4 ms·
>Beyond the realms of the boring technicalities i should say. There are countless photographers creating technically excellent, beautifully composed, utterly mu
by NovaS1X 8y ago
>Beyond the realms of the boring technicalities i should say. There are countless photographers creating technically excellent, beautifully composed, utterly mundane work.
This is the real definition of success in my opinion. A few years in, pleasing composition and technical prowess is not exactly hard anymore. To create something with meaning, or a real story behind it, that's the meat of photography. I'm at this point now, and I hate it. I'm creating beautiful photos of nothing. I think the author is seeing this too however. Social media encourages you to make frequent, beautiful compositions that fit your brand or style, and that often compromises the soul of your work. If you're thinking about how your photo will fit on your feed, then you're victim of this anti-creative pattern of thinking, if your intention is to create meaningful, personal work.
- dbcurtis 8y agoCertainly you have something to say photographically. Keep seeking. Recall that the big names are all remembered for a tiny fraction of their work. Ansel Adams is remembered for approximately 40 photographs, out of a lifetime of art images and countless advertising photos from his commercial business that paid the bills. Weston, Eisenstadt, Cartier-Bresson, Karsh, we remember them for a fraction of their output. As you point out, social media rewards what people want to hear/see, not whatever it is you have to say. Mastery of craft should serve articulating the message, and the message must come from within, not serve someone else’s utility function.