With the exponential growth of image making over the past 10 years or so, it is saddening to see the absolute flood of innocuous and truly bland portraits being created. So many people are using the only tool they have, the mobile phone to snap images of people in a myriad of situation and calling them portraits.
Metaphorically, I would equate this situation to the repeated creation of bland toast if it was sold as chef-level dinners. The chef has so much potential, but is held back by lackluster tools and ingredients. As is the case in photography. So many people have good intentions, but lack skill, artistic vision and proper tools to be able to create anything worth looking at. It's nothing but disappointing. So much opportunity to create meaningful, amazing work is being superseded by absolute crap. The volume of crap is overwhelming, which in and of itself is also a sad and terrible situation. People don't understand the concept or the value of editing on the fly. They figure that since the medium is virtually free, that they can click that button as many times as they want without any limits or consequences. They don't have to go to a shop and buy film. Shoot the set number of images, take it to a place to have it developed and then go back to retrieve all their lackluster prints. Digital is a godsend in that regard. But it is also a curse. Yin and yang. My hope is that this wave of image creation will subside once the world realizes just how much crap is being pumped into the ether. There has to be a time at which people who value art and creativity, come to a point where they recognize that more is not better. I'm hoping that point comes soon. Perhaps I'm a bit to critical. I've been told I criticize too much and that I should just ignore the things that I don't agree with. Maybe I will find more joy in the world if that happens. This is one of the reasons that I create my own images that hold meaning for me. Images that are sculpted with light. I fidget and mold the images until they reach an agreeable state. My instrument makers for example are all worked until I feel I can do it no more. My lighting and composition are tuned. Colours adjusted, dust bits removed etc. My goal is to create an image that expresses to the viewer what it was like to be in that space and communicate with that person. No room for error. No room for crap. Capturing the true meaning of the experience in a single image is always a challenge. Especially since in each case, it is the first time being there. Each image has to stand on its own. Unlike a video, I have one shot at getting what I want out of the situation. And each situation is different, which ads to the uniqueness of each portrait. I would encourage other photographers to take on similar projects as a way to test your creative and expressive limits. I can't say whether this project is complete or not, as I would certainly be able to ad more should the opportunity arise. There is one luthier here in town, for example that I would love to photograph but that opportunity seems to be evading me. (Yes, I mean you Wayne.) If you as a photographer have ever considered taking on a personal project that takes you beyond your comfort level, I would highly recommend you forge ahead and attack it head on. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Go out there and create images that have meaning for you. Do your best work. Make art. Enjoy your craft and share it with the world.
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Mike Taylor, photo-artistPhotographer, photographic artist, experimenter. ArchivesCategories |