Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yeah, what he said! :) Walt On Thu, 26 Nov 1998, Greg Locke wrote: > At 04:05 PM 26/11/98 -0600, you wrote: > > >Just because some one does not make their living with photography does > >not make them less of a photographer. Heck those of you who do > >photography for fun probably get more enjoyment from it that many of > >us who do it for a living. > > > > I can guarantee it. I shoot thousands of rolls of film a year on > commercial and photojournalism work. Most of the commercial stuff I couldn't > care less about but my job is to make the client happy (and pay the mortgage > and car payments) so I have to use all my tricks do give him something to > make him OHHHH and AHHHH. (no jokes about prostitution, either! :^D ) > > Out of a year of commercial shooting I would be lucky to have a > couple of dozen "keepers" for myself. It's a business. I provide a service > to other people. > > Then there is the documentary and photojournalism work which I consider my > personal work that I am lucky enough to get paid to do. This is my reward > for doing the commercial stuff. > > Emotional detachment from your pictures and objective editing is a big part > of being a professional. You have to think about the clients needs or the > viewers needs and, sometimes, put them ahead of your own. > > An amateur (or art photographer :O) will often "love" a picture or have an > emotional attachment to it because of the memories associated with it. The > pictures means something to them. The attachment is based on the > photographers personal feelings at the time they took the photo. This, of > course, may not be evident to someone else viewing the picture....and it > doesn't matter because the photographer is happy with his picture. > > A pro doesn't have that luxury. A pro's job is to make pictures that > communicate ideas and messages that the viewer or client can "read" or > understand. > > Think of it as the External Consumption Engine!(where did that come from?) > > This brings us to the concept of "Visual Literacy"..... which we'll leave > for another day. > > I don't even take my camera on vacation anymore. > My wife is the "family photographer." (shamefully, a Nikon girl) > I can't handle the responsibility. > > ...back to work, > > > > > Greg Locke <locke@straylight.ca> > St. John's, Newfoundland. > <http://www.straylight.ca/locke/> > ---------------------------------- > "I've finally figured out what's wrong with photography. > It's a one-eyed man looking through a little 'ole. > Now, how much reality can there be in that?" -- David Hockney >