why don't you buy other peoples photographs?

gdmcclintock said:
The fear of "conscious or unconscious copy work" is a bizarre pretension as it deliberately rejects inspiration that another's work may provoke.
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How could that be bizarre?
In music, one hears that from time to time as well - musicians quoted as trying not to be influenced by other music.

I find it quite interesting, to make a development as much, as possible on my own, having changed photographic interests a lot over the past few years.

I don't claim, sitting in a eggshell, as it would be impossible, to manage, not to be influenced at all, but I try to reduce the influence by not being exposed to other peoples work, if I can prevent this (not collecting photo books, not hanging prints, not visiting galleries, etc …).

I don't see this as bizarre.
 
Frank Version Two said:
I raised my prices a while back and still make (fewer but more profitable) sales while protecting the value of my images in the future. If you bought a print from me in the past then it appreciated! ;-p

I found it better to simply give prints away if it's a worthy cause rather than undervaluing your work and screwing over buyers, galleries, and yourself later on. I'm all for democratizing art but jeez, when you can buy a nice 11x14 for $50 it really means the image is worthless.

Same with jobs. It is better to shoot a job for free rather than lower your rates to peanuts. No matter how cheap you make it, it will always be too expensive to the client and it could haunt you when you want to charge their friend full-rate. If you're doing something on the cheap you still have obligations - whereas if you're giving it away then you have some leverage and leeway.

Trading can be very awkward when you discover you don't care for the other person's work. Hard to decline... I just threw some traded prints out last week, I didn't like them and want to have to care for them for years and have my heirs ask, "WTF is this?"
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Yes. All perfectly true.
 
jan normandale said:
Hi Joe, since you started the discussion I'm wondering if you buy people's photography you don't mention in your OP.
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i only recently started to hang my own images, framed on the wall. it seemed strange at first to hang photos as i was more used to hanging 'things' on the wall...but i now like it and am amazed at the reaction from friends who knew i did photography but never saw any of my stuff.

i would love to buy and hang some classic images but that isn't likely...too $$
 
back alley said:
i only recently started to hang my own images, framed on the wall. it seemed strange at first to hang photos as i was more used to hanging 'things' on the wall...but i now like it and am amazed at the reaction from friends who knew i did photography but never saw any of my stuff.

i would love to buy and hang some classic images but that isn't likely...too $$
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Join in the one of the print swaps Joe, they may not be classic but I have two that look good on my walls
 
Sorry, I find your point of view bizarre. No one escapes outside influence by attempting to avoid it. Being closed-minded only limits one's vision be it visual, musical, or literary.




menos said:
How could that be bizarre?
In music, one hears that from time to time as well - musicians quoted as trying not to be influenced by other music.

I find it quite interesting, to make a development as much, as possible on my own, having changed photographic interests a lot over the past few years.

I don't claim, sitting in a eggshell, as it would be impossible, to manage, not to be influenced at all, but I try to reduce the influence by not being exposed to other peoples work, if I can prevent this (not collecting photo books, not hanging prints, not visiting galleries, etc …).

I don't see this as bizarre.
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Avoiding other people's work just seems to me like a way of saying that what you are doing is way more important (or so much better) than what others are doing.
 
menos said:
How could that be bizarre?
In music, one hears that from time to time as well - musicians quoted as trying not to be influenced by other music.

I find it quite interesting, to make a development as much, as possible on my own, having changed photographic interests a lot over the past few years.

I don't claim, sitting in a eggshell, as it would be impossible, to manage, not to be influenced at all, but I try to reduce the influence by not being exposed to other peoples work, if I can prevent this (not collecting photo books, not hanging prints, not visiting galleries, etc …).

I don't see this as bizarre.
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Maybe not bizarre, but it's unusual.

I *love* seeing other people's work, because it gives me ideas, raised my standard, and sometimes it allows me a glimpse of how creative mind works.
 
good topic.

I think that photographers should gift and trade their photos with other photographers—likewise with photo books (my preferred method of presentation). It's kind of like a 'professional courtesy' (even though a lot of us aren't 'professionals'). I've traded photo books with other photographers; it's a lot of fun, and the books go into my collection right next to the masters.



/
 
gdmcclintock said:
Sorry, I find your point of view bizarre. No one escapes outside influence by attempting to avoid it. Being closed-minded only limits one's vision be it visual, musical, or literary.
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Slowly there!
I never stated, I prevent influences, I described, how I avoid to have hanging artworks or books make a deep impression on my own style.

This is in no way narrow minded, quite contrary is my character and I would feel offended, being called such.

jsrockit said:
Avoiding other people's work just seems to me like a way of saying that what you are doing is way more important (or so much better) than what others are doing.
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Please read my above comment - I think, there is quite a misunderstanding, don't you think?
Why do you throw in valuation of ones own work against others? This is completely far fetched (and obviously untrue), while, as described, I do am influenced by others.

Otherwise, what do I do on the internet or even leaving house in the morning, discussing photography and sharing pictures with others?

If you see my flickr profile, you will also find, that I do have many favorites from other photographers, that I like or tagged as such, as a reminder.

I too have a small collection of snippets on my computer, that work as work notes or reminders on certain looks (mostly in technical aspects).

What I did state has been entirely related to "hanging prints of other photographers in my home" - what this thread has been about to my understanding.
 
To each his or her own. I am surrounded by photobooks and prints by other photographers. In no way am I worried that my environment will influence my photography; for better or worse, my pictures are my own. Here is a photograph that reminds me of one made by Saul Leiter, but I had never heard of Leiter when I took the picture, thus his influence is after the fact!

Waiter.jpg
 
back alley said:
i'm making the assumption that most of us do not buy prints of another shooters work...preferring to hang our own only.
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never thought of buying another shooters work, i enjoy viewing others work, therefore the disease of purchasing books.
....but have sold 4 prints of my work, only because of connections within my circle of friends.
as one buyer has gallery connections he has 6x4's to show around to put some of my work up, which is more "arty" rather than "pure photographs"...we'll see what happens in the new year.
 
I buy others photographs when I like the photo, but know I cannot produce something similar for whatever reason:

I bought a photo of a panaroma of Stockholm. I don't own a panaoramic camera, nor would I bring one traveling if I did.

I bought a photo of a single guy walking on Charles Bridge in Prague at dusk in the winter. I was in Prague in the summer, and finding it empty must take patience.
 
back alley said:
i'm making the assumption that most of us do not buy prints of another shooters work...preferring to hang our own only.
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If I have the money I buy what I like. I have a fair number of prints that I have picked up over the years.

Perhaps this query should have been a poll?
 
i'm enjoying the conversation and find it enlightening...can't find that in a poll.

what is most interesting to me is that so much influence is attributed to money. i am poor for the most part but did not consider the financial aspects as much as i thought it would be ego driven.
 
I do though, Joe, sometimes when I really like something. Lots of books, too.

Interesting in this thread that some posters with thousands of dollars in vintage camera equipment feel they cann't afford another persons print.

A question of emotional value I guess.

Roland.
 
Why ego driven?


back alley said:
i'm enjoying the conversation and find it enlightening...can't find that in a poll.

what is most interesting to me is that so much influence is attributed to money. i am poor for the most part but did not consider the financial aspects as much as i thought it would be ego driven.
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