Interesting speech involving photography

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2013

This speaker has some important and beautiful thoughts to share, and it involves photography.

http://www.upworthy.com/this-is-why...us-in-a-holey-t-shirt-and-sweatpants-2?c=ufb1

Enjoy!

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 2, 2013

Thanks Thomas! Enjoyed it immensely.

Jeff Kubach · Jul 2, 2013

Great video, thanks!

Jeff

Bob Carnie · Jul 2, 2013

I found it quite boring.... sorry Thomas I must not have a sensitive side to me.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2013

Bob Carnie said:
I found it quite boring.... sorry Thomas I must not have a sensitive side to me.

See if Dinesh likes it.

cliveh · Jul 2, 2013

I personally hate these sort of lectures and perhaps it’s because I’ve seen too many of them. When someone tells me they are a photographer I often like to look at their images. However, once I start hearing a lecture about why/meanings and stuff I turn off. If I look at pictures by Atget, Kertesz and the like, or even much less accomplished photographers, I can often understand what they are doing or trying to do. I don’t need to read a dissertation to appreciate or make value judgements about an image.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2013

cliveh said:
I personally hate these sort of lectures and perhaps its because Ive seen too many of them. When someone tells me they are a photographer I often like to look at their images. However, once I start hearing a lecture about why/meanings and stuff I turn off. If I look at pictures by Atget, Kertesz and the like, or even much less accomplished photographers, I can often understand what they are doing or trying to do. I dont need to read a dissertation to appreciate or make value judgements about an image.

Clive,

The grander scheme of the talk is not photography - it is about appreciating the world around us, and the people in it, perhaps even to see something good about those we don't like.
Photography and light was used as a metaphor to bring that message forward; it isn't about photography per se.

Bob Carnie · Jul 2, 2013

I am still trying to see his inner beauty, no luck yet.
QUOTE=Thomas Bertilsson;1517284]See if Dinesh likes it.[/QUOTE]

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2013

I appreciate your efforts, Bob. You're a good man for trying.

Bob Carnie said:
I am still trying to see his inner beauty, no luck yet.

Thomas Bertilsson said:

See if Dinesh likes it.

Click to expand...

cliveh · Jul 2, 2013

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Clive,

The grander scheme of the talk is not photography - it is about appreciating the world around us, and the people in it, perhaps even to see something good about those we don't like.
Photography and light was used as a metaphor to bring that message forward; it isn't about photography per se.

But this is a photography forum.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2013

cliveh said:
But this is a photography forum.

No comments.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 2, 2013

99% of good photography is not about photography. It's about perception. The easiest part of making a great image is clicking the shutter. With all this cool wiz bang technology that can focus, expose and process images for us, knowing how to see is the most important endeavor of being a photographer today.

Toffle · Jul 2, 2013

Must be something in the APUG water supply lately. Not as inspiring as the Salgado TED talk, but she does make some valid points which we can either interpret technically or philosophically when we apply them to our photography.

Thanks for sharing, Thomas.

zsas · Jul 3, 2013

This was great Thomas! Thanks for the share, great way to have started my day!

blansky · Jul 3, 2013

Great metaphor and nice presentation.

Look for the light is probably a better mantra and mindset than " don't let the fuckers get you down."

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 8, 2013

I just re-watched this, and found that I still like her outlook and way of looking at things. I think our photography largely reflects who we are as people, at least if we are intuitive about it and go by our emotions and instincts when we do our work.
For me most scenes are completely transformed by light; for many years I've photographed either at night or in soft morning/evening light. Lately I've started liking direct sunlight a lot for certain things, and the stark contrast it can create. It makes a world of difference to look at the light, to study it, and to use it to our advantage. Seems important to me.

If we apply that to life in general as well, a metaphor like blansky names it, it could make for a more positive and rewarding way of leading our lives, to look for the good where we can.
Conversely, contrast is important, and in order to recognize something good, we have to know what 'bad' is too, but I think we automatically get so much of that anyway that we don't have to try to find it. The more we practice, the better we become at seeing the 'good', just as we get better at anything we practice a lot.

blansky · Jul 9, 2013

All marketers, political types, and those disturbing assholes in media that desperately seek attention all know that base emotions like fear and hate and jealousy sell.

Our job if we wish to live a happy fulfilling life is to filter out the poison and ignore or neutralize it.

This is a full time job because marketing and media are everywhere 24/7, so a positive mantra is important to keep us centered.

"Look for the light" is as good as any, but there are lots of them.

Bob Carnie · Jul 9, 2013

**Yes I will have another one please**, is one of mine.

blansky said:
All marketers, political types, and those disturbing assholes in media that desperately seek attention all know that base emotions like fear and hate and jealousy sell.

Our job if we wish to live a happy fulfilling life is to filter out the poison and ignore or neutralize it.

This is a full time job because marketing and media are everywhere 24/7, so a positive mantra is important to keep us centered.

"Look for the light" is as good as any, but there are lots of them.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 9, 2013

Bob Carnie said:
**Yes I will have another one please**, is one of mine.

Excellent. I do that once in a while too.

Alan Klein · Jul 9, 2013

Light could be a metaphor for God. I think there was a little of that in her presentation.

Bateleur · Jul 10, 2013

Thanks Thomas. Inspiring and thought provoking!

Interesting speech involving photography

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