ANOTHER WORLD

ANOTHER WORLDI was recently involved in a very serious discussion about photography. I was informed that the trend in photography today is for B&W prints to be light and airy. I was told that the deep blacks and brilliant whites I love so much are reminiscent of photography of the 1930’s and 1940’s and is not ‘in’ today. I was also informed that today’s trend is all about color images. I was given the impression that B&W is, in this so-called ‘modern’ world, sort of an ugly stepchild. At least, that was the impression I was given after a conversation with someone that is supposedly an ‘expert’ in the field.

Personally I have never been one to adhere to the current ‘trend’ or ‘fad’ nor do I give a rat’s rear about whatever is ‘in’ today. I have no interest in what is popular, nor in fashion. To be an artist you have to, first and foremost, be true to yourself. If you pander to the wishes of others, you will do little more than chase your tail trying to please everyone else. What is most important is to cater to your own vision. Truly meaningful images only occur when you have an internal connection to what you are photographing. If you are following some sort of fad, or the perceived wants of others, all you create are hollow nothings. This is what advertising photography is to me. I look at the images in magazines and TV commercials and all that is there for me is something visual to catch the eye for the purpose of selling something. My personal definition of salesmanship is, convincing someone to buy something they don’t want, don’t need, and can’t afford. I want nothing to do with this mindset. But I digress from my original thoughts.

I have a different view as to how I want to present my subject. I really wish I could find another planet to photograph. I want to show a world that is unseen by human eyes. This sort of thing being impossible, I have to resort to finding things that I can interpret in such a way as to portray them as otherworldly.

I have no interest in presenting a literal representation, but more literally, I am interested in, and strive to create, my interpretation of what I photograph. I love the abstract. I like to give my viewers a look at something they will not see every day. I have no interest in documenting the boring everyday. I wish I could visit another planet, another world, in another galaxy. But alas, I have to settle for making photographs that match my vision as best I can on this planet.

JB