As you begin to learn more about photography your life will become more difficult. The more you know, the harder it gets. We all know the expression, “I can’t unsee that.” It’s true. Once you know where the bar is set, the work that falls below the bar fades into the night. Within minutes, seconds even, you will make decisions because your foundational knowledge will allow for it. It’s not that subpar work is to be disdained. Not at all. It’s to be quickly factored and dismissed until it is abandoned or improved. The same can be said for any creative endeavor. Ever start a book you didn’t finish? Ever start a movie with high hopes only to find yourself reaching for the remote? This is natural and to be expected. And remember that just because something is hyped or heavily trafficked doesn’t mean it’s good. Some of the highest-selling books in history are poorly written. Some of the most popular movies are total crap. The same applies to photography. But ultimately, knowing what is out there, and understanding what makes a great “something,” is enjoyable and should be pursued with vigor.
Creative: It’s Complicated
Comments 6
At 6:50 into the video, I’m thinking National Geographic.
Me too.
Author
At this point, it could be nearly every organization I encounter. All trying to connect with those who don’t really seem to want connection.
Author
Maybe…but at this point it could be nearly every organization I see. Desperation.
Photography certainly does feel as if become more difficult with the passage of time.
However, it’s not the photography that gets more difficult, but as you kinda indicated, your own relationship with it.
Photography is pretty simple – if you want it to be – but it’s open to all manner of futzing about that may be little more than showmanship. I often think of the late Peter Lindbergh in this context: one of my really favourite photographers, there are so many videos on the Web where he goes on location with enough lights to light a Hollywood movie. They never seem to be used very much. In fact, when they appear, they are mainly used as backgrounds. Especially so on beaches… It’s my belief, based on nothing but personal intuition, that if you make a gig’s production costs look (and be) expensive enough by carting around lots of stuff, your own fees can magically soar with the quantity of trailers and trucks. Again, nothing but personal interpretation, but Ms Leibovitz gave me exactly the same feeling. I say gave, because I haven’t seen anything of hers in a long time. I no longer buy those magazines, which kinda makes me think of the company about which your piece was concerned. Maybe some companies once imagined themselves too big to fail, just like the banks. Panic destroys logical thinking, especially when you may suspect that there is no positive outcome in sight.
Of course, another aspect of this feeling that photography gets progressively more difficult over the years, can be laid at one’s own feet: it’s not easy to come up with fresh solutions on every similar gig; I guess that for most of us, we did/do get the kind of work for which we are best known. Yes, as you suggest, one also becomes more aware of one’s own failings and weaknesses, and added to the mix is the truth that clients can have more input than one would like them to have. In my own professional life, the worst thing that happened to me was a change in personnel in an organisation that was very important to my calendar work. The new broom decided to cut costs on the model front. Fatal mistake: as I once saw written on a decorative tile, “You can’t soar with the eagles if you are working with turkeys”; I guess the new guy hadn’t seen that tile. Guess who, in the end, inevitably carried the can?
As usual, a delightful video from you. It’s definitely a gift to be able to sit down in front of a camera and just go for it, and to remain totally in control and interesting; for me, your productions are a bit like a book I don’t want to finish because I’m enjoying it too much. Many thanks for your work.
Author
Yes, big print equals big money kind of thing. A lot of these orgs WERE arrogant and thought they would be the gatekeepers forever. Heck, I worked for Kodak for four years. Say no more.