What do the photos you take tell about yourself?

Gentlemen, could we please keep the discussion on a reasonable level. I find this topic and the variety of opinions interesting and wished we could discuss this in a reasonable manner without personal assaults.
 
What do the photos you take tell about yourself?
I do not take photos of that kind. Those I have not taken can tell more about me.
 
Lilserenity said:
Here's a slideshow of the pictures I'm exhibiting in a week's time at the Open University.
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Thanks for sharing.

As for Chester Higgins Jr., his site can be found here:
http://www.chesterhiggins.com/

Maybe it is a good idea share bit of historical perspective.
I had a look into the excellent book "The new history of photography" edited by Michael Frizot.

The chapter "Beyond Reality - The subjective vision" by Shelley Rice starts with a discussion of Stieglitz's "Equivalents". As far as I understand, Stieglitz
tried to record subjective moods in his pictures of cloud formations. In theory these pictures should communicate an inner state to the viewer. So basically these pictures are not about clouds per se, but they should rather point to an emotional experience that could be shared by viewing the picture.

As Rice says, Minor White took up Stieglitz heritage and was most responsible for spreading Steglitz's 'doctrine'. According to Rice White propated Steglitz ideas of equivalence and saw them as a path to 'inner growth through camera work'.

Another photographer she quotes is Aaron Siskind: "I am not interested in nature, I am interested in my own nature. [...]" Further she mentions the photographers Harry Callaghan, Frederik Sommer, Clearence Laughlin, Ralph E. Meatyard and Manuel Alvarez Bravo.
 
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It is a very good question that the OP asked....I constantly ask myself the same question....and to be honest, I am afraid of the answer.....
 
Stray from the flock every so often.

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I´m allways trying to find something that usually remains "hidden" in everyday things, it is a different view from that others have of the same subject.
I think that this tells that I´m curious and in the permanent seek of that elusive decisive moment. Don´t know what others think about this as I never asked, however I will collect some comments soon as I started a small exhibition of my pictures.
Cheers
Ernesto
 
Damaso said:
Chester Higgins Jr. told me that a photograph is a reflection of the photographer, something I think is true.
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I had a look at Mr. Higgins' website and found it very interesting, especially the interview 'GhanaAfricanHeritage' in the video section. He has many interestings things to say, but to stay on topic arond 6:35 they are discussing the matter of objectivity. Mr. Higgins says: "I believe no photograph ever lies about the photographer." And later: "The photograph tells me, who the photographer is."

I have the impression that he is influenced by the Stieglitz tradition, later (arond 20:00) he talks about his view of the challange of the photographers:"How do I the witness get someone who was not here to feel the feeling that I feel, how do I transfer that moment? That is what I am trying to do." He is also talking about trying to capture the 'spirit' of a subject matter.
 
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One of my favorite quotes -

I'm always looking outside, trying to look inside.
Trying to tell something that's true.
But maybe nothing is really true.
Except what's out there.

-Robert Frank
 
I just found an article by Minor White concerning the subject 'equivalence' here:
http://jnevins.com/whitereading.htm
Personally I am not sure if I am feeling the same as Stieglitz did, when looking at his pictures, but I think I can understand the concept.

I don't think that one has to reach out to a metaphysical argument for explaining, why people may feel something similar when looking at a photograph. Maybe it has more to do with shared experiences as human beings, empathy and structural similarity than with 'spirit' or 'essence'.

The problem with the metaphysical stance is that one has to explain why others don't feel the same as the photographer intended to. Saying that one is not emotionally, kinesthetically and intellectually sensitized enough instead of critcizing ones own conception may give the impression of vanity.

However, I think that being aware of the subjective components when taking a photograph can have an impact on ones photographs.

There are some other interesting articles and interviews on that site (Weston, Frank, Winogrand, Strand, Szarkowski, Smith).

Roger Hicks said:
If I knew, would I take the pictures I take?
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Frankly, I do not know. Maybe you should try it? ;)
 
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My photographs tell me that I love what I'm doing, but that I'll never excel the results even just a slightly talented 5.-grader are able to produce doing what I love.
 
Roger, just some explanation from my side: maybe I took your former statement too literally
Roger Hicks said:
If I knew, would I take the pictures I take?
R.
Click to expand...

I replied with:

gho said:
Frankly, I do not know. Maybe you should try it?
Click to expand...

Roger Hicks said:
Sorry, you've lost me. Try what?.
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What I meant is: I do not know how it would affect the pictures you take if you knew what they were telling about yourself.

But with your photographic experience I would guess you already know, what the pictures you take are telling about yourself, so my suggestion was a bit misplaced, hence forget it and enjoy what you are doing.

Personally I am just starting to explore the subject matter and the different perspectives on photography.
 
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I once had a japanese calligraphy teacher point out my work as someone uptight and needing to relax. My photos say the same thing, but with more depth of emotion.
 
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