JonMo
New member
I usually try to avoid conversations of this flavor, but really have things changed?
I've spent my entire photographic and artistic life ( yrs worth ) trying to both stand out and conform.
Lets not confuse the issues of art vs product. Art is its own market: an attempt to stand out and be recognized for unique vision where the image itself is the product for consumption. As an artist whether with paint, charcoal, sculpture or photograph; it is creativity unleashed to produce something memorable on its own merit. To be viewed and appreciated for itself.
Then there is photography used for purpose. The work should be crafted beautifully but in the end has a use other than recognition of the image itself.
Some images for journalism are not perfectly crafted but are used to impart information within context of a situation. An AP image is pulled because the photographer lessened the impact a stray shadow made in the image and is punished by banning. Craftsmanship was secondary to the products purpose.
Ad photography while wonderful has the purpose of showing the product in a way to attract commerce.
Architectural photography while stunning is used to sell buildings and designs of others.
We have to stand out in these situations with a "style" to attract customers but in the end conform to our style as this becomes what is expected.
In this current world of "huge piles of manure" the better visions and craftsmanship will further stand out. instead of the "crap" analogy lets use a field of flowers.
In this field there are hundreds of purple flowers, they blend together in a sea of a single colour. Add a perfect purple flower to the others and it will disappear despite its perfection. We can stand up and cry "can't you see how much better this flower is?" and the only one who will see it are fellow flower aficionados and the rest just see purple.
It is our JOB to plant a yellow flower, and not just any yellow flower but one that will allow the rest to notice it, look closely, and finally understand the difference.
It is going to be difficult to stand out in our future as photographers. Anyone with the cash can purchase a camera so automatic that there is a ridiculous amount of images that are perfectly exposed, clean, sharp (enough) and most importantly; boring.
The end of tolerance if reached will be a blessing to those with vision. We play the role of using light, imagination, sheer will and personality. Those with the gift can take the new technologies to create what others never could. We stand out by using this vision.
And then we go to work. Not everyone is prepared to work. Work is taking something you enjoy, doing it everyday whether you feel like it or not. An understanding that there are no days off for this kind of work. Not if you are doing it for a living. All the wannabes fade away.
I admire those that persevere through and continue to love their craft while working at it.
Just my very long winded two bits.
I've spent my entire photographic and artistic life ( yrs worth ) trying to both stand out and conform.
Lets not confuse the issues of art vs product. Art is its own market: an attempt to stand out and be recognized for unique vision where the image itself is the product for consumption. As an artist whether with paint, charcoal, sculpture or photograph; it is creativity unleashed to produce something memorable on its own merit. To be viewed and appreciated for itself.
Then there is photography used for purpose. The work should be crafted beautifully but in the end has a use other than recognition of the image itself.
Some images for journalism are not perfectly crafted but are used to impart information within context of a situation. An AP image is pulled because the photographer lessened the impact a stray shadow made in the image and is punished by banning. Craftsmanship was secondary to the products purpose.
Ad photography while wonderful has the purpose of showing the product in a way to attract commerce.
Architectural photography while stunning is used to sell buildings and designs of others.
We have to stand out in these situations with a "style" to attract customers but in the end conform to our style as this becomes what is expected.
In this current world of "huge piles of manure" the better visions and craftsmanship will further stand out. instead of the "crap" analogy lets use a field of flowers.
In this field there are hundreds of purple flowers, they blend together in a sea of a single colour. Add a perfect purple flower to the others and it will disappear despite its perfection. We can stand up and cry "can't you see how much better this flower is?" and the only one who will see it are fellow flower aficionados and the rest just see purple.
It is our JOB to plant a yellow flower, and not just any yellow flower but one that will allow the rest to notice it, look closely, and finally understand the difference.
It is going to be difficult to stand out in our future as photographers. Anyone with the cash can purchase a camera so automatic that there is a ridiculous amount of images that are perfectly exposed, clean, sharp (enough) and most importantly; boring.
The end of tolerance if reached will be a blessing to those with vision. We play the role of using light, imagination, sheer will and personality. Those with the gift can take the new technologies to create what others never could. We stand out by using this vision.
And then we go to work. Not everyone is prepared to work. Work is taking something you enjoy, doing it everyday whether you feel like it or not. An understanding that there are no days off for this kind of work. Not if you are doing it for a living. All the wannabes fade away.
I admire those that persevere through and continue to love their craft while working at it.
Just my very long winded two bits.