Summary: Martha Solomon tries to discover more about the work of her late father, a highly regarded photographer. What Martha discovers is the difference between looking and really seeing.
This elegiac piece explores the life of a photographer, the narrator's father, through reflections on his work and what it meant to those who loved him and worked with him. It offers insights into his way of seeing the world and images of that world. The carefully chose and sparingly used music enhances the reflective mood of the piece. In some places, more precise choice of adjectives, or some other form of showing instead of telling, might have strengthened the narrative. Words like "magical", "lovely", "amazing" and "astounding" don't really help the listener see the images or feel what the narrator is feeling. However, the topic is unusual and poignant and the listener is left with a very clear sense of Ron Solomon, his work, and what it meant to people. A sensitive and moving tribute to a father and an artist!
This is a lovely, moving piece of radio. Martha Solomon, a budding documentary filmmaker, tells of her explorations into the life and work of her late father, a photographer who died when she was a baby. (Interview tape from Ms. Solomon serves as the story's narration, accompanied off and on by gentle, unobtrusive music. The producer, Kent Hoffman, does not appear.) Solomon examines favorite photographs taken by her father, interviews her mother and others about him, and reads letters written about her father by other photographers that he influenced. It's a piece about
paying attention, about being quiet and attentive and really seeing. And without needing to say so, the piece is about hearing, too. It displays the kind of quiet, respectful attention that it celebrates in the work of the late photographer and his reflective daughter. Would work nicely on a weekend program.
Comments for You Only Have To Look and See
This piece belongs to the series "CBC Radio's Outfront"
Produced by Kent Hoffman
Other pieces by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Rating Summary
2 comments
Elizabeth Yeoman
Posted on November 14, 2009 at 04:07 PM | Permalink
A reflective tribute to a father and an artist
This elegiac piece explores the life of a photographer, the narrator's father, through reflections on his work and what it meant to those who loved him and worked with him. It offers insights into his way of seeing the world and images of that world. The carefully chose and sparingly used music enhances the reflective mood of the piece. In some places, more precise choice of adjectives, or some other form of showing instead of telling, might have strengthened the narrative. Words like "magical", "lovely", "amazing" and "astounding" don't really help the listener see the images or feel what the narrator is feeling. However, the topic is unusual and poignant and the listener is left with a very clear sense of Ron Solomon, his work, and what it meant to people. A sensitive and moving tribute to a father and an artist!
John Biewen
Posted on December 23, 2005 at 06:56 AM | Permalink
Review of You Only Have To Look and See
This is a lovely, moving piece of radio. Martha Solomon, a budding documentary filmmaker, tells of her explorations into the life and work of her late father, a photographer who died when she was a baby. (Interview tape from Ms. Solomon serves as the story's narration, accompanied off and on by gentle, unobtrusive music. The producer, Kent Hoffman, does not appear.) Solomon examines favorite photographs taken by her father, interviews her mother and others about him, and reads letters written about her father by other photographers that he influenced. It's a piece about
paying attention, about being quiet and attentive and really seeing. And without needing to say so, the piece is about hearing, too. It displays the kind of quiet, respectful attention that it celebrates in the work of the late photographer and his reflective daughter. Would work nicely on a weekend program.