July 25th, 2009
I am often times amazed by opinions. At the end of the day, as photographers it is, or at least I think it should be, about the images that we create. The vast changes in technology over the years have always prompted debate about what is “right” and what is not with regards to images as art and who is actually creating photographic art.
What started this chain reaction of random thoughts was the need for some technical information about a development time for my black and white negatives I recently shot. I was interesting in some start times for a older style developer I was interested in trying out. My need for this information started with a quick web search that resulted in my answer. However, as with most days on the web, I was quickly drawn into reading post on other topics that might or might not have an interest to me. I know it is odd that I spend time reading opinions on the web, about things that don’t interest me and from people I’ll never know.
The one consistent that I was able to find is that everyone had an opinion about what was correct/right/with purpose/the only way/only an idiot would not do this…/do a search for what you want this has been asked and answered/blah blah blah…
Through all the reading, what came up for me regarding my work and the work of others is that there is a fear of change that I didn’t understand. Photography and art have never been about the right way to do things, it has always been about expression. Self-expression in art is what moves us forward as a culture. It is the changes in technology that let us find ways to see a world in a way we never have. Change in artist allows us to experience a world differently than our own. Change allows us to find that we are connected to others in a way that might find us reaching out and establishing new dialogs about who and what we value with people we might not have every known.
In the end, I am realizing that creating art, shooting images, and living in that moment of joy is a happy place. Trying new cameras, shooting old cameras, working in new and old printing processes are all just ways to improve me as an artist. They open doors and windows and blow out the dusting of having to be the same way. My favorite work right now is done with my point and shoot walking around in my random thoughts gallery, images that would pass me bye if I only shot images the right way with my large format camera, on film, printed, framed and hung on the wall. Glad that I am starting to give up what is right and that my 12-step group for reading web posting is going well too.
Posted in Learning from Others, Self-reflection | No Comments »
July 18th, 2009
This past week I had to take down my gallery show. It was a strange punctuation on the experience. The show was titled Immersion: Experienced Spaces and it was a series of images done in platinum and palladium using an 8×10 view camera. The project took about 12 months to complete and was in the gallery for 6 weeks. For 6 weeks, I was able to drive down 12th Ave and see my work in the window. I could ask friends to go see the work, send out invitations to openings, and enjoy the conversations about the work that developed over the course of the show. Then I had to pack up the show and make way for the new artists that are showing next.
It was a surreal experience. For months I worked until I had a show that I was happy with hanging in the gallery. For weeks, people got to see a glimpse of what I see when I see the world around me. And then in a compressed 6 weeks, I took images down from the walls and put them in their bubble wrap for the journey home.
The images now sit in a stack on the kitchen table. I imagine that they are tired and need rest so I let them sleep. They worked so hard over the past six weeks acting as beacons on white walls to tell people about me. I imagine that after the prior 6 months of editing and reshooting and criticism of who they are and how they ranked against their peers wasn’t that easy on them either. But never once did they complain–they only provided their unconditional support. At least that is the story I tell myself about the work sitting on the table while I figure out what what story they need to tell next.
After all, that is why we show our work as photographers. It is to tell our stories. Images are more than just a collection of chemicals, ink or light on a screen, they are a statement of who we are and what we are about as people. We create our work so that it can reach out and make us part of a larger community and still provide an internal sanctuary of our passions, hopes and dreams.
Posted in Creativity, Gallery, Self-reflection | No Comments »
July 10th, 2009
Today is a new day. The first day of the blog. As this blog develops, I will be focusing on what it means to me to be a photographer. What is new work for me. What is new in the darkroom. How is my approach to my work evolving as an artist. At times I am sure that I’ll make a sales pitch or two for something that I am supporting or projects that I am involved with that need support. I am looking forward to continuing to provide information and things I am learning in my journey as an artist.
Posted in 8x10, Gallery, Gear | No Comments »
