This is just a short post about something I’ve been recently getting frustrated with, and I wanted to see anyone else’s thoughts about it.
I’ve recently gotten a Canon camera, one identical to what we use in the Photography department at school. A couple of reasons I finally bought one was that 1. it was on sale, 2. I know how to work it, 3. it would be a great camera to use until I can get a more professional equipment. I’m really happy with it so far, although I’m a little rusty. I kept my textbook from a previous digital photography class which has been a really useful reference for me. I’ve been thinking a lot about my digital imaging class I’ll be taking this fall, and just photography in general. I went to the Des Moines Art Festival this weekend and it was great, and I saw a lot of amazing art there as well. The emerging artists section was particularly interesting for me as well, and it gave me a goal so that perhaps I can have a booth there with my photography some day.
However, it really frustrates me when I see people, mostly through Facebook, who have a decent camera and decide to start their own “business” with very little training. I’ve only taken one photo class but I intend to make it the concentration of my BFA by the time I graduate. I get that it’s a good hobby/part-time job to make money, but it’s frustrating to think that they’ve probably Googled “good photography tips” and think that they’re pretty good at this stuff. There is an incredible history to photography, not to mention that it can be quite controversial at times. (Like is it really appropriate to photograph at mother’s grief over her dead child? Just one of the topics we’ve discussed in my class.) These people mostly aim for portraiture, which is fine, but most of the great photographs I saw this weekend had no people in them at all. Photography is very artistic, but is common portraiture artistic? It’s really up for opinion and interpretation.
So many self-proclaimed photographers also use the tackiest methods of making their photographs “unique.” Such as putting their photos in grayscale and then intensely coloring the subject’s eyes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen that done. It’s not unique at all when you’ve seen it done a million times. That’s why I really just wish these people would take a photography class. The photography educators has exposed themselves to so much photography, a good teacher will flat out tell you if a technique is overused. They teach the art behind photography. I know great photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Paul Strand are probably rolling in their graves right now.
Perhaps I feel this way because I’m slightly competitive and I want to have a good job when I graduate. I just feel smothered that I’m surrounded by other fellow amateur artists who don’t know the first thing about ISO settings and shutter speeds. (You’d be surprised how good of photos you can take without knowing any of the that with Canon’s automatic shooting.)
What does everyone else think?
