Much of what I see coming from the photography community is performance art. Work done to satisfy the errant needs of a rapidly deteriorating intelligence of the social media consuming general public. I’ve said this many times before, if wearing an arrow through your neck became popular, photographers would be lined up at the archery store. The online photography community is even worse. It appears as if their entire existence is based on the fickle nonsense their audience deems important, or simply entertaining. Weenies. YouTube weenies. Both creator and consumer.
The vast majority of photographers I know make their best work while undertaking personal projects because there is joy in making work for yourself. There are exceptions to this. In fact, several nights ago I went to a slideshow. One of the presenting photographers showed both personal and commercial work, and I thought her commercial work was far superior to her personal work. But this is rare, at least in my experience.
If you make your living as a full-time photographer, you bet your ass you have to keep audience in mind. Namely the client, but if you are a passionate prosumer or consumer photographer, or a retired pro like me, then why in the Hell do you care what people think? How many of you are hampered by placing too much relevance on audience, opinion, popularity? My guess based on our communications, many of you. Now is the time to unburden yourself. Do it now. Today. Leave your baggage at the terminal and start to enjoy yourself. Start to take chances and start to find out who you ACTUALLY ARE.
Performance art, most likely, isn’t you.
And it’s clearly not healthy for those who choose to do it long term as evidenced by the number of high-level online celebrities who have flamed out in recent months and years. If you can see their path, why would you follow it? Many of you have written expressing frustration at the idea the relevance of your work is based on the reaction of others. First, this is egotistical to think that anyone gives a shit what you do. I know that may sound harsh, but it’s true. Most people don’t care and they never will.
Earlier this week I attended a private art event. Super private. Only about twenty of us. During the “event,” I looked at the guy in front of me, the guy who was sitting closest to the person giving the art event, who was speaking at the time, and noticed the guy in front was scrolling rando on his mobile phone. Just flipping through mindless shit while sitting four feet from the presenter. People, we are entirely lost as a species. Your work, most likely, doesn’t stand a chance. But, so what? Do it anyway, and keep it to yourself. And watch what happens.
I’ll add another thought here. Those of you who only take a camera when a specific set of ingredients exists, ingredients you deem mandatory for you to actually make pictures. Stop doing this. My guess is that those of you who do this rarely if ever make meaningful pictures. Because how often does the world present perfect? Well, when I look in the mirror, sure, there’s that, but most of the time…..rarely. I know plenty of people who operate this way. Most are incredibly frustrated. Many have permanently put their cameras down. This too can be attributed, at least in part, to thinking someone else cares. We don’t. For the most part, but make meaningful, interesting, beautiful work and you will get the attention you need or think you deserve. But you have to put the time in.
I have a friend that is a bit weird. In fact, he’s considered very weird by most of the people who know him. There is no small talk with him. I hadn’t seen him in years, but a few days ago I noticed him exiting his vehicle near a local park. When he saw me he put his food on the ground, walked over, and proceeded to give me a massive bear hug. “I’ve been thinking about you,” he said. This guy had quite a lot. Killer house, killer rental unit, Landcruiser, consulting business and much more, and he has a vibrant family life. And two years ago he gave it all away. (not the family) Kept two suitcases and his surfboard. Disappeared. Explained to me he wanted to slow down and wanted to feel connected to something “else.” People think he’s weird because he’s not following the same standard path that most of us are on. He chose the red pill.
And guess what? The dude is incredibly insightful. In the absence of small talk there is real talk. Deep thinking, connection, questions, and never ever finger pointing or speaking from a position of authority or self righteousness. Years ago, when my wife was going through a rough patch at work, she shared her story with dozens and dozens of people. The most insightful response came from my weird friend who might have been the only person who actually stopped and listened to her. Really listened. Weird scares people because weird makes you question things. My guess is, you are probably semi-weird but you might not want to let anyone know. You should. And your photography and books should illustrate your weirdness.
Over the past three years, my time being around YouTube, I’ve received numerous emails and messages from people suggesting I view certain photography channels. Within ten seconds I can tell whether or not the host is real or a facade. Some of the super stars are completely phony. I can’t do it. Heck, I can’t do ANY channel with a phony host, photography or not. Motorcycles, science, fitness, whatever. The online stunt-performers doing and saying stupid things for views. Or putting on a phony upbeat, life is unicorns and rainbows, all the while we can see the strain of the smokescreen.
What are your beliefs? How do those beliefs make you feel? Pretty simple stuff, at least on the surface. But we now live in a world where someone’s true beliefs might not ever be found because so much of what we do is for the “other.” If this is you, and this is what you are putting out, the only chance you have is to stop now. Your long-term health is at stake. All of your friends and family will thank you. And you might find out, when doing something just for you, that you are one heck of a photographer.
Comments 18
Wise words and sadly a painful truth! Getting caught in the rat race is painful but so is not creating. Embracing the weirdness is a great way to put things perspective.
Time to get to planning and find that new compass bearing for a project.
Thanks!!
Author
Weird is good.
It’s funny you focused on being a Weirdo. I just spent a weekend at some upwardly mobile rich types cottage everyone drinking and partying and living the highlife and I kept saying to my partner “we’re the weirdos I guess”
Author
Yes, if you can’t spot the weirdo, you are the weirdo.
I’ve always been the weirdo/outcast. I often refer to myself as the black sheep of my family. I’ve always been my true authentic self. I never really understood why people try to hide who they really are.
Author
Weird is good. My parents told us we didn’t fit in.
That is exactly why I love this website. The Truth.
I feel like selling all my gear right now (apart from the M6), switching off from modern life and idiots on social media, going on a never ending bike ride and never turning back. Probably because I’m rereading Waldon again right now, but still.
Author
That happens. Social is such a total waste. I can’t imagine how many of my friends still do it. I feel bad for them. Same as I do for addicts of any kind.
As Bukowski said about people and your work, “most people don’t give a damn.”. If you use that as your operating principle, then audience becomes irrelevant, the audience is you. I do mostly abstractish photography, no people, no landscapes, no nature, no recognizable locations, no story, and therefore no audience and no pressure to perform. My camera always comes with me, even to the most mundane places, because you just never know.
Author
Same. I’m also not insecure. That helps.
Your advice (insistence!) that you shouldn’t give a damn about what people say about your work really resonates with me. This Friday my website will go live. I’ve wanted to have a website where I can post the write stories about where I live, what I think and the places I travel, adding in photographs that will–hopefully–add to my words.
Why am I “exposing” myself to the world? I’ve been writing a personal journal for years and creating a hard-bound book using Blurb. But, I want to share my experiences and photos with others and doing so will help give me a better reason to improve my writing and photography skills, I hope.
Dan, your website and videos have gone a long way in encouraging me continue to read, write and photography for ME, first. And, if others get some benefit from it–bonus round! Regardless, it’s pure win for me. 🙂
Author
Hey, glad I could be of service. I think you should be your harshest critic. This takes self awareness which is why online folks are so bad at this. Totally self absorbed most of the time.
Dan,
my personal long-term (30+ years) project is not in photography, but in software: It’s latest public result is the “knuth-pdf” package on ctan.org (ctan.org/pkg/knuth-pdf). Much of the tooling for the whole publishing process is self-created (github.com/ascherer/web).
Your advise resonates with me. Thanks.
Author
That sounds like Latin. You are far too intelligent for me. But well done!
Curious for an answer. If I’m not supposed to give a damn about what other people think, and I am just doing this for me, why should I even consider submitting photos for the image breakdown thing.
Author
I can’t answer that. Some people want feedback, others don’t. There is no right and wrong. I’m not here to tell you what to care about.
About a year and a half ago, I innocently took a mixed media weaving class. It up-ended my world in the best ways. I became obsessed. I stopped painting. Only just recently picked up my camera again. And you might be thinking this obsession might have been considered unhealthy. Nope… in the quiet of my studio, practicing the ancient art of sending weft through warp, there was silence. Mindfulness. I came back to myself. And yeah, I am enjoying my other loves again. And still weaving. In the grand scheme, there will always only be a subset of weirdos who appreciate weaving, either doing it or collecting the results of it. This does not matter to me. I’m making for the love of making. A nice bonus is that when things go irrevocably sideways, I’ll be able to produce cloth. 😉
Author
Obsession = good. Only knowing ONE thing, maybe not so good. You are on to at least three things already, so not worried about you.