Photons to Fotos

This is the time of year when we plan to be better next year…typically (at least for myself and the people I am close enough to discuss New Year’s resolutions with) they are recurring, and most are tied to the concept of the “better version of me”…

Is this the right approach?

What should we be aiming for?

This is a fundamental question which is much deeper than a cursory glance would reveal. It goes down to the bottom of why each of us takes photographs, spending time, money and effort in doing so.

Are we taking photographs to please ourselves first and foremost, or are we taking photographs to get compliments, likes etc from the people around us.

There was a time when the photographer was less of a social animal, and more of a solitary craftsman, working in a darkroom. In those circumstances, the photographer had little to no influence during the creative process, and therefore the resulting photographic print was meant to please an audience of one…the photographer himself.

Today, the “audience” in general, is much more patricipatory, more intrusive, and the feedback loop between the photographers creative thoughts and the compliments (or lack of them) given by his audience is shorter and faster. Moreover, if we venture into social media, the audience because infinite, disconnected and culturally alien to us.

The temptation is therefore to think..

“will they like this?”

And change the photograph to suit….in other words work to get more “likes”

We all like it when we achieve compliments about our photographs….some of us actually need the compliments because they correlate with the price that can be charged for the photographic work…be it a wedding or a fine art print.

But who should we be really seeking to please? I would argue that the person most important to my photographic process, is myself…in that I have to deem a shot successful, before it will be seen by anyone else.

Therefore the argument is that we should be aiming to please ourselves first and foremost. We should be happy with our work, proud of it even before it sees the light of day. The question whether to show it in public is a separate one, and is tied to the nature of the audience.

So, in conclusion…..

New Year’s resolutions are all fine and dandy….after all, tomorrow is a new start to what is hopefully a better year and a better life for each and every one of us.

The important thing, is to aim for a “better version of me” that is really true to ourselves, each and every one of us, and that the first person who we seek to amaze and please, is the “man in the mirror”