Another post in a continuing discussion (joining this post last week) about the future of photography.
Is photography over? Of course not. But a provocative title none the less (appropriated from SFMOMA) suggesting we think more deeply about what photography was, what it now is, and where it’s going. This video here is part 1 of 3 from a great symposium back in April 2010 sponsored by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art featuring Photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Peter Galassi (MOMA), Vince Aletti (New Yorker), Jennifer Blessing (Guggenheim) and others. Interesting, insightful and evocative IMHO.
If you like this, parts 2 and 3 are avail here via I Heart Photography. More video, plus transcripts avail on the SFMOMA site here.
There are those that talk … and there are those that do ….
C.
Chemical photography is dead. But not dead in the sense that nobody uses it. It is dead in the same way that Latin is a dead language. It has ceased to evolve; there is no real advancement happening in the film and chemical development arena. Just as Latin can still be used to communicate new thought, so can chemical photography be used to create new messages and communicate new thoughts.
I’ve been solely digital for the last four years but I still miss the days of hours in my dark room creating something that, at the moment of development is done. I don’t feel like my photos now are ever really done. I can still tweak and get things so perfectly precise that I feel like I’ve sucked the luck out of the photos.
I think about buying another film camera and some darkroom equipment about once or twice a month. Maybe I’ll make the jump this month, or maybe next month.
I love this conversation though. Let’s keep this going.
This academic pontification kills creativity, I prescribe to the Nike philosophy within the realms of photography, that being “just do it” and live life with the lens.
+1 Life is too short to think…..
Agree with Richard Hall. Sorry Chase this isn’t up to your normal standard of inspiring content. These people are academics who seem to justfiy there existence by being obscure and asigning tremendous significances to things that are really very simple.
I got to the 30 minute mark before closing it down.
Photography is not dead but I think the days of academic foolishness are numbered. At least I hope so.
If you had a child and they wanted to be working photographers would you honestly recommend they study with these people? I don’t think so.
I was bored to almost tears before the introductions were complete. I could go no further.
Lots of things are dead for lots of people. That doesn’t mean that they are dead for me. And it doesn’t mean I care what their opinion is.
Live. Shoot what you find fulfilling.
Some people may like it. Some people will not. Other people’s opinions are of no consequence.
Creativity without reflection is intellectually bereft and thus artistically hollow. Much like just living without examination is unrewarding.
Once, photography was frowned upon and not considered a high art. It need not return to that state with mindless “just do it” behavior.
But yes, there does need to be a balance. One shouldn’t aspire to be a measurbating techie. Only each individual can define those boundaries, and not merely for themselves (good art/craft is not self-indulgent).
This supposed academic pontification is philosophy. And we require it to ask the right questions, which answers the why, before the doing of anything–else one is merely enslaved to the reptilian brain of instinct. I, for one, am not ready to surrender to any type of dinosaur.
What’s funny is when the posts are about deep thinking, or news like the release of Ai Weiwei, the comments are comically low, of course not for a true passionate eye who has a simple thought to share.
However, when asked to deconstruct a photo, boy the comments elevate to a level where everyone battles to figure out where the lights are being suspended…or what body or lens were used to pull it off…
Is Photography Over?
Chase,
I dont think photography will ever die. There will always be a strong demand for great photography. As you mentioned many times, there is a purpose for video, and there’s a different purpose for photography. There are things you can achieve and cannot achieve with one another. I have not yet had the time to watch this entire video, but that’s my two sense on where it is, and where it’s going. As long as Creativity exists, so will photography. -No matter the direction of video, advertising, marketing, or fine art.
http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2011/06/07/what-camera-did-i-use-to-make-this-still-picture/
What up Austin, Chase – funny you should mention video. Check out the above link for an article on the blog of Vincent Laboret about the evolution of video frame grabs – makes me nervous:) Its like, damn, are we going to get to the point where we just point a video camera at someone, sit back let it record, then just frame grab? Hope not.
I’m with you.