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Who Do We Shoot For?
By Jerry Currier | Wisdom and Inspiration |
Dec 1, 2008
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All Images © Jerry Currier
I was listening to some music on CDs several evenings ago, sipping a glass of wine, with a fire in the fireplace, and musing on art and artists.
I recalled that several years ago I was introduced to Maestro Willie Anthony Waters when he was doing a guest conducting stint with the San Francisco Opera. Maestro Waters and I got into several long discussions about the relative artistic merits of Puccini versus Verdi.
The discussions came to an end when I confessed that I couldn’t read much music and certainly couldn’t read an opera score. I indicated that my views were based purely on my many years of personal enjoyment of the works. With a wave of a hand, the maestro dismissed my views on the topic, apparently based upon my lack of “technical” expertise. While we remained friends, an interesting topic of conversation was brought to an abrupt halt, much to my regret.
Photographers often become preoccupied with the technical aspects of the craft, forgetting or overlooking that the ultimate purpose of making fine images is to stimulate a reaction from the people who view the images.
Over 50 years of photographic experience has taught me that equipment is secondary to the creative process and the talent of the photographer when it comes to crafting fine images.
We have all experienced countless debates on the merits, or the lack thereof, of various cameras, lenses, flash units, etc. Photographic magazines and on-line discussion groups offer a glut of such debates. These questions often involve heated exchanges where one of the participants may disparage another’s point of view based upon “technical” issues such as camera or lens “quality.”
I wonder how many people have turned their backs on an image or images that have been perceived as being created with “unworthy” equipment?
When I first joined Photoworkshop.com I posted a set of images that I had shot as part of a project to illustrate a small Power Point presentation promoting a tap dance studio.
Part of the intent of the presentation was to illustrate the aerobic aspect of tap dance and couple it with a suggestion of enjoyable, yet challenging exercise. Thus, I elected to shoot images that used motion blur to convey movement. I also elected to shoot candid images of the studio’s dance students “in action” in order to reinforce the concept that anybody could learn to tap dance. The basic purpose of the project was an effort to attract new membership for the studio’s tap dance classes. An important side benefit was to “reward” existing students with a moment of “stardom.”
The reaction I received from Photoworkshop.com members was instantaneous. Pounced upon, by many, with witheringly disparaging criticism that, among other things, sharply censured my choice of camera. At the time, the only digital equipment I owned was a Canon A10, 1.3 MP point and shoot. I had determined that the images this camera produced were more than adequate for Power Point use and proceeded to employ it to shoot the assignment. Plus, since I was working on a close deadline, I wanted the convenience of digital “instantaneity.”
Many of the “critiques” revolved around technical issues—blur, ambient light affecting color balance, grain (noise) and the like. None of the detractors seemed to feel that looking at the images with an eye that didn’t require absolute devotion to some preconceived technical ideal was an option for consideration. Interestingly, one comment that stood out from the others went something like, “Well, the first thing I would do, if I were you, is to buy another camera.” As though any perceived problem could be resolved by a change in equipment.
While the photographic “perfectionists” scolded me with great vigor, the presentation was very well received by the studio and the students.
I learned several lessons from this experience. Not the least of which is a much clearer understanding of my own personal creative aims and needs. While it is important to receive diverse view points on our work, having a clear focus of our own vision is also essential. Another, equally important, lesson is that generally accepted technical minimums are not, necessarily, a dominant factor in creating satisfactory images.
I was reminded of this experience recently when a long-time Photoworkshop.com member championed the use of those simple and inexpensive (disposable), fixed focus film cameras that are available at almost every check-out stand in grocery, drug and discount stores. The concept this member offered was to permit the photographer to create images in inclement weather conditions that might cause damage to an expensive camera. There is much merit to this idea. Especially where the need for big enlargements of the original image is not going to be a prerequisite. Of course, these small point and shoot cameras aren’t going to deliver images of the same technical excellence as a high-end film or digital camera. In addition, they are generally lacking any real choice of image adjustments for the photographer—a factor that must be taken into consideration when evaluating the practicality of these cameras.
My favorite vacation destinations are frequently warm, tropical islands that offer an abundance of water related activities such as snorkeling. When snorkeling, I have often had experiences that I wished to record in the form of images. I have had a succession of specialized cameras and housings for underwater photography and it seems almost inevitable that at some point they will leak and ruin the camera and any film that may be in the camera. An expensive proposition!
A few years ago, I discovered disposable underwater cameras. I have used these cameras with fine success and at reasonable cost. Yes, they do have their limitations, especially when it comes to shutter speed and focusing but by taking these limitations into account, I have been able to capture some satisfying images that would otherwise have been missed. Perhaps the images lack a certain technical excellence, but I am willing to sacrifice a bit if it means that I can capture a shot that would, otherwise, have been missed.
In the final analysis, the photographer should not let a preoccupation with the technical aspects of photography distract him/her from the creation of beautiful images. This is not to say that technical awareness is not required, it is. But to let technical issues rule our artistic decisions can be a negative factor in allowing our creative juices to function to their fullest.
Details
The tap dance images were shot with a Canon PowerShot A10, 1.3 megapixel digital point and shoot camera
The underwater images were photographed with Kodak and Fuji Film waterproof, disposable 35mm film cameras; the film was processed and printed by commercial photo finishers
Film images were scanned using an HP photo and film scanner, model number unknown
Special image effects and image editing were accomplished in Corel Photo Paint 8 using an HP Pavilion 8670c desktop computer and a Toshiba Satellite 1905-S301
See more of Jerry Currier's images at http://cursmicon.photoworkshop.com/
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Last Updated: Jul 10th, 2010 - 16:19:44
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