The Art and the Life
This stream of consciousness was inspired by several recent conversations, readings, and wanderings. Portions of it may be recognized by those participating in said conversations and to them I am grateful for the thoughts and inspiration.
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It’s not about photography. It’s not about art. It’s about living the life. Then again, they are one and the same. The purpose of one is the purpose of the others. They are not things in their own right. They are parts of the same whole, which would not be a whole without any one of them.
The rock, the mountain, the sky, the canyon, the coyote, the stars; all travelers in time, as am I. It calms me down, the vastness of it all.
Order comes from chaos, peace from violence, beauty from perception, existence from nothing at all. And consciousness? Where does that fit in?
Good art is the product of good artists. Good artists are good people. Good people are defined by empathy and humility. There is not enough good art.
I am an artist. What does that mean? It’s a thing we say, for those who can’t understand, to make them go away thinking they understand. I didn’t understand until it happened to me. Do you understand? I am a photographer. What does that mean? It means I own a camera and push its buttons every so often. It means nothing. I am me. Photography is my art. Just because. Pictures don’t matter if I don’t matter. Pictures are not important if I’m not important. That’s what makes it real; to me, anyway.
Trapped on a small planet. Ninety million miles from an ordinary star; one of about a hundred billion in an unremarkable galaxy; itself one of a couple of hundred billion; in a universe that is apparently one of a great many others. Who cares if I make a photograph? I care; and you care; and that is enough.
Category: Featured, Thoughts and Musings
Indeed we care for each other! Awesome words there Guy. Love every word !
I also like the way you say these words: “Good art is the product of good artists. Good artists are good people. Good people are defined by empathy and humility. There is not enough good art.”
and the way you end it ! Writing is something that you either have it or you don’t. And Guy has it. I will go to be with peace of mind. Thanks for sharing this post.
This is the heart of the matter – well said Guy.
[...] I read others writings and these words standout in front of me as expressed by Guy Tal in his post The Art and the Life; “It’s not about photography, it’s not about art, it’s about living life. [...]
I am continually amazed at how you can verbalize what I feel.
I love this. It’s so true; as are the rest of your words. Being an artist is so much more than just creating a product; a piece of work.
The image is even more so. It IS good art as you are a good artist.
Well said. Reminded me of this piece of a Walt Whitman poem that I often think of when success seems elusive:
“I exist as I am, that is enough,
If no other in the world be aware I sit content,
And if each and all be aware I sit content.
One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself,
And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years,
I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness, I can wait.”
“Who cares if I make a photograph? I care; and you care; and that is enough”.
Powerful, Thank You Guy.
I always liked that image of our solar system as one of billions of others and beyond that billions of galaxies. It helps to put things into perspective, and certainly, under these circumstances, we do need each other, because we don’t have any other, and we do care, we say, we feel, we think. But at the end of the day, a high truth, I think, nobody cares. Nobody cares. It is up to me what I do with that. I want to use it to stop taking myself so serious and free myself to do what I really need to do.
I do love your art, and it certainly has to do with inspiration, I would say.
Very well thought, very well said. Thanks Guy.
Guy… I was in a dark place today, emotionally as a photographer and as a person. Feeling lost and later I found your article. It hit the right place in my mind. Very enriching writing… I am inspired and I want to go look for spectacular light again….
Hey Guy
Wonderful.
I think the great paradox of art, of living, is that your photos, your art, your living, life itself, don’t/doesn’t matter at all. And yet they matter completely. And not just to you and I.
Cheers
Carl
Guy, very clearly expressed your thoughts. Loved it because I was deeply engrossed in it while reading it.
Loved the quote:
“Order comes from chaos, peace from violence, beauty from perception, existence from nothing at all”
“There is not enough good art” indeed!
Thought provoking post, Guy. That last photograph says much too. Great eye.
I care about the photograph – it’s a beauty.