The scientist is absorbed in the process, while the artist is obsessed with the results.
Brooks Jensen, publisher of LensWork Magazine, tells an interesting story about someone he once knew that had a thirst for photography. Seems this fellow leaped into photography with unchained enthusiasm. He spent many hours, and a lot of money, purchasing equipment and building a darkroom. Then spent even more time learning how to control the process of B&W film and printing. He became an expert at exposing, developing, and printing. He was a master of the equipment and materials. Then suddenly he got rid of all of his photographic equipment and took up another interest. When asked why he said, he could not find anything of interest to photograph. He had nothing to say artistically. He was absorbed in the process, yet discovered he had no interest whatsoever in the results. To quote one of my earlier BLOG posts; Edward Weston said something to the effect that, you should be able to look down at your feet and find something interesting to photograph.
Edward Weston was absorbed in his photography. It was said that he had little interest in anything mechanical. Edward never learned to drive a car. He was totally dependent upon others for transportation. If his camera or other equipment broke, he was helpless to repair any of it. Yet he was a master at operating the camera and in the darkroom. He was obsessed with the results, and understood only enough of the process to achieve his vision.
I have witnessed this phenomenon myself. I have seen those that really believe they wanted to work with big cameras and film. They start off with a bang and end with a fizzle. Creating art really is hard work. You have to master the photographic process, but it is even more important that you have something to say. Don’t become absorbed with the gear and forget that the end product is what really counts. Like baking a cake, it should be about the cake, not the brand of mixer used for the batter. Remember that PROCESS is only a path to RESULTS.
JB
