This is a follow up to an earlier post entitled LRH, his Photographs and the IRS where Hubbard had talked about “photo stories” and how he was occupied with these. I showed one example of a photograph in that post and a reader sent in some more.
Scientology loves to promote Hubbard as a “Master Photographer” and devotes pages of their hagiographic website to his brilliance with the camera, darkroom, lighting and every other aspect of the craft.
They even have one of their “Ron Series” books devoted entirely to this subject.
It’s an interesting microcosm on the subject of Hubbard and is enlightening with respect to his other claimed accomplishments. You do not need to be a professional photographer to see amateur work when it smacks you in the eye. Despite Hubbard’s (and scientology’s) claims about his artistic genius and skill, and writing extensive instruction on “how to shoot photographs” you can see the evidence for yourself.
These are shots he took to be included in BOOKS. The Volunteer Minister’s Handbook and What is Scientology? He apparently viewed these as demonstrations of his skill as a photographer. You can make up your own mind.
These came from the Ron Magazine -“The Photographer – Writing With Light” from 1999. Those color Ron Mags are no longer available and were replaced with the giant, black and white door stops, “The L Ron Hubbard Series” but you won’t find these images in there.
Interestingly, the person who sent these to me accompanied them with a comment:
When I first saw the VM photos, back around ’77, I asked why the looked so hokey, the explanation I got was that every bit was staged and crafted based on whole track research of buttons, this stuff was supposed to go in deep, get in below awareness level, secret technology to really IMPINGE.
Same type of explanation for the garbage-fest Mission Earth books. They are for Wogs, and it’s designed to communicate and pierce the reactive mind resistance.
I marveled at this and found it thrilling and inspiring. LRH was A–MAZING!!!
barf.
Ok, are the 1st two photos, or like painting or posters? Cos’ I actually think they’re good..stupid, but good. They kind of remind me of 1950s generic nostalgic pictures tho (that’s the best I can describe them, don’t know if that style has a name). The second one is hilarious in how disturbing it is…if that makes sense. Anyone could see that the cook has a bottle of poison in his hand, so what’s so special about it being a Scientologist that points it out? The third one is okay, but story wise, I don’t get what he’s trying to say? That any weird looking person can be a Scientologist? Idk.
As a professional photographer who is also a former Scientologist, I always did cringe at his pictures and the fact that they devoted a whole magazine (and later book) to him as a photographer was just more fluff to me. Even at the time he took the images they could have been much much better … I mean the 60’s and 70’s produced some great photographers – Hubbard was an amateur in all respects. And his BS “this is based on whole track research” to trigger action was also BS. I had to laugh at that.
Uhm … Yeah … Right … a VM “with his organizing abilities derived from his studies in management technology” is gonna “lead the way” at an Episcopal ministers meeting … And tomorrow the water in the Mississippi will turn into Jack Daniel’s …
LOVE these photos and stories ! Could look at a hundred of them. A total hoot!
And “The Secret of Results” … Still remember the scene where David Mayo is staring yonder to eternity, intoning “Standard tech is standard tech” … If someone could just get that on youtube…
The first thing these photos reminded me was a hilariously awful set of photos from the 1994 Scientology Handbook which have popped up online. The handbook photos appeared to have been directly inspired by LRH’s style (maybe by his direct teachings?). The same sort of bizarre attempts at being instructive, it would appear. These 1994 photos can be found here: https://twitter.com/weatherwise_1/status/1145872576066945025
“Differences are different” — wow, such insight in life’s complications. LOL.
Say want you want about Hubbard’s photography, but it really went downhill after his death for the 1994 edition.
Some of his photos may not be the worst things in the world, but they’re definitely amateurish and typical of any 1960s or 70s shutterbug, not great.
Particularly the ones staged with lighting are very campy, with obvious flash shadows and people in unnatural poses, costumes, and settings.
These kinds of things make Scientology look ridiculous, trying to claim that LRH was the best in the world at everything he ever attempted
Besides, if there was never a moment to lose to salvage this planet, why was he wasting time on a silly hobby like this?
Exceptional accomplishment in a person’s life work is easy to discern. They inspire other highly accomplished practitioners in the same field to praise and imitate them. And endlessly analyze the ingredients of their idol’s greatness. Discussions about these geniuses fill long library shelves and inspire doctoral theses. And no one cares about their religious preferences or chooses to ignore their accomplishments because their personal philosophies were a bit odd by most folks’ standards.
Their praises are certainly NOT limited to a book put out by the vanity press controlled by the alleged master of their craft! Let alone a book ignored by the rest of the world.
Even among Hubbard followers, can one imagine Tom Cruise releasing publicity shots modeled after the fat man’s camera work? Chick Corea releasing an album inspired by the musical greatness of “The Power of Source” or at least covering a Hubbard tune or two? William Burroughs–even back when he was under the cult’s sway–imitating Hubbard’s prose?
Travolta tried to share Hubbard’s greatness as a writer with the world. In a two-film series, no less. Even that fawning Hubbard admirer learned his lesson after the career-shattering first installment!
Well, in fairness it could have been a good movie. I’m thinking that Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas could have done something special with it. With a decent script, good directing and good acting, given the basic story line it did have the POTENTIAL to be a blockbuster but instead it was terribly miscast, badly acted, and badly written – my God, the dialogue was simply awful! – and it deserved to flop.
I remember reading the original “VMH”. It assailed the eyes. I explained away the bizarre clothes as it having been produced in the 70s, but maybe that was a style choice. What really struck me about the book is that it appears that every scene is lit by direct sunlight, even the interior scenes. It’s a very strange look. I wish I still had that book.
LRH was lazy. He produced a ton, but didn’t truly work at any of it.
Also, LRH had that idiotic belief that art should always be propaganda. No wonder everything he made was such garbage.
I must admit, Blubbard did have good taste in cameras. My RB67 is one of my favorite cameras, and that Koni Rapid Omega is legendary.
But that said, the best tools are only tools, and when a tool uses a tool…
The Fatman’s “discoveries” in lighting technique led him to blast interior scenes with daylight balanced floodlights (probably very expensive ones)… those lovely harsh shadows… It looks just like 2pm outdoors… but inside! Magnificent! Hip-hip Hooray!
The photos are all lit to look like that moment in a b-movie where an atom bomb goes off and catches people unawares, whilst going about their daily lives, just before they all make a futile gesture to shield their eyes
Everything was done in daylight. There were no interiors. They were sets built outside.
and in the kitchen scene, is that the top of the “wall” showing (above and to the left of “in”), where a ceiling would have been in an actual room?
Ouch!
I looked at the first photo and thought the people in it needed to see a doctor very quickly, the amount of jaundice they have indicates some pretty bad liver problems.
I couldn’t find ANY mention of photos by him being printed in The Sportsman Pilot appart from the usual sort of bullshit “Writing for the nationwide Sportsman Pilot magazine, L. Ron Hubbard details the latest aviation developments and advises fellow pilots on flight procedures in adverse conditions.” on the Official (snort, snigger) L. Ron Hubbard Media Resources site.
Here I was thinking Hubbard took great care of exposure, maybe not so much with color balance.
They applied the tech skillfully to find that one chef who was openly pouring a huge jug of arsenic into a bowl of salad. Wow!
Master criminal huckster maybe
It looks like David Miscavige is in one of the photos. The kitchen one? The young man in all white with his back to the camera?
Cool! That’s my comment … right down to the typo of “the” for “they” (why the looked so hokey)
I’m SO glad to see the exact photos I was thinking of! The photo of the long line of people along the ridge, that just takes me right back.
But I didn’t send you the photos… I made that comment on your blogs within the last 2 weeks or so…and I’m fully fine with it being included in your post. It’s lovely in fact!
Your site constantly helps me identify early times my mind was first hijacked by the cult.
Scientology gaslighted us. We were supposed to love all his writings, his “music” his “art”. I spent a LOT of mental energy trying to “get my mind right” about the cringe I felt at some of this crap.
The default of course, is that I’d appreciate it when I got further up the bridge.
…….
Time is passing by and all of this is feeling further away and it’s all seeming more and more absurd.
Progress!
Any bets on whether National Geographic really published any of his photos?
There is one IMDB page in which people here may be interested. It’s title is:
“People Contributing to the Intellectual Decline of Society”
Number Two on the list (of ten) is Professor Blubbard.
The other ten members include such masterminds as: Donald Trump, Tom Snooze, etc.
Here is the link for anyone interested:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000384807/?ref_=nm_rls_4
Well, Skyler, I can’t speak for the others, but Donald Trump has produced more gains for the people of this country than have been seen for many decades, many of them all time highs. IMDB doesn’t track such things. 🙂
Thank you for your POV Peter.
I believe you are largely referring to the stock market which has been having amazing gains during the past year or two (or three). I am very perplexed by something that seems to be rocketing up with no end in sight.
I must admit to expecting that it will soon come crashing down with an unprecedented “THUD”!
But I do not want to wish for such a thing because I’m guessing that would hurt a great many people and it would cause them more pain and suffering than just about any other recent event in modern memory.
I must admit the US stock market has enjoyed unparalleled gains during the past few years. But that is not exactly related to the Intellectual Rise or Fall. So, we will all just have to hold our breath and wait to see what will happen.
I know that Mike does not want this blog to be used for quarrels about any aspect of US politics. So, I will not say anything more about Mr. Trump or the state of US politics.
However, when it comes to the stock market, I must admit to the possibility that the recent unprecedented rise could well develop into an unprecedented crash or a continued rise that will just break through the all-time ceiling. When it comes to financial markets, just about anything is possible.
Skyler,
Show respect for other peoples’ religion. Don’t diss The Donald to anyone even resembling an Always Trumper! This surpasses politics. It is SACRILEGE to criticize our current president. DT was chosen by God and Jesus Christ to lead this country out of Perdition and HE is the Only One who can do it! If this sounds like hyperbole, it is NOT. DJT is a Disciple of God, and Obama is a Minion of the Devil! ( Hillary, of course, IS the devil). Now, just take my word because I have all of this on strict authority from my Christian Evangelical cousins. They KNOW because Jesus speaks to them, you see 🙂 Or, rather, to their Pastor, who then passes on the information to his flock 🙂
I’m adding smiley emojis because what I wrote is funny to me and possibly to some of you as well, but to those who bBELIEVE what I wrote it is NOT in the LEAST funny. Remaining loyal by voting Republican and supporting our current President in the face of any and all attacks and criticism is nothing more and nothing less than their Christian Duty. Its no joke to them. It is a deadly serious issue to the majority of Evangelicals who believe that Jesus Christ is returning i a few decades and will PUNISH not only individuals but the WORLD for our sins and otherwise Godless ways. No joke. Jesus sent Trump to give us this ONE LAST CHANCE and if don’t elect him again, Earth is done for, etc. JC is expected to arrive around 2050. However amusing and beyond the beyond bizarro this apocalyptic concept may be to heretics like me, I would like to acknowledge that it is NOT a laughing matter to millions of Evangelical in this country.
Wrong Skyler
JOBS GROWTH SOARS – RECORD WORKING – UNEMPLOYMENT 50-YEAR LOW
https://www.wsj.com/articles/november-jobs-report-11575633600
Oh yeah Ansel Adams has nothing on the photon-bumbling LRH! LRH was always a self-administering master of things bator.
Lron was not the first poser, but he was a very good one. Maybe that was his super power?
Milton’s Paradise Lost Book 2. This is Satan [Hubbard] speaking
after his great fall. “Immortal vigor” is the desire for an
immortal thetan which Milton says has no place in heaven since
there is no desire. Here is also Hubbard the photographer and
the Philosopher or anything else he claimed to be. Because he is fallen,
his desire for immortality will appear more glorious to his followers
but more inferior in reality.
“Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav’n,
For since no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall’n,
I give not Heav’n for lost. From this descent
Celestial vertues rising, will appear
More glorious and more dread then from no fall”
Like most things in Scientology, up is down and down is up…..
“Like most things in Scientology, up is down and down is up…..”
Just like most any financial market.
I LOVE these photos! Just like I love old horror movies like “Plan 9 From Outer Space.” They’re so bad they’re good – especially the one with the cook pouring a quart bottle of arsenic into the food, the “mod” leisure suit on the boss, and the snazzy striped pants on the scientology Sherlock.
Let’s not forget Hubbard’s films. In particular, “The Secret Of Flag Results”. Also there was another film, I think on communication, I can’t remember the name of it, that was previewed at the Palladium in Hollywood. It was so bad there was almost a riot from the audience. We hated it.
It was shown at our org as a Div 6 film, as brand new people awaited OCA results.
More than one person wondered why so many people were yelling and mad at a little square of red paper on a folder, and why they didn’t just remove it and throw it away.
There were many red flags when Hubbard was alive. Our brainwashing was strong to not see the signs of a.Narcissistic Scam artist.