A chain gang, a single magnum opus, or neither?

[Enoyarnam]

Dear all,

A thought just came to mind. Is anyone on RFF sufficiently set up to be able to produce a chain gang of viable and realisable photographic projects?

If so, how do these projects relate, if at all, to the production of one's very own magnum opus?

Indeed, is it possible for photographers who are working in the field to commit themselves to the demands associated with each of these styles of work?

 

[Pablito]

http://www.unc.edu/~prinz/chain-gang.jpg

 

[Pablito]

That's what I was gonna say, Double Neg. Went for something more esoteric. Or literal. Whatever...

 

[MartinP]

The O.P. could do a lot worse than get an early Christmas present as follows....

http://www.lenswork.com/obp.htm

 

[Roger Hicks]

I tried to answer this and them realized that I didn't understand it either.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ebino]

Dear all,

A thought just came to mind. Is anyone on RFF sufficiently set up to be able to produce a chain gang of viable and realisable photographic projects?

If so, how do these projects relate, if at all, to the production of one's very own magnum opus?

Indeed, is it possible for photographers who are working in the field to commit themselves to the demands associated with each of these styles of work?

I think the answer is no.

 

[Enoyarnam]

So if the answer is no, at some level of analysis, why is this indeed the case? And what does it say about us as photographers?

 

[ebino]

So if the answer is no, at some level of analysis, why is this indeed the case? And what does it say about us as photographers?

I think, again, the answer is no because we as photographers need to say no to a shot more often than we say no to an idea that might causes to say no to a shot.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The question is too ambiguous. You need to give examples and narrow the scope of "commit themselves to the demands associated with each of these styles of work?" and "a chain gang of viable and realisable photographic projects? "

For example, I converted my 15th Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar from Contax to Leica Mount. It is a photographic project, it is a "chain of products", and it the last one was a "magnum opus".

 

[ebino]

I think, I know what the OP means.

His saying should you concentrate on a single style or make many varying projects of different look and aesthetic.

The answer to that question would be, you don't control your photography projects, they control you.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

As I, and many RFF members, do not rely on Photographic Projects for income- it is fair to say that I control my projects.

 

[FrankS]

I'm thinking that the OP meant, do we create projects consisting of a series of photographs, or create singular stand-alone images. I think.

 

[Enoyarnam]

I agree with everyone that the flow of one project in relation to another is complex.

Even if one does maintain a greater degree of control over what chooses to do is there a tension between one's short and long-term goals?

 

[Enoyarnam]

Ebino, hi. If we don't entirely control our projects, rather they also begin to control us, what are the consequences? Does this make it more difficult to create a balance between your short and your long-term goals?

 

[Enoyarnam]

FrankS, in this context it might be useful to define a 'magnum opus' as a single body of work that is exemplary or paradigmatic in some sense. Something that definitely stands out as a body of work. In contrast, I often think a great photo is something that overshoots itself. As something that gives you far more than what you initially expected.

 

[ebino]

To your first question I would say, if the project does not control you then you're not really going any further with it. It is like writing a story, until you don't finish it you can't rest. When you'll finish it is also a question mark but usually the idea of a new project means the end of the old one.

To your second question I would say, goals and objectives are for corporate world, they hold no value whatsoever in real life... the french have a saying, "if you wish for Gods to laugh, make plans"...

 

[Enoyarnam]

Roger H ...is the ideal of a 'magnum opus' something that you would seriously entertain? Does it refer to a goal or an end photographers have been known to pursue? It certainly is a term that Elliott Erwitt was happy to use in an interview with the Guardian (27th December 2003).

 

[FrankS]

What are your views on this, Enoyamam?

 

[Gumby]

Wow... that really put the conversation to an end. 😉

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger H ...is the ideal of a 'magnum opus' something that you would seriously entertain? Does it refer to a goal or an end photographers have been known to pursue? It certainly is a term that Elliott Erwitt was happy to use in an interview with the Guardian (27th December 2003).

A magnum opus is literally a 'great work' but is usually taken to mean 'the greatest work among the total output of an artist, author, etc.', so I'm still not sure what you mean. Anyone who sets out to create a magnum opus is dependent upon the opinion of others: if Boswell's Life of Johnson had not been a success, his claim that it was a magnum opus would have been irrelevant (except in terms of sheer bulk).

Nor could I understand 'chain gang'. Sorry.

Cheers,

R.