Recently I saw on a webpage where a person stated that they wanted to edit their photos to get the post-processing 'look' of a photographer they admire because they wanted to be as 'good' as him. Aside from the incorrect assumption that this person thought that emulating the same 'look' would automatically make him a 'good' photographer, this got my mental wheels turning. It seems every photographer wants to be seen as 'great', which I think is part of the reason the quality of modern photography is down. Now you might think I'm nuts for saying that aiming for greatness is actually hindering people getting there, but hear me out for a bit.
What I see so many photographers striving for is to be labeled as 'great' by other photographers. It's as if they are trying to find their self worth in how popular or admired they are by their peers. Many photographers that are starting out seek to make images that get approval from other people. The problem with this is that they are shooting for someone else in mind instead of what interests them. You simply cannot become a great photographer if your main motivation is to be applauded by other people, especially photographers. If you do this you will only create images that are trendy, full of flashy post processing techniques and are visually stimulating, but don't effect the heart. Essentially your work will be superficial and quickly forgotten.
If you look at the history of photography the photographers that were put on a pedestal and called 'Masters' first photographed what motivated them personally. When Ansel Adams was making images of the American West, he wasn't doing it to impress other people and to be seen as a master landscape photographer. He was doing it because he loved the land. Ansel was an environmentalist and he was trying to communicate to others that we must preserve the land before we lose it. He was a conservationist for over 70 years!!!! His heart LOVED nature and he spent his whole life trying to show people how we need to keep it beautiful and untouched. When Lewis Hine was photographing children workers in the early 1900's he wasn't doing it because he thought his images would launch his speaking career. He did it because he was opposed to children being forced to work to earn money for their families. Eventually his images helped bring new child labor laws to our country.
Do you see the difference in motive?
Frank Capa-Smith says this, " First, you must accept, confess, that enlightened self-knowledge is behind all creative arts, especially photography. Second, that this quest is difficult, earnest and takes a great deal of time and effort. Third, it is focused on the subject matter (whether still lifes or starving refugees). Fourth, the more you know about the subject, the more you know about your self, the more you know about the subject, the more ... and so on, in an endless symbiotic feeding process between photographer and reality. Fifth, and most important, when this process of feedback is operating as it should, it is impossible to "exploit" the subject because that means simultaneously exploiting self, which causes the process to self-desctruct."
He goes on to say, " 'Best-known' has little to do with "best." It is difficult, if not impossible, to make fame a goal and pursue self-knowledge at the same time. I pity those who squander their lives in the search of fame - such a piddling, inconsequential notion. The "best" photographers pursue a higher, nobler, goal, and if fame happens to intersect with their lives, serendipitously, then so be it."
This is a great lesson for all photographers who want to become 'great'. To be seen as a wonderful image maker you actually have to not aim for fame or popularity. Instead you must find what moves your soul and what you want to share with the world. Then you must spend lots and lots of time photographing your subject matter. You must know your subject intimately and you must care for it. If you don't love what you are photographing it will show in your work. The world needs more photographers with hearts that yearn to express the joys and pains they feel and see in life. We need less photographers taking 'amazingtacular' images.
I'll leave you with a few quotes:
"Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important." - T. S. Eliot
"Do not confuse notoriety and fame with greatness. . . . For you see, greatness is a measure of one's spirit, not a result of one's rank in human affairs." - Sherman Finesilver
"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." - Martin Luther King Jr.
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Lori Ann photography Inspirational words to keep things in perspective...thanks! (08.03.10, 10:41am)
Amber I was just going over my notes from your workshop the other day and some thoughts relating to this jumped out at me. I can't tell you what a difference those two days has made in how I view my work. Thanks again! (07.09.10, 4:35pm)
Amanda Deskins Very good and thoughprovoking read. Thank you for sharing your mind and getting me to thinking as always. :) (06.29.10, 11:04pm)
justin wright Refreshing post Michael. (06.29.10, 10:46pm)
Lori I always appreciate your passion for your art and your perspective. Thanks for this thought provoking post. (06.29.10, 10:17pm)
Ulmer Studios Great post friend! Very important no matter what career field you are in!
I think far too many times we seek approval from people that in the grand scheme are not the ones we need if from.
(06.29.10, 10:14pm)
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