Wired Article: i-love-photography/

[Leigh Youdale]

A great riposte to all the sourpuss elitists out there!

 

[boomguy57]

I enjoyed the article. Thanks for posting.

While it is true that everyone is allowed to not like things, he is making a point on photography. In fact, his argument goes more broadly and could be considered a cultural critique more than anything.

But I think it also glosses over the fact that this "golden age of photography" is putting many serious photographers out of business. In fact, I'd argue that since photography is so accessible, and so "easy" (it's not, but many people with a DSLR and a kit zoom think it is), that a lot of amateurs are undercutting the business of serious professionals.

You have to love his optimism though. Oh, to be young again...

 

[furcafe]

He doesn't have it quite right.

It's not that we hate photography, we just hate other photographers. 😉

Hmmm, what dio you guys think? Sounds a bit like RFF at times... 😉

"There is a percentage of photographers who hate photography. They do not appreciate photography. They do not consume photography. They don’t look at photo books or photo magazines. They hate the guy with the iPhone taking Instagram shots. They hate the guy who just bought the D4 because they don’t have one. They hate people using digital because film is what real artists use. They hate photographers who embrace social media because images should stand on their own.

They hate Getty, Corbis, the AP, day rates, photo editors, assistants, rental houses, camera stores, point-and-shoots, iPads, zoom lenses, padded camera straps, wheeled suitcases, younger photographers, older photographers. The photo of so-and-so on the cover of whatever it’s called sucks. That guy copied the other guy, he sucks. Terry Richardson sucks. Chuck Close sucks. Vincent Laforet hasn’t taken a still in 17 years. Kodak hasn’t been managed well since the 70s. Blah, blah, blah."

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2012/02/rant-i-love-photography/

 

[shadowfox]

Maybe you should re-read it...... slowly.......

Why?
Would reading "the obvious stated in the most obvious way" slowly helped to make it more... obvious?

People don't like others because of myriad reasons, and often use peripheral things to justify and express that. That's not exclusive to photography. Welcome to the human race.

Duh.

 

[isoterica]

Thanks for sharing this it was refreshing to read. This is what I love about photography.. should I say.. 'and hate?' LOL

 

[jsrockit]

Pretty light-hearted article that a few are taking way too seriously.

 

[Jeremy Johns]

Thanks for posting the link, a great read. He has the right approach to a subject that he loves and I think life's too short to approach the things you love in any other way.

Fun comments thread after too, I like the comment:

I think he was more speaking to those that fancy themselves photographic elitist. The point is that the photo and photography should be appreciated for what it is, not what it is not.

 

[j j]

My reaction on reading it was how long before someone comes posts "Meh". Then I started to read the responses. (I lost, I bet myself it would be about five posts in).

"There are so many more incredible photos today than there ever were" makes a nice change from cookie-cutter Fings Int Wot They Woz threads.

 

[dexdog]

OK article (i.e., better then "meh") that pretty much says that we like what we like, and this is the kinda stuff that this particular guy enjoys. I wonder about what other people enjoy about their photography sometimes, for example, when I saw one woman documenting her visit to Abu Simbel with her cell phone. Doesn't do it for me, but worked for her just fine, which is why she does it this way.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Clearly the author is a "glass-half-full" kind of guy.

I liked his choice of images -- he seems like someone who spends quality time thinking about photography, its current state and uses.

I do think it is asking a bit much to suggest that even a piece as upbeat as this one will "convince" readers who are otherwise-disposed to view the world in a "glass-half-empty" mode to change their basic perceptions. Nevertheless, the author does a good job of identifying what he likes. Might we all not do the same?

 

[BikoBikoBiko]

My reaction after reading that is: "Uh.. ok, so...?"

Totally agree. The articles author seems to see little difference between photography, art photography and a youth culture where everybody has a digital camera.

I like his enthusiasm but to say Terry Richardson has a unique visual style is rather ridiculous :bang: it makes me want to buy him a Nan Goldin book.

 

[jsrockit]

I like his enthusiasm but to say Terry Richardson has a unique visual style is rather ridiculous :bang: it makes me want to buy him a Nan Goldin book.

Perhaps they mean unique to fashion (which isn't even true really), but yes, Nan Goldin for sure. Even make up in fashion was influenced by the group of people she photographed.

 

[BikoBikoBiko]

Perhaps they mean unique to fashion (which isn't even true really), but yes, Nan Goldin for sure. Even make up in fashion was influenced by the group of people she photographed.

I'd suggest that Guy Bourdin was a pioneer of this look in fashion back in the 70's but others might disagree. Bourdin was far more polished than Goldin's or Richardson's work.

 

[noimmunity]

Thanks for the link...!

Hey, did anybody notice the photo at the top, the one with the guy and gal necking on the street in the middle of a riot?

This is the kind of photo I would use in class to get students to think about how the gaze is constructed. That image lays a number of hefty traps--pretty effectively, too, if you ask me. It is a photo that really demonstrates what is meant by "capture" -- and not in a necessarily positive way, either!

 

[jsrockit]

Bourdin was far more polished than Goldin's or Richardson's work.

Yes, I think this is the key though. The loose style in color.

 

[Sunti]

I hate these magazine people writing these things about photographers ;-)

 

[BikoBikoBiko]

Yes, I think this is the key though. The loose style in color.

Yes, I think you're right with that. I'm not sure how loose Richardson's style is though when compared to Goldin or Larry Clark. I have not seen a lot of his work but he seems to take more staged photographs.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, I think you're right with that. I'm not sure how loose Richardson's style is though when compared to Goldin or Larry Clark. I have not seen a lot of his work but he seems to take more staged photographs.

That's true. 😱