Contemplating Thoughts

Why 365's are RUINING PHOTOGRAPHY. You're actually going to have to read it to get to the point, but it's a valuable point, SO FUCKING READ IT AND GET A CLUE!

annaszczekutowicz:

kevinfuhrmann:

Thanks for the thoughtful response, Anna.  I can obviously take something from your comment about how the 365 process can make you grow as a photographer.  At the same time, if I were ever to embark on such a task, I would be embarrassed posting every day, as every day simply isn’t going to be an inspired process.  I’ll be honest with you; within your 365, I only like every 5-10 pictures.  Don’t take that as an insult.  I’m very critical, and that still means anywhere from 40-80 great shots—nothing to scoff at.  I just feel like I wouldn’t want to post unless I truly like the shot.  For instance, when I see people post extra shots from a really old shoot, I see it as posting just for the sake of it.  I mean, there had to be a reason they didn’t choose it as one of their best the first time around.  Basically, by trying to post so regularly, I often see a degradation of the artist’s integrity as a whole.  It makes the really great shots get lost in the mess, and it highlights to non-great.  Is that really beneficial to anyone?

And P.S./Sidenote:  I’m glad this post is now an actual conversation where people are giving well thought out opinions.  That’s what this website is about.

annaszczekutowicz:

kevinfuhrmann:

Lauren, I totally see your point.  And if I must say, the calmness of light in your photos is enviable.  But I think Lizzie kind of got it in that photos should be inspired and thoughtful.  And mostly that people shouldn’t be praised for mediocrity.  I suppose I can even say I’m more upset about the taste level of most people.  My eye is far more critical, and I demand something out of photos.  Moreso, I look for thought and an attempt to improve.  Capturing memories is fine, but when people parade the “pretty” pictures around as some sort of artistic achievement, I get angry.

lizziestrupat:

laurenjgray:

kevinfuhrmann:

I feel like I’m in a bit of a pickle here.  I am attempting to build somewhat of an internet presence on Flickr and Tumblr because 1) they encourage me to be prolific and 2) I thought these sites would be a place where I could receive feedback and grow as an “artist,” if that’s even what I want to be thought of as.  The only problem is that I am seeing the propogation and approves of what I consider to be mediocre more than anything else.  Perhaps I’m just not on this whole “raw” trend of photography, but I just see so many problems with the movement.  Half of the pictures I see simply appear to have no thought process in them whatsoever, and I could honestly take a lot of these shots with my eyes closed.  The other half of the pictures simply refuse to be original.  They are certainly “artistic,” but always in ways that are trite and cliched.  I find it so beautifully ironic that in attempting to be all indie and expressive and shit that all these shots look the same.  I simply see no inspiration in them.  I haven’t been on these sites long, but perhaps this has a lot to do with 365’s.  People sacrifice almost all the quality in their work for the sake of being prolific.  I frankly think that is so disingenuous.  All of you are disparaging the integrity of what you all call your “passion.”  I honestly only seen one 365 executed a little bit well, and it’s only because she is actually incredibly expressive and unique in front of a camera (love ya Viv!).  If you all are really so passionate about photography, maybe you should try something— only shoot when you are inspired! That’s how you take great pictures.  Okay, so how about you consider this a call to action.  Even if you aren’t necessarily doing a 365, so many of you still fall into this catagory.  I’m not saying that I’m a fucking god behind the camera, but at least I know when to shoot.  For instance, I’m going on a photoshoot tomorrow.  And you know why?  Because I was INSPIRED.  In sort of a big way.  I also have another bit of inspiration rattling my brain, but I’m going to give myself time inbetween shoots because I actually believe in quality over quality.  Seriously though, BE GREAT, not just satisfied in mediocrity. Actually have something to say if you are going to take a picture.  And if you are reading this and I am actually friends with you, don’t think I’m not talking about you and that you’re off the hook.  I’m probably frustrated in part by you.  I don’t have the tumblarity as most of you considering I have only been here for a small period of time, but I strongly encouraged you to reblog the shit out of this.  It needs to go fucking viral— for the sake of these sites, it needs to go viral.  I even made a previous post about how it annoys me that all anyone does is reblog, BUT THIS IS AN ACTUAL MESSAGE.  Help me out.  All of you.  Even if you are butthurt because I am talking about you, take this as a lesson and pass it on.

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I have been taking photos since middle school and at first it was solely from inspiration but now it is mostly for saving memories.  The ability to photograph a moment, no matter how plain it is, and have it for years is amazing.  Nothing pleases me more then to fill up a photo album with simple portraits of the people I love.  I get your point, I just think that taking pictures can be more then photoshoots.  I believe that photographing your life can be just as beautiful.

I have mixed feelings about this. I don’t really like 365s because they encourage a photo for the sake of a photo and that’s not what photography should be. I see Lauren’s point because photography can be about capturing a moment, but as Kevin said these 365s mostly end up as silly, indie photos with little thought. Most 365s are basically mini-photoshoots, not life photographs and in that sense, they should spend more time and thought on each photo rather just trying to take the photo for the day. I guess I can understand if this a visual diary for the photographer, but then the audience is to blame. Why are we satisfied with mediocrity? Usually when a someone does a 365, not all of their photos are good except for a few out there. In fact, most of their photos are completely uninspired. It makes me angry because if that photographer did not have a 365 and instead took pictures only when they had major inspiration wouldn’t we be left with only their best?

Quality, not quantity, kids.

wow, i really enjoyed reading this, especially hearing another view point on this whole 365 project.
I have my own project and I will be finishing in about a month so i really enjoyed hearing what others had to think of it. As much as i agree with quality versus quantity, i really am glad i started my project. Maybe you may not like my work, but over the year, i can definitely see growth not only in my work as a whole and knowledge of the camera, but growth in how i viewed the world. There were many days where i thought about the photo for a really long time and i wanted to execute it the most particular way as i imagined, but there were also many days where i was not in the mood to take a photo and yet in the last minute, or even perhaps while shooting, would get an instant feeling of inspiration that would transform that shoot. Some of the spur-of-the-moment photos i have done may be my own personal favorites, regardless of what others thought about my work.
I feel like if i did not start my project, my work and knowledge would have grown so much slower. I did not have time for photography before, even though it was a huge hobby of mine. I embarked on this journey so that i could set time aside daily doing what i simply loved doing, even if the photo was uninspirational. i think the 365 pushes the photographer into shooting more often and pushing their limits.
i do not think any 365 will ever be perfect, ever have inspiration photos every single day. but i mean, a 365 is a year in someones life,  i think its quite fascinating to watch other peoples 3465s as they go through their good/bad days. its the way of life i guess, it portrays everything they are going through.
regardless of  happy i am that i started a 365 , i am very sick of doing it.  i could not be happier that is it almost over and i hope to really put more thought into my photos once i am done with the project having less stress in my life.

i think it all has to do with photo preference, do you enjoy all the good photos out of an artist? or do you enjoy watching the good, bad, and the ugly?

thank you for your honesty, and i really respect you for that. if it wasnt for my 365, i believe i would not even have come up with those 5-10 that you may be thinking of. before my project, my thought process was, “hey thats pretty, lets take a photo!”, but now (according to what day, of course, and time allowed) i try to think about the photo and what i cxan portray in a photo. There were always days where i quickly grabbed my camera and took a photo, no thought whatsoever, but i think the 5-10 and my favorites were well worth the journey :)

and yes, i enjoyed this discussion and hearing everyones perspectiove o nthis issue.

Honestly, this post states one of the many reasons why I have, on multiple occasions, toyed around with the idea of stopping my 365 project and the reason why I have taken multiple breaks from it. For me this project has been incredibly frustrating for me, I have always been extremely self-criticizing and scrutinizing myself especially when it comes in terms with photography. So it kills me everytime I post a photo that I’m not proud of let alone like.

But everytime I even begin to think of stopping the 365 project, I think back or heck even look back at my past photos circa Dec. 8, 2006, and I think about how much I have grown. And honestly, I would not be the photographer or more importantly the person I am today, if I hadn’t continued taking photos. These past two years I have learned so so much about photography and how my camera works etc, and I know I have a loong way to go, which is why I started to begin with. And because photography is so important to me, and because I strive to become a better photographer, I need to practice even more. I need to practice a looot.

And what better way to practice then to have to pick up your camera every single day, and go out there and take some photos? Whether or not they’re photos that I’m proud of, I’m practicing, and I’m learning.

That’s all I can do if I want to improve myself.

I’m posting these photos for myself, for my growth, and because of my love for photography and the fact that other people would take the time to look, comment, or favorite them just makes it that much better.

I fell flat on my ass today on the cement when I was trying to sit in my hammock today.

hammocks and I just don’t mesh well