Vewd Student Contest - Latest Comments in Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Arun Soni — Mon, 30 May 2011 09:37:39 -0000

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Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

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Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Dwayne Jhonson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:20:26 -0000

Good post..it would have been even better if you have added some more pics.

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Danny — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:23:12 -0000

Nice pics Alyssa. How come you take such nice pics?

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Jailbreak iPhone — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:23:11 -0000

i like the third photo ....... eye catching pic ............ girls standing and sitting in half lying position ..... gives a natural impact

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:28:56 -0000

Hey Matt,

Thanks so much for your comments. I can't really say much other than that I completely agree with your criticisms.

This contest has been a great opportunity for me to get feedback and one of the main things I keep getting--which you also highlighted--is that there is a real lack of variety of in my photos, particularly in my distance to the subject.

More than that though, your critique that the people end up more like "compositional elements" than subjects was the one that I really appreciated. You're entirely right. I had set out, I guess, to try to do something where that was almost purposefully the case, so that the photos were more about my bandmates within the surroundings than about my bandmates themselves. But--as it keeps getting pointed out to me--that alone isn't effective. I think now that I'm going to keep some of those photos but that I'm going to have to make new photos that focus more on the people to create contrast.

Thanks again,
Alyssa

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

matteich — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:44:57 -0000

Judges Comments:
Alyssa – Your use of light and color is great. There is a lack of closeness and intimacy with the subjects that I really crave to make this story stand out from the mix. Most of the time people feel more like compositional elements than subjects. The band story is something that has been done before and done well, so to make this successful you really have to push the aesthetic boundaries to make it pop. Your camera-to-subject distance is similar throughout and lacks the push/pull needed to keep the viewer engaged. Try working as physically close to your subject as possible, then move as far away as you can, with your back to the wall and work from there. The comfortable distance in the middle always comes naturally. I can see that you are coming into your style and am excited to see how that develops. There is lots of potential within the subject you have chosen – capitalize on it with bold imagery and keep pushing.

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Dan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:55:13 -0000

May I suggest something: you have a lot of cool detail shots that I've seen on your flickr page. The essay, however, doesn't include enough of them. The medium shots start to get repetitive, despite the awesomeness how you work with the lighting.

What I'm thinking: this should really be an essay about a band always on the move, but in order to do that, you need to give some placeholders. I'm talking about images of the band in various cities or titles to give us an idea of where the band is.

But really: there are some incredible images in this story. Well done, Alyssa.

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Christina Azimi — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:08:35 -0000

Alyssa,
This was really amazing to see.
Just every moment feels intimate, whether it is around a fire or getting prepared to go on stage.
Everything is captured so beautifully and artistically, ah, I love photographs and taking them, if only I had your talent!
My favorite one was the one with the open door in the midst of the wall with the painted branches, it's just opening up to not only your band, but so much more. Amazing.

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:02:12 -0000

One minor change--

I not only mis-spelled Annie LEIBOVITZ (oops), but I shouldn't have made it seem like her American Music fell into the same category as those other works. Honestly, more than any other project on musicians, American Music is the one most influential to me. You don't see her subjects performing on stage, or their interaction with the crowds and fans. Instead, we see them resting before a set, standing beside their cars, sitting on hotel beds, hanging out in their kitchens, in a tanning bed, and so on. There is still a distinct difference between my photographs and those in American Music, but both get at a similar point: musicians can be understood as more than performers, and that a different setting and focus can get at different truths.

Best,
Alyssa

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:57:21 -0000

Reply to Jamie (for some reason I can't hit reply):

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your comments. I do in fact see this as a long term project—and the edit here is very outdated.

There’s one thing that I guess was not really conveyed in my description on vewd. The current description of my project (which, also has a new title, 'Never Lost') might do a better job:

“Never Lost is a collection of photographs made over 2 years in the North Carolina Triangle region and on the road with two Chapel Hill-based bands, The Never and Lost in the Trees. The collection is a celebration of destination and travel—a counterpoint to the traditional “band” story. It’s not about the difficulties of life on tour, or a glimpse into a culture of sex, drugs, rock and roll, or an idolizing look at well-known stars (not that photographs of The Never or Lost in the Trees could ever have been any of these to begin with). Instead, Never Lost is a meditation on the places that we inhabit, and how the alternating quiet beauty, vibrance, and color of these—sometimes-unexpected—worlds are the very reason we pack up our instruments and take to the road.”

I myself am a member of Lost in the Trees, and I felt like I could provide a different perspective from what’s already widely recognized. I love those essays you allude to (I guess one more that I would tack on is Annie Liebowitz’s American Music). But as much as I love all that work, that’s exactly what I’m trying NOT to do. Not only is it almost impossible for me to photograph the band on stage, but I don’t want to.

To me, the shots of the band performing and of the fans and the crowd are superficial—they’re what anyone at that moment would already be looking for and taking. You don't need to search for the slew of camera-wielding audience members at a show--they're always there. I love that type of photography, but it's far apart from what seems to me to be documentary work. Those photos require no access, no relationship to the subject. I know that I still have a ways to go with the project, but I feel like I’ve been trying to do something extremely different, and something that considers the band as more than just performers.

I guess, more than anything, what I tried to explain in my description and then in my exchanges with Panos, is that this ultimately isn’t really about just the band itself. My project is more about how we fit into our surroundings. In my new description, I allude to how 'Never Lost' is part of Wanderlust--that desire to travel and explore. And in that regard, in some ways, I was a little surprised to hear you say that this project is repetitive. There are only two photographs in my project that were even made in the same location/city. If the photos begin to look similar, that is more a remark on the similarity of our destinations (which is really what this project is about).

I don’t know if this boils down to a difference in methodology—photojournalism versus documentary work—but I guess I’m just interested in something unlike what’s been done in Rolling Stone. At the same time, maybe what I'm going after wouldn't be of interest to anyone beyond the band the way more traditional projects have been. I guess that's something I'll have to consider going forward.

If you want to see a more current version of 'Never Lost,' you can see it here: http://web.me.com/alyssarei...

(Despite what I said earlier) I’ve included one shot of The Never from above stage, and one shot of the crowd from onstage with Lost in the Trees for you to see. If I am to use them at all, I definitely plan on using them at the beginning, to provide those expected shots, and then use the remainder of the project to try to dig into something deeper.

Best,
Alyssa

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Jamie Rose — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:04:12 -0000

JUDGES COMMENTS:

Alyssa, I think this is a good start on a long term photo essay but there's more work to do here. The images are technically good and well exposed. But there's a lot of the story that missing or needed. If this is a band, I'd expect to see some highly stylized shots of them rockin' out during a show. The overall essay could use a tighter edit too. There are a lot of similars in it. However, the repetition really shows me the isolation and stress these guys are under to keep their dream alive. Basically, to do a strong band story, you'll need shoot the fans, the crowds, the players on stage.

Stories like this are hard to do because so many have been done but there is potential there for a something out of the oridinary and exciting. Look at Rolling Stone or some of the classic behind the scenes stuff of the Rolling Stones or Sex Pistols. There are some great photo essays out there to find inspiration.

Good start on this and I'd look forward to seeing more work from you!
Jamie Rose

Director of Workshops | Momenta Group LLC
http://www.momentaworkshops...

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Jordann — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:49:22 -0000

Wow, Alyssa, awesome photos! I was just looking through facebook and saw this on your profile! Its so cool what you've done, I guess you have gotten into some new stuff!
Hope all is well and I look forward to seeing some more work,
Jordann

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Leslie Pfeiffer — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:01:07 -0000

Excellent attention to detail and use of lighting. The personality of Lost in the Trees really comes through well in these pictures, Alyssa. Amaaaaaaazing!!

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

ann — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:44:17 -0000

I love the yellow room picture- so beautiful with the shadows!

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Abby Liebeskind — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:46:23 -0000

I love these photos and I love the band's music as well! Great work, Alyssa!

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Megan Clair — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:41:52 -0000

great photos alyssa! i especially like the one with the guys lounging on the bunks in the bus :)

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Catherine Nelson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:26:51 -0000

Beautiful juxtaposition of the show and setup, gorgeous photograph!

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:35:14 -0000

Hey Matt,

I have no idea how to share an mp3, but if people want to hear some of our music they can go to our myspace http://www.myspace.com/lost... or they can go to our website http://www.lostinthetrees.c... (click on music on the top navigation).

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:57:39 -0000

Hi Panos,

That's very much in the vein of Ruth Behar (the whole "vulnerable observer" idea). I definitely agree with that approach and it's something that I've tried to do in other ways. It's also something that my documentary studies professors and advisers at school VERY MUCH agree with and have tried to hammer into us as students. I guess I was more curious from an aesthetic point of view, but I'm sure I could find ways to make it gel with the other photos. Do you have any suggestions on how to do that? (Also, i AM part of the band, so i agree that it's a little strange for me to be so absent.)

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

panosskoulidas — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:48:58 -0000

( from Panos Skoulidas)
Self portrait is part of the game,..
Is respect. Is a photographic and a philosophical approach...
It's showing that your "subjects" are not "objects"...Are not lesser than you!...
They dont have to be obvious either...
And since you are part of the band ( i think ) it would be a nice addition.
:))))))

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Alyssa — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:19:44 -0000

I haven't done any self portraits. It's actually something that some of my bandmates have pointed out--I won't even let them use my camera to shoot photos of me. I'm usually really hesitant to get in front of the lens, but it's something that I know I should at least try. I'm note really sure how to go about it though--since none of my other photos are portraits and almost all are non-aware, I don't know if it would stand out as too different. Definitely worth a try though

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Matt Blalock — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:17:51 -0000

Lost in the Trees! How nice of you to join us!

Bring any nice mp3's to share? :)

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

ari — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:10:17 -0000

Yo Yo,

Great Photos!

Joah, Emma, Ari, Gini, Nellie, Drew, and Madeleine

Re: Lost in the Trees by Alyssa Reichardt

Facebook User — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:04:23 -0000

There are no secrets here. :)