上周四那个瓢泼大雨的下午，我又去看了一遍他的展览，作为摄影史课的一部分。我一直在想为什么我对他的作品总是有一种抵触情绪在，后来我老师说了一句话提醒了我。我忘记他具体说什么了，大致是说Alec Soth的肖像作品，是很阴暗的，经常描写贫困和孤立的感觉。绝对不是那种赞美式的照片。看他照片看多了，我觉得也不是能说一概不喜欢他的照片。有些照片的确很好，但是让我受不了的是他的某些照片是那种让我看了就反感的照片。也许就是那种不舒服感让我没办法接受他。我还是那种很注重表面的人啊。

I went to see Alec Soth’s “Tunnels & Birds” show again last Thursday afternoon. I was wondering why I always have resistance to his work. Then David said sth reminded me. I can’t remember what he exactly said, he meant Alec Soth’s work lot of time portrays poverty & feeling of isolation. They are not complementary photographs. I can’t say I don’t like his photos at all. Some photos are really great, but there are photos revolt me. Maybe it’s the uneasiness keeps me from appreciating his work. So maybe  I’m a formalist.

另一点我注意到的是他的展示方法。图示：
His way of presenting his work attracts my attention.

楼上是一组5幅的地道照片。基本是黑白的，除了花和标志意外。黑框。本来表面有树脂玻璃，后来因为反光去掉了。画幅很大。我一直在猜这是北京哪里呢，难道是王陵？我觉得这五幅照片比较cheesy。颜色和装裱都过于MOODY了。

这次展览是他的B-SIDES作品。也就是他主要PROJECT以外的边上的作品。像他那么有名的摄影师当然有无数展出机会了，多到可以展出自己的B-SIDES作品。有时候自己拍的照片，明知道不是最好，但是也觉得还是有优点的，并且想说不定别人看了也会喜欢呢。但是我觉得还是不展的好，再怎么说投入的精力和产出的结果，都是明眼人可以看出来的。当然他那么有名，另当别论。

5 photos of tunnels shown as a panorama are on the upper floor. They are basically black and white, except for the flower and the sign. There used to be plexi glass onto of the photo, they were taken away due to the glare. I was wondering where these tunnels are in

This show is his B-side work, from side projects he did. A famous photographer like him have many exhibitions, so many that he has chances to show his b-sides. Sometimes when I take some pictures, I know they are not my best, but still think they have some strongpoint. So maybe somebody else will like them, I will think. But still I think it’s better not showing your b-sides. Cause the amount of energy you put into your work, the result of the work, any smart people can tell as much as you do. But since he’s a celebrity, it’s another case.

楼下地下室有一幅大彩色照片，4幅小的黑白鸟照，其中大彩照左右两边各一幅，对面墙上一幅，厕所一幅。

我比较喜欢那张大彩照的装裱，估计和上次贴的Richard Renaldi是差不多的。原来玻璃和画面有1厘米距离，这样就免去了MATTE BOARD。而且照片大概是DRYMOUNT到什么板上的，也很平整。这样就两全其美了，又平整，又有玻璃光泽。

I like the way the big color photo was presented. There’s about 1 cm distance between the photo & the glass, thus avoiding the matte board. The photo is probably dry mounted onto some kind of board, very flat. It makes the best of both worlds, flat & glossy at the same time.

鸟照的装裱很特别，用了很厚的MATTE BOARD，然后把照片贴在当中，类似于印刷品的装裱。从装裱方式和挂放方式看（很大的一面墙放很小的照片），都是有一种很亲密的感觉。但是照片本身又截然相反，有一种疏远的感觉。

The presentation of bird portraits is very unique. He uses really thick matte board & pasted the photos in the center, almost like printmaking. From the way it’s framed & installed, it gives you a very intimate feeling. But the photos are going the opposite way, very distant & isolated.

http://chasemalone.com/?p=39  My classmate’s notes on the show. He took better pictures than I did.