I think about the statement Ed Steichen made about photography, about how it is our way to explain life to each other. Through reflection upon an image we get a better understanding of who we are. This notion gets lost a lot because of the ease and care-free way we snap away--especially in this day and age with arm length cell phone snaps of cheek to cheek friends just really infiltrating everyone's social networking venue of choice. Images are made so often and so fleeting that they've become commonplace and what is good or not good isn't even really considered much---pictures is pictures---and they are everywhere. Never has there been so many pictures taken in a single day and distributed almost instantly. And never has there been such a demand for pictures--companies want them, friends want them, family demands them. But what are we explaining to each other now? We want pictures and new ones each day--each hour or minute. Are we taking them in? I've posted on facebook several images this past week from recent prize winners. Its great that the prizes will give the pictures more life, but are they affecting our lives in such a way that we gain better understanding and affect change? Maybe? I hope so. In my small way I take this approach with my work at the newspaper, not so much that I'm doing stories that cause us to reflect and seek change, but to reflect on who we are and perhaps take a moment to realize that we're alright. Some stories I work on illuminate issues that need action, but most just sorta show what we do daily around here. And this alright...there is something solid and beautiful about living our quiet lives. Now the work I do for clients in portrait and fashion etc.... mostly this is different--this is more about the craft and making work that helps the individual achieve something they wish to achieve--whether it is a portfolio that might land them some sort of paycheck, or a picture to give to family members or some other purpose where the person wants to perpetuate some particular kind of look. Its not 'real.' Though in each session I try to find a 'real' shot, it is still controlled and the situation set-up so it can never be completely authentic. Its an odd mix. I love the craft of photography and I like to try most anything---and ultimately I hope to make images that benefit others---and when I get a chance, tell a story that helps explain who we are. SayerMotter Photograph of Angela Voorhis who is hoping to be able to do some modeling after school in order to pay some bills and loans and eat and such. I liked the way her hair is in this picture. Not sure if that explains anything beyond that though.
Below is a screen shot from the portfolio of Chris Hondros who was killed covering the conflict in Libya today. I linked his portfolio--just click on the picture. This is work that attempts to explain who we are and allows us--maybe begs us to ask why we are this way.
Below is a screen shot from the portfolio of Chris Hondros who was killed covering the conflict in Libya today. I linked his portfolio--just click on the picture. This is work that attempts to explain who we are and allows us--maybe begs us to ask why we are this way.