male photographers talk about gear because they can't talk about emotions

[aizan]

This article from Harper's Bazaar was going around social media last week. I got to thinking about how it related to photography, and it adds a lot to our understanding of why we talk about gear so much and about photography and art so little.

Men Have No Friends and Women Bear the Burden

The basic argument is that guys suck at relating emotionally to other men because of contemporary homophobia, so they turn to women to take care of them instead.

This behavior affects the world of photography by us not facing up to our anxieties about creativity. It's a lot easier to focus on gear and distract ourselves with GAS than it is to deal with artistic risks and challenges, especially when most of the photographers on forums are men who are no help when it comes to certain things. It's a trap!

 

[Bill Clark]

I agree.

Fun and games.

 

[Archiver]

Absolute trash, yet another example of third wave feminism vilifying men and upholding women as paragons of martyrish virtue. Of course that article is going to be in Harpers Bazaar, it's a magazine that has always catered to women. In the same pages, you'll find articles about style, gossip and beauty tips. That's the market Harpers is playing to.

No, we don't talk about gear because of contemporary homophobia, that's just nuts. We talk about gear because we like it! I get a thrill from seeing and handling a well crafted instrument of any kind, be it a watch, a knife, a gun or a camera. I also love the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into a fountain pen.

I have no qualms talking about my artistic challenges with likeminded male photographers, artists and film makers. I'm not saying that many women aren't doing the emotional work in a lot of relationships, but to say that we talk about gear because we're afraid of appearing to be a homosexual is just wrong.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

'You will not promote, belabor, or condemn any political or religious ideology during forum discussion.'

There's only one place this discussion is likely to go, if it isn't there already.

Thou shall not talk politics.

 

[Bill Clark]

When I was in business, my best associate photographers were women. I found they viewed the world with very different eyes than men. I enjoyed their help and it was always a learning experience for me. We compliment each other and we were successful together.

 

[Archiver]

'You will not promote, belabor, or condemn any political or religious ideology during forum discussion.'

There's only one place this discussion is likely to go, if it isn't there already.

Thou shall not talk politics.

My apologies. It won't happen again.

 

[narsuitus]

male photographers talk about gear because they can't talk about emotions

You have hurt this man's feelings.

 

[Steve M.]

I, personally, can talk about emotions until the cows home...... but who would want to do that? I'd rather talk about women, bikes, cars, food and gear, in that order.

 

[peterm1]

Does this mean that women talk about emotions because they cannot discuss gear? That is at least as plausible. Anyway there is too much damn emoting if you ask me. 🙂. I am an old school guy. Instead of getting angry or discussing my emotions I grow tumors and die younger (Thank you Woody Allen) 🙂 I do it to please the feminists in my life. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you look at any developed and established forum, most significant part of are threads with pictures. On dedicated threads and in forum galleries. Gear talk is not something prevalent.
Maybe on dpreivew. But not on RFF and P.O.T.N.

One of the meaning of Bazaar in Russian is "bla-bla-bla".
To be more correct "BS". Birds poop. We have term "birds bazaar".
Bringing homophobia as argument is ridiculous act of cowardliness. Most of the forums are populated by people from developed world.

But these days if place is predominately male it becomes target for ideology.
If males wants to talk about cameras and lenses somehow it is wrong.
According to these ideology posting family pictures on forums must be act of abuse, I guess, not act of positive emotions. And if we post street candid of woman, we must be prosecuted. Days of GW "women are beautiful" are gone.


I'm taking pictures of trees which are getting killed due to lousy development, my heart bleeds, but I'm talking by pictures. On FB I have talk with local female activist. She gives no crap for those trees. Zero emotions.
Pinkasov told same thing I feel later. HCB took pictures of Soviet Union which brings deep emotions. But what to talk? Emotions are something personal and deep in every person mind.

Entire thing described in OP is idiotic. 99% of photography has nothing to do with art. Photography is something very different. It is documentary most and foremost.
I posted series of Hamilton, Moscow and Canada here. We have authors from Warsaw, Hanoi, Maine and so on. We have series taken on the world tour on motorbikes.
It is family pictures (Raid). And it is good spending of time for all of us. Take a picture and look at bokeh. It is nothing, but emotional. 🙂

 

[stompyq]

Cannot seem to get away from this garbage. Even in a photography forum. Mods kindly take this stupid post down before the soyboys come defending it

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Mods kindly take this stupid post down before the soyboys come defending it

I'd love to know who you mean by the 'soyboys'?

 

[Rayt]

I used to ride with a motorcycle club so of course we talk about bikes and bike related gear when we hang out. But the ride itself is the therapy no need for words. We ride in some pretty challenging terrain like up and down PCH 1 at high speeds. If you are not worthy you won't be able to keep up so the club is more about the ride and not so much about the gear. My friend stayed in front of the pack with a lowly 500CC twin ahead of the the 1100cc Suzuki's so there's your proof!

With photography the gear is the common denominator where anyone with a wallet can participate. I would like to join a photo club where everyone are required to post GOOD photos and able talk about why he/she thinks it is a good photo. But apparently not everyone can take a good photo but anyone can buy a new lens or camera and talk about bokeh, contrast and resolution.

 

[Keith]

This will go nowhere because 99% of this forum is male and at least half of that 99% will resent the proposition being put forward by the article the OP posted. 🙄

 

[gavinlg]

Absolute trash, yet another example of third wave feminism vilifying men and upholding women as paragons of martyrish virtue. Of course that article is going to be in Harpers Bazaar, it's a magazine that has always catered to women. In the same pages, you'll find articles about style, gossip and beauty tips. That's the market Harpers is playing to.

No, we don't talk about gear because of contemporary homophobia, that's just nuts. We talk about gear because we like it! I get a thrill from seeing and handling a well crafted instrument of any kind, be it a watch, a knife, a gun or a camera. I also love the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into a fountain pen.

I have no qualms talking about my artistic challenges with likeminded male photographers, artists and film makers. I'm not saying that many women aren't doing the emotional work in a lot of relationships, but to say that we talk about gear because we're afraid of appearing to be a homosexual is just wrong.

Agreed on every account and well said. The new wave of extreme progressivism and the constant pandering to identity politics is dangerous. I don’t want to see it come into my hobbies and life pursuits.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Men here are already getting emotional. So there!

 

[p.giannakis]

I work in this field day in and day out for years. This is another one of those very popular in the internet pop psychology articles (written by a comedian), replicating ideas of feminazation of men as antidote to so called "toxic masculinity". Basically it uses one stereotype to treat another. It is as shallow as any psychology article can be in a magazine like Harper's bazaar.

 

[Ccoppola82]

I work as a professional artist and have some experience working with both men and women about their creative work. From my limited pool of people, what I've noticed over the past 20 years in the industry is that men discussing or critiquing or ASKING for critique have always been far more open and accepting of conversation. They don't tend to take things personally and are more willing to view their work objectively from a distance to get from point A in their work to point B. Getting way off topic here, but in general I think men tend to be curious problem solvers which is reflected in gear talk. Much of the gear talk I've seen here or other forums is generally someone new or curious about the type of results one might get from using film x with lens y etc. There is a wealth of information on here and the more experienced members are passing the torch to us newer folks by taking the time to share their knowledge. Style should never be limited by lack of technical ability. Gear talk and understanding the technical aspect of photography is a big step toward creating a style with intention. Sorry for the long post.

 

[CMur12]

This will go nowhere because 99% of this forum is male and at least half of that 99% will resent the proposition being put forward by the article the OP posted. 🙄

Agreed. I would like to hear from some of the female members of this forum, although with all of the aggression expressed so far, I wouldn't blame them for sitting this one out.



- Murray

 

[Archiver]

Agreed. I would like to hear from some of the female members of this forum, although with all of the aggression expressed so far, I wouldn't blame them for sitting this one out.

- Murray

We're always more than respectful of the female members here, and none of the so-called 'aggression' in this thread has been directed at women. Rather, people are expressing their distaste for identity and sexuality politics which have worked their way into so many spaces, and now even into our hitherto untainted haven of photographic bliss.

I agree with the forum rule that says politics shouldn't be a part of discussion. Most of the time it creates more conflict and rifts than its worth, and no one is convinced of the other side's perspective.

As for the women here, they talk about gear as well! Maggie Osterberg loves her M9-P, and our lovely Helen is utterly in love with her Leicas.