For UK members: Channel 5 Photography Show

[RecurrentNerve]

Just thought I'd let any UK members know that there's a show on tonight, Channel 5, 7.30, called How to Take Stunning Photographs. It's the first part of a six-part series and this week's subject is apparently portraits. My EPG says:

Celebrity photographer Harry Borden instructs two budding snappers in how to turn simple snapshots of friends and family into stunning portraits.

Thought it might be of interest.

[Eastree]

Originally Posted by RecurrentNerve

Just thought I'd let any UK members know that there's a show on tonight, Channel 5, 7.30, called How to Take Stunning Photographs. It's the first part of a six-part series and this week's subject is apparently portraits. My EPG says:



Thought it might be of interest.

Aw, geez ... it seems photography-related programming in the UK outstrips us here by FAR! I've just finished watching some old series and LOVED them! I can't wait for this to be "made available" to the rest of us :P

[RecurrentNerve]

Actually this is the first photography programme I can recall seeing, but having seen American TV I can confirm that it's better in the UK!

I'm not saying that there's no good American TV, and indeed we get the best of it over here as well, but you definitely get the sense that shows are just annoying necessary evils that get in the way of the ads.

And while I'm on about it, what really gets me about American TV is how there's often no break between a show and the ads. Here we have a second or two of graphics showing the name of the show. On American TV you can be watching a shootout or something one moment and then all of a sudden someone's enjoying the fresh scent of Glade plug-ins. Most disconcerting when you're half asleep on your hotel bed.

[bbtom10]

Originally Posted by RecurrentNerve

Actually this is the first photography programme I can recall seeing, but having seen American TV I can confirm that it's better in the UK!

I'm not saying that there's no good American TV, and indeed we get the best of it over here as well, but you definitely get the sense that shows are just annoying necessary evils that get in the way of the ads.

And while I'm on about it, what really gets me about American TV is how there's often no break between a show and the ads. Here we have a second or two of graphics showing the name of the show. On American TV you can be watching a shootout or something one moment and then all of a sudden someone's enjoying the fresh scent of Glade plug-ins. Most disconcerting when you're half asleep on your hotel bed.

Absolutely right - the Americans know nothing about how to soothe and entertain an audience and instead it's all BANG ADVERT BANG PROGRAMME BANG THOUGHT YOU WERE WATCHING A PROGRAMME, WELL IT'S AN ADVERT HA HA BANG.

I predict that this debate could become even more lively than the gun ownership one over on the 'Nearly got beat up taking a pic of a plane' thread.

By the way, well done Channel 5 for putting on a show about photography, I'll be series-linking this one for sure!

Tom

[RecurrentNerve]

I predict that this debate could become even more lively than the gun ownership one

It will if you make sweeping generalisations like

the Americans know nothing about how to soothe and entertain an audience

Let me say right here and now that I am very fond of America and much of its televisual output. And also Peanut Butter M&Ms, sadly not available anywhere outside North America. Unlike many of my compatriots I have actually been to America and have met real Americans, as opposed to being informed by YouTube compilation videos of George W. Bush's greatest gaffes.

[Eastree]

OK, so the other documentaries aren't necessarily recent, but I'll say this: Compared to the number of lauded art and photography appreciation documentaries produced in the US in the same number of years, counting the new one, well, BBC has aired at least three more than here.

The other two:
Ways of Seeing (Four episodes, aired on BBC 2 in 1972, and it is every bit applicable today)
The Genuius of Photography (Six episodes, aired on the BBC -- I'm not sure which channel or year, but later than the previous. It's a little difficult to find episode 5, "We Are Family," because it contains nude photographs of children so it's a bit controversial, but Google will help you)

[Athas_orm]

Dann I'm too late.

[bbtom10]

Originally Posted by RecurrentNerve

It will if you make sweeping generalisations like


Let me say right here and now that I am very fond of America and much of its televisual output. And also Peanut Butter M&Ms, sadly not available anywhere outside North America. Unlike many of my compatriots I have actually been to America and have met real Americans, as opposed to being informed by YouTube compilation videos of George W. Bush's greatest gaffes.

Hey it was your statement!

And I have been to America too on several occasions (2002 - New York, 2005 - Florida, 2008 - Boston) and I have to say that I agree with your statement. The TV executives in America, whilst seemingly are happy to pay for great programmes (The American Office, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Sunset Beach) they bleed the formats dry and have little respect for an audience whom they assume if they are given a moment of peace from the screen will collapse comatose and will miss the ads.

And lets not even start on the news channels - I know the BBC is no saint, but jeez, it's positively papal compared to Fox and the other news networks.

And Peanut Butter should be in an option in every chocolate bar as far as I am concerned - Chunky Kit Kats just aren't enough! How about a Peanut Butter Star bar!

mmm. Star bar.

Tom

[Swisstony10]

Originally Posted by Eastree

The other two:
Ways of Seeing (Four episodes, aired on BBC 2 in 1972, and it is every bit applicable today)
The Genuius of Photography (Six episodes, aired on the BBC -- I'm not sure which channel or year, but later than the previous. It's a little difficult to find episode 5, "We Are Family," because it contains nude photographs of children so it's a bit controversial, but Google will help you)

The Genius of Photography was either earlier this year, or at the back-end of last year. It was so much an instructional programme giving useful hints and education to would-be photographers, it was actually an examination of the history of photography, and its impact on different areas of life. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and although I'm recording the current series that the OP mentioned, I haven't actually watched any of it yet.

On the subject of Americans, and their televisual output - I agree that we get some of the best of it over here, and in my top ten of favourite shows, at least half are from the US. In addition, out of all the Americans I've ever met (and there have been many), very few haven't been likeable. I've been to the States, and Canada, and while I've enjoyed watching tv in both nations, I've always found the constant ad-break interruptions and recaps to be incredibly annoying. That said, the annoying recap thing is starting to creep into UK shows too (I'd be generalising if I said that I thought that was so that production companies can sell them to the US market ) - see Mitchell & Webb's "Gift Shop" sketch for a clever parody - YouTube - That Mitchell and Webb Look - Gift Shop Sketch I'm looking for a gift for my aunt

I was with a bunch of friends a few weeks ago, in a local arts centre cafe, discussing this very thing, and we were comparing the narration styles of programmes which are initially made over here, and sold to the US market where the narration is subsequently re-dubbed. We've all been there, so we weren't making the comparison based on anything other than experience. Eventually, the lady who had been drinking at the table next to us slammed her laptop shut, and as she got up to leave, she leaned over us and said, with a heavy American accent "You know, you people should check who you're sitting next to before you go around criticising people!" - We were all a little taken aback, as we hadn't been criticising American TV (in fact, we'd been praising some of our favourite things). One of number, in an attempt to defuse her displeasure, explained "We weren't criticising Americans, or American TV, just the narration style..."

"THAT'S my PROFESSION!" she huffed, and stomped out.

To be honest, we're still giggling about it.

[RecurrentNerve]

LOL. What are the chances of that? Let's hope it made her re-examine her misspent life.