Writing Advice for Photographers from Jorg Colberg

[projectbasho]

Hi all-

We recently talked with Jorg Colberg (photography writer who runs the ONWARD blog) about why it is important for photographers to write about their work as well as ways we can improve our writing skills as photographers.

Here is the article: http://bit.ly/1yIErY3

Do you write about your own photography? Does it help?

 

[Oren Grad]

No, and no.

 

[Maris]

Yes and yes. If the internal conversation I have about the photographs I make is not coherent enough to write down then it's not coherent enough to serve as a well-spring for worthwhile work. I suppose a genius could get by on inspiration, instinct, and habituation and leave the pictures to do the "talking" but I'm limited to the persistence and discipline approach and the load of thinking that goes with it.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Yes, I write about my work, and no I don't need advice from someone I've never heard of. I'm a high school English teacher; I'm quite capable of writing.

 

[cliveh]

A good photograph doesn't need a crutch; it speaks for its self.

 

[horacekenneth]

Jorg Colberg is great. Looking forward to reading this.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Does it help?

Does it help what?

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

A good photograph doesn't need a crutch; it speaks for its self.

I disagree. I often see really interesting photos, and I want to know more than you can get from just the visual: What is it, where is it, why is this happening? Photography is a documentary medium, and goes hand in hand with writing...neither can tell the whole story alone.

 

[horacekenneth]

That was great. I hope everyone took the time to read a good interview by an APUG supporter.

 

[scheimfluger_77]

There is a running thread in the Ethics forum here about this article as well. (interesting these two haven't been collapsed into one by the Mods.) Same pro and con responses. I agree that photography being a visual medium primariy, not needing expository praise, is relevant. However I think the author is encouraging writing for the process of clarifying ones photographic vision in a concrete way, as a method to hone one's personal goals in photography. It's a way to define for yourself and others what you are about.

 

[mgb74]

I find that writing about a photograph puts it in the context of my intentions. If that's evidence of my limitations as a photographer, so be it.