Photographically, What is Your Holy Grail?

dave lackey

dave lackey

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It is later than you think!:eek:

Letting that sink in...

Now, with that thought, is there a photo that you would like to make that would represent the "Holy Grail" of all your photographic endeavors? Is there one photo or project that you would like to pursue and complete?

I see it could be personal, artistic or commentary related. It might even be for commercial reasons. Either way it seems that we should have at least some direction for life behind the camera. Where are we going to point that thing? Lol..:)

I still seek a photographic adequately depicting dignity. It may only be possible with a series of photographs or a book.

One of my pursuits is a body of work to become part of our family history with various themes. The reason is because my brother, before passing, amassed decades of literature research and spent countless days on the road visiting older folks, churches, courthouses and cemeteries. He never finished and there are very few photos, if any, left to see.

My children, grandchildren and people who have not yet been born into this world depend on us to provide that information before the opportunity is lost. Memories of people will ensure that they are never forgotten.

What is your own "photo grail"?
 
A photo series and exhibition based around depression and the people who suffer it in their daily lives. This really is on my to do list and has been firmly at the top for several years ... so yes it is sort of my holy grail. :)
 
An Photographic Essay: Nuclear Energy and its Carbon Footprint

I would like to show the amount of carbon energy needed to produce nuclear power. Nuclear energy doesn't reduce carbon emissions. It is a myth that I would like to bust!

I would like to photography the mining of uranium, transportation of uranium, the construction and decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, and the construction of a nuclear waste facility.
 
I don't want to say "documenting" but a casual and regular photographing of my family, I find it immensely difficult and have just scraps taken with my phone here and there.
 
To successfully photograph absence, the essence of things that once existed but are no longer here. Despite years of trying, I haven't produced a single image I consider successful.
 
Lauffray said:
I don't want to say "documenting" but a casual and regular photographing of my family, I find it immensely difficult and have just scraps taken with my phone here and there.
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I know! A few years ago I noticed I had all these photos of strangers but almost none of my family. I felt very silly. Imagine after my death, my kids would find all my prints with such a small quantity dedicated to family. That would have been a shame.

I've corrected that and now I'm at the opposite end. I've been dedicating a lot of time printing family pictures. Kids all over. It's fun to see my wife go through the pictures with a teary eye. Now that's the whole point of photography.
 
Ned Bojic said:
I know! A few years ago I noticed I had all these photos of strangers but almost none of my family. I felt very silly. Imagine after my death, my kids would find all my prints with such a small quantity dedicated to family. That would have been a shame.
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That's interesting. I've always put my camera away around family and family events. Memories, to me, are not photographs. Photos are too hard edged, too solid. Memories are molded, the edges softened and frayed by the passage of time. Don't really want photographs to spoil the memories. Yeah, I'm weird. :)
 
I'd love to photograph my family more...in a formal, posed manner. However, they are not receptive to it most of the time. I think they aren't happy with how they look.
 
GeorgeH said:
I began photographing my wife to show her the beauty that she wasn't able to see in the mirror.
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That makes sense...and my girlfriends have let me photograph them, but I'm talking about my parent / brothers & sister who I guess feel they aren't exactly in great shape.
 
Lauffray said:
I don't want to say "documenting" but a casual and regular photographing of my family, I find it immensely difficult and have just scraps taken with my phone here and there.
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I've done this with film, since 1958. And my father and father-in-law did it before me for their sides. Since I'm now a broken down old man, I have had time to go through these three peoples photos. When I find a winner I print it and send to my kids. One child has kept them all for the last 15 years. I was surprised and pleased. Not the Holy Grail, but at least in my case a meaningful use of photography.
 
The holy grail for me, is to photograph other people's thoughts.

@Maiku
"I would like to show the amount of carbon energy needed to produce nuclear power. Nuclear energy doesn't reduce carbon emissions. It is a myth that I would like to bust!"
Admittedly, I'm not a physicist, but assuming all power generation is done by nuclear plants, and all machines are electric, where would all this carbon come from?
I think that in an all electric world, only the (organic) waste material has any carbon footprint. Please comment if I'm wrong.
 
Lauffray said:
I don't want to say "documenting" but a casual and regular photographing of my family, I find it immensely difficult and have just scraps taken with my phone here and there.
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Me, too. When my kids were growing up I was getting lots of good pictures of them, but now I don't see them as often and when I do, I forget to get those photos. I'd like to rekindle that flame with my Nikons and Tri-x.
 
I don't want to take this thread off topic but, Marek, I think the flaw in your argument is the assumption that a world of all electric machines is achievable. That said, to pit nuclear against oil/gas/coal etc. definitively, one would have to do a complete end to end fuel cycle full equlibrium analysis of the carbon cost of each - not a trivial task at all. Certainly, nuclear is not carbon free. However, its carbon footprint is probably spread over a longer timeframe than oil or coal and, as as such, it probably has a place while other lower carbon forms of energy generation are developed.

PS Back on topic - my holy grail for photography is just to keep learning.
 
GeorgeH said:
I dedicated myself to the construction of a visual language that would allow me to cultivate a deeper understanding of my wife, Sarah
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The pursuit of the deeper understanding of a woman through photography or any other means is indeed a Grail level quest, and one of a lifetime.
 
It is Time. My pictures are my memory. I can't almost remember names and numbers. I remember better things I have seen.
After ten years, every ten years it is changing. Pictures helping to keep details and feel particular time.
This is my Project.
It explains why all I like is old times pictures.
 
Tejasican said:
The pursuit of the deeper understanding of a woman through photography or any other means is indeed a Grail level quest, and one of a lifetime.
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Good luck.
Understanding women is like trying to understand Quantum Mechanics. It can be done mathematically, but the deeper reality of what is going on seems to be beyond what we understand in terms of our real, macro world.
 
My photo grail is to be as enthusiastic about taking pictures and working them in the darkroom upon my retirement as I am today. I have a few years to cover before I can test my resolve.
 
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