Comments on: Have We Made Things Too Complicated?

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:32:24 +0000

Hey Guy – nice piece. My thoughts on this are some of these things belong as distinct separate activities.

In the field, concentrate on why you are there, what brought you there, and attempt to combine the difference between what your heart sees and what your brain sees. Afterwords, use all of the great organizational tools and processing tools we have available to us today to either complete the vision or realize it is complete as is.

Maybe keywords will group together a set of images that belong together as a project. It could be a theme of images that has accumulated over years. Maybe some processing tool will bring forth details the emotionless camera left behind, but still had with you in your memory and heart.

I feel that such things are appropriate in their own place, as as you mention, do not belong where they become anchors around our ankles. They belong only where they may help us see more potential.

By: Jay Goodrich

Jay Goodrich — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:48:07 +0000

Nice job Guy. As usual you have created a thought provoking piece. I hope that it hits home to many.

By: prashant khapane

prashant khapane — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:08:35 +0000

Very well said Guy. As always.

By: Mike Lapchick

Mike Lapchick — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:30:53 +0000

In the commercial photography business (products, in particular) we joke about the amount of effort so many companies put into their metadata and asset management systems. Not that ease of retrieval and differentiation is not important, but the eternal archival of product assets that have a shelf life of an average of 18 months yields very, very little return.
Not quite on point for your article, I know. The relevance, I suppose, is to advise photographers and brand owners to take some time to understand the long term use of their images (or lack there of) when considering image management.

Great post, Guy,

By: Chinle

Chinle — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:09:10 +0000

The artist owes no one nothing. It’s not about owing, it’s about your soul. Great artists are great because they follow their heart, they don’t even think about audience or money.

It’s always been that way and always will be, that’s what gives you the freedom to well, be free.

And that’s why a lot of them are unknown and starving. But they can look at themselves in the mirror, they’re true to their muse, they’re pure and free spirits.

And you know, it shows, you can tell who’s in it for the money and fame or whatever. And who isn’t, if you can find them.

By: David Sanger

David Sanger — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:53:15 +0000

Guy. I think that artists have always a had a responsibility to the work to get it “out there” , to get it seen or heard or read. Mozart spent time seeking patrons, Beethoven too.

The internet and all the digital process and marketing you disdain is part of the unglamorous work necessary to make the art visible to people. Someone has to speak up for our images and it has to be us.

But the point is well taken that it is not to be confused with the creative work and cannot be allowed to get in the way of vision and inspiration, the touching of the leaves, the smelling the earth, the seeing of it all.

By: Kari Post

Kari Post — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:52:45 +0000

Great message Guy!

By: Dan Baumbach

Dan Baumbach — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:30:25 +0000

In all art forms, no matter how good the artists are at marketing themselves, some people thrive and some remain unknown, and as far as I can tell, very little of it has to do with talent.

One might as well do the work that they want to do and hope that their lives provide them with the time and money to continue to do it.

By: Carl D

Carl D — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:29:49 +0000

Hey Guy

If you add a little ‘retweet’ button to this blog, you’ll get more traffic.

Cheers

Carl

By: David Leland Hyde

David Leland Hyde — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:10:55 +0000

Some might believe that creativity and art come from the mind, but I contend that the best art or photography comes from a deeper place, or as a gift from nature, or as a happy accident, any of these are as good as the other and they’re essentially the same. Personally I am still skeptical about the internet as an outlet at all for fine art, as purchased by museums and major collectors. I suppose lots of galleries are doing it, I just haven’t found the handle yet. Then again, I’m spoiled in some ways, my father’s work makes it easy to land exhibitions and gallery representation. If the internet went away tomorrow, people would find us just fine and my income would go up because I wouldn’t be spending so much time trying to learn SEO. Ultimately, keeping the finding of your own voice above catering to what sells, was my father’s primary advice to young photographers and his own mission in life. The best of both worlds might be embodied in the work and career of Ansel Adam with his rigorous concentration on creating the best art, as well as his attention to sharing it and employing good promoters, not to mention his advocacy for the medium and for the environment. The main path to avoid, in my opinion, if you are interested in producing quality art, is photographing for the market.