serious, or ridiculous?

removed account4 · Aug 10, 2014

is analog / chemical photography in such a state ( and this website too ? )
that there is only a place for serious photographers, people who talk, act and look serious all the time
and no room for humor at all because we are all so seriously full of ourselves that we cant see the forest through
the trees and see how utterly ridiculous we all can be.

endless gear thread
endless ideal dev threads
endless film threads
and after these endless threads
endless whining and moaning
because all we are so seriously unhappy with stuff.
( cheap cobbled together gear ( that we never cla'd never worked )
state of industry, being looked at while photographing
being asked if your plastic TLR is a hassleblad the list is too long to write ... )

the ideal is whats in your hands and between your ears.
people seem to avoid the obvious, hone in on the ridiculous

to me at least, it seems seriously ridiculous

ajmiller · Aug 10, 2014

jnanian said:
is a̶n̶a̶l̶o̶g̶ ̶/̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶m̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ photography in such a state ( and this website too ? ).....

edit:- my strike-through, not the OP's

Doesn't matter, seems all photography is the same - people do it for a variety of reasons - gear, technical, process, art, record, science - that's what makes it great!

A while ago I decided - Do what you do for yourself, read as much as you need to and f@ck the rest

go and make pictures John - I miss your stuff in the gallery!

Mike Crawford · Aug 10, 2014

There are I expect, many people using film and not on internet forums moaning about their ring adaptors. Thousands, probably tens of thousands, hopefully millions getting on with it.

I was having a chat recently with a lot of film users in Norway where I was doing workshops. One point that came up a few times, which I'm sure many here are part of, is that a lot of enthusiasts are connecting and forming groups on Facebook to share work and communicate, especially on a regional basis. Given the nature of FB, this leads to lots of 'liking' and maybe a bit less bitching. Sure it still happens though!

FiatluX · Aug 10, 2014

Mooaan..

gone · Aug 10, 2014

I'm of the opinion that there's a big difference between the internet and "real life". The web is great for information, no doubt about it. And it's peculiarly addictive. But after all the technical stuff is sorted out, which actually doesn't take long if one is even halfway adept, it's about image making, which by it's very nature is a solitary pursuit. Not everyone here, or on any photography website, is a photographer. Many people are more gear and technical orientated. Some don't even care if the cameras make images, they just collect them, which to me is the equivalent of collecting paint brushes. I'm a lover of ingenious mechanical objects, but could never keep a camera for that reason alone. For the photographers (or image makers), the technical and gear issues are small potatoes. They're only the means to an end, which is how someone w/ a good eye can make beautiful images w/ a piece of junk camera.

The internet has also, by and large, destroyed photography. Before internet, or B.I., if someone wished to see some good photography, they had to buy or borrow an expensive book or go to art exhibits. Now, millions and millions of images are available w/ the click of a finger, and not all of those images are great. With the ready availability of images, and today's auto everything cameras, people quite rightly think it's something everyone can do, and they can (to a point).

The most untalented person can now take tens of thousands of shots w/ their digital camera "for free", edit them down to some good keepers by force of sheer numbers, send them to an online printer, and self publish themselves a nice coffee table book of photography, show them in a gallery, or simply "present" them on a website. You don't see this happening in the arts that require the images to be hand made from start to finish like drawing and painting. Plate photography is also what I would term hand made, but most people don't mean that when they think of photos. It's also relevant that while looking at photographic imagery in a book is pretty close to what hangs on a gallery wall (except for size and scale of course), looking at printed photos of paintings or other hand made art is not the same as looking at the actual work. You obviously get a good idea of the color and design, but the work on the wall is the "real" image, and it's force and power, if any, cannot be captured by a print in a book or an online image.

Sorry for the rant. The first paragraph probably is the answer.

polyglot · Aug 10, 2014

There are forums that are good at promoting and discussing art. This is not really one of them, but that's kind of what you get for it being a technology-centric website. Different places for different purposes.

(I thought your question was going to be about your recent posting history. Is it all trolling or just some of it?)

PKM-25 · Aug 10, 2014

polyglot said:
There are forums that are good at promoting and discussing art. This is not really one of them, but that's kind of what you get for it being a technology-centric website.

I would love to know some of the better ones although I have to say, if I find them what I wish this site had more of, I am likely not to be seen here much. Have any links?

snapguy · Aug 10, 2014

my take

My take on this post is "now, here's another dude griping about something or other, and it is not even clear what. Ridiculous."

hoffy · Aug 10, 2014

How ironic indeed....

removed account4 · Aug 10, 2014

polyglot said:
(I thought your question was going to be about your recent posting history. Is it all trolling or just some of it?)

huh?
my recent posting history and is it trolling?

this site is too friggin serious as i alluded to earlier.
my previous post ( few weeks ago ) was to inject a little bit of humor
into a place that is 99% the same posts of magic bullet chasers over and over again
and unfortunately we are unable to see the comedy in our own posts.

i am not quite sure how asking if levity is permitted at a site filled
with so many people bantering on about if a millipoint of basefog or
incessant tradeoffs between the exact same lens and if the lens coating
will render zone 7 differently or of 700 cameras and lenses are enough
because i still havent used one yet. if you think its just trolling, im not sure what to say
because my question is valid and it seems that someplace that is all serious becomes pretty ridiculous.

==

thanks tony. great advice.

coigach · Aug 10, 2014

jnanian said:
is analog / chemical photography in such a state ( and this website too ? )
that there is only a place for serious photographers, people who talk, act and look serious all the time
and no room for humor at all because we are all so seriously full of ourselves that we cant see the forest through
the trees and see how utterly ridiculous we all can be.

endless gear thread
endless ideal dev threads
endless film threads
and after these endless threads
endless whining and moaning
because all we are so seriously unhappy with stuff.
( cheap cobbled together gear ( that we never cla'd never worked )
state of industry, being looked at while photographing
being asked if your plastic TLR is a hassleblad the list is too long to write ... )

the ideal is whats in your hands and between your ears.
people seem to avoid the obvious, hone in on the ridiculous

to me at least, it seems seriously ridiculous

Can only agree. Over time I've become weary with the tunnel vision of a lot of photographers.

By way of an example I've many friends who are artists in a range of disciplines: printmakers (woodcuts, screen printers), writers, sculptors, painters and I'm always struck by the difference between their artistic outlook and my photographer friends. The others are more interested in challenging themselves, their ideas, their skills and trying to 'say something' through their art. My photography friends are much more interested in equipment and all that that involves rather than why they photograph in the first place. Maybe it's not a typical example for others but it does illustrate a point.

As for artistic growth, I know who I learn more from. Their art is as serious as your life, but part of that means looking critically at it, testing it, and yes, being irreverent. A dedication to developing skills and craft doesn't exclude laughing...

pdeeh · Aug 10, 2014

momus said:
The internet has also, by and large, destroyed photography

well, quite ... we'd all still have proper photography if it hadn't been for those damn meddling kids ...

hoffy · Aug 10, 2014

pdeeh said:
well, quite ... we'd all still have proper photography if it hadn't been for those damn meddling kids ...

But if it wasn't for the internet, I would not have discovered all the fantastic photographers that I have over the last 10 years or so.

If it wasn't for the internet, Vivian Maiers photos would most definitely be landfill.

If it wasn't for the internet, I'd still think 35mm was as good as it gets.

Don't diss the internet.... The internet and I have become quite good friends over the last few years (& who would have thunk it - you can use the internet for more then just porn!)

pdeeh · Aug 10, 2014

Just to be clear, I wasn't exactly agreeing with momus

Xmas · Aug 10, 2014

FiatluX said:
Mooaan..

Alter declention and sing repetitively to tune of

'Jolein Jolein Jolein... dont take away my kchrome just cause you can'

apologies about the prosody...

la.triglia · Aug 10, 2014

We Know the truth!

I admit that i'm lost with this concept. Everyone today mentions photography. It is too difficult to be with people who speak of photography as a result of an evolution of the image. A lot of them do photography as a simple SMS. You feel alone when you think at your work in the darkroom or at carry off heavy equipment... I feel myself like a man that in the era of the laser is still utilising the "A.Volta battery". There is no solution, it remains the certainty of the higher result and the satisfaction in our process, but, I cannot forecast about who seeks and appreciates this result.

Vilk · Aug 10, 2014

hoffy said:
...you can use the internet for more then just porn!

hmmm... like what, for example? now you got my attention!

:confused:

Steve Smith · Aug 10, 2014

I try not to be too serious a lot of the time.

Sometimes I think I am going to get flamed for it but I don't really care!

Steve.

Rick A · Aug 10, 2014

Jnanian is quite correct, this site has become far too serious. I used to have a humorous definition of something innocuous, and another member(after I had it for several years)accused me of being political and Sean removed it and will never allow me to use it again. A couple of days ago, I received a PM from Sean again about another member who takes himself far too seriously, complained of a bit of sarcasm I posted on one of his self promoting threads, asking Sean to kick me off here. The reality is he should be removed for some of his vitriolic posts and bizarre rants on other peoples threads. I appreciate a bit of good natured jibing, and will at times even post threads inviting witty and/or sarcastic replies.
Hey, all you members of the PC police, I think you are suffering from what I call CRIS (cranial rectal insertion syndrome).

Vonder · Aug 10, 2014

What's ridiculous is a digital (website) for analog work. It's all digital, folks, now move along.

David Brown · Aug 10, 2014

Rick A said:
this site has become far too serious.

Yes, and that's what makes the site funny ...

peter k. · Aug 10, 2014

Rick A said:
CRIS (cranial rectal insertion syndrome).

Priceless two Thumbs up... thanks and will use it.. "Hey are ur having a CRIS moment" ;-) great thanks...

Bill Burk · Aug 10, 2014

I came here for an argument.

I played "The Argument Clinic" for my younger son last week, you know the Monty Python skit where the guy gets shuffled off between rooms Abuse, Arguments, Complaints and "Getting hit on the head lessons"...

But my answer to your question jnanian, and I think you know this...

Serious is just a quality of photography.

I get the most enjoyment out of photography when I mess with qualities of photography.

"What would happen if I mess with blurriness" - you taught me that and it gave me Land of the Dinosaurs

So what happens if you mess with the "Serious" quality of photography... You get "Humor"

And there is nothing wrong with that!

Old-N-Feeble · Aug 10, 2014

I bought a pug because of APUG. He's all analog and often wet... gettin' old and rickety too with foggy lenses... and I only feed him with plates. He must have been overexposed when he was born because he's as dense as a rock. I dearly love him, though, despite all his faults and inconveniences.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 10, 2014

How about this? Kim Kardashian has her own photo book!

http://www.rizzoliusa.com/book.php?isbn=9780789329202

serious, or ridiculous?

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