

pierre yves racine — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:08:31 +0000

Evans at work is a great book !

By the way, Alec, I find your lists funny and uncanny. Are they always so ?

I would like to know when it is that you draw them, if you draw them with an idea about the project or if they are more random.

As you know, many documentary photographers make lists but theirs seem more common and more “in keeping” with the subject.

thank you

By: alec

alec — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:04:19 +0000

Michael, yeah, I scanned that list from the book ‘Walker Evans at Work.’

By: Michael Serra

Michael Serra — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:58:50 +0000

Alec,

Is this directly from Evans’ writings?

By: alec

alec — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:57:04 +0000

Your Man For Fun In Rampidan posted his Taxonomy for the Curious yesterday….this is so damn good:

http://yourmanforfuninrapidan.blogspot.com/2010/09/world-of-wonders-taxonomy-for-curious.html

By: Hannah

Hannah — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:14:02 +0000

I wrote my response here, http://bit.ly/dmqFQn

smiles,
Hannah

By: Tim White

Tim White — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:57:51 +0000

When it comes to the grant writing process, it seems that even Robert Frank was a little opaque.

By: DJC

DJC — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:09:03 +0000

I had been looking for Frank’s application online recently. Thanks for posting. The idea of a list is a great way to “get out the door” and be productive, broad as it may be. Like a miniature, vague project plan. Ideally, you’ll create something cohesive within a context of a city or region, and if nothing else, you can check something off the list, which feels pretty good. Maybe an item reveals itself as an intriguing subject. Otherwise, just move on.

By: benjamin j borley

benjamin j borley — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:32:57 +0000

That’s a damn fine list but I think my all-time favourite Walker Evans list is this 1934 one from his letter to Ernestine Evans (if only for the ending!) -

People, all classes, surrounded by bunches of the new down-and-out.
Automobiles and the automobile landscape.
Architecture, American urban taste, commerce, small scale, large scale, the city street atmosphere, the street smell, the hateful stuff, women’s clubs, fake culture, bad education, religion in decay.
The movies.
Evidence of what the people of the city read, eat, see for amusement, do for relaxation and not get it.
Sex.
Advertising.
A lot else, you see what I mean.

Cheers,

bjb

By: alec

alec — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:55:36 +0000

Oh yeah, Benjamin, the whole letter has Evans all over it. And Evans was a list maker too.

By: Little Round Muskrat

Little Round Muskrat — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:02:12 +0000

Right on Frank!

I have dedicated my life to photographing Weimreimers and have never regretted it. I did once to my shame take a stray shot of a schnauzer, but I have always tried since to make up for that moment of weakness.
A pox on those Alec lists that lead you into random wanderings, stay focused instead on the one prize worth having, the Weimreimer.

Enough said.