I keep harping on the idea that photography is about the photograph and not the equipment. Or, at least, that is the direction I prefer to take when it comes to the discussion of photography. Talking shop about the gear is the easy part. Talking about the photograph, and the makeup of an image is much more difficult.
The reason the hardware is much easier to discuss is because it is a real, tangible, thing. A piece of hardware you can pick up and hold it in your hand. It has a name and a specific function. You can learn to use a piece of equipment. Most everything about it is well defined and it works in a particular way.
What makes up art is something that is only a feeling. You either like what you see, or you don’t. Looking at some images triggers a feeling or memory that touches you deeply, but cannot be expressed with words. What is definitely appealing to one person is completely ignored by another. To express a great piece of art in words mostly detracts from its emotional content. You just can’t explain a great image.
I am much more interested in hearing how a person was attracted to something, which in turn led them to be motivated to make the photo, rather than the f-stop and shutter speed they used. There are those times when you just KNOW it is time to expose film. The question is, how do you know?
This is the hardest part of artistic photography. There are those that have attempted to explain what is pleasing to the eye by lowering themselves to a form of art speak. Stringing big words together does nothing but make a lot of squiggly lines on paper. Talking for the sake of talk and saying nothing, is what politicians base their careers on.
I am interested in understanding the thought process, but some things are just not well suited for words. Sometimes it is best to just look and enjoy. Below are a few interesting quotes from David Vestal.
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“When you must use words, use plain, clear ones that say exactly what you mean. That’s hard. Art jargon is easy but it only impresses fools. It turns intelligent people off and tells them that the jargon-user is a fool.”
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“Pompous wall labels that explain how your work transcends everything usually fool only curators and collectors.”
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“Such instructions don’t work. People will see your work as they are ready to see it and no better, no matter how wonderful you tell them it is.”