Comments on: Damn! http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/ thoughts on photography Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:45:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Daniel Shea, Appalachia, and Mountain Top Removal « A Series of Natural Gestures http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-51 Daniel Shea, Appalachia, and Mountain Top Removal « A Series of Natural Gestures Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:55:35 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-51 [...] on mountain top removal I was a little disappointed that he had beat me to it—which is a subject Cara Philips seems to have beaten me to writing about also . . [...] [...] on mountain top removal I was a little disappointed that he had beat me to it—which is a subject Cara Philips seems to have beaten me to writing about also . . [...]

]]> By: alexanderh http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-42 alexanderh Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:07:48 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-42 Cara, What really struck me about this post was your comment about editing yourself right off the bat. It made me wonder if the real inhibition that you feel is the weight of the pre-existing work or the strictures of what passes as "good". A friend of mine told me the other day that he engages images for that "surprise" of the first moment. It reminded me of the first moment you see someone you like nude. But if you're focused on those moments you begin to run through lovers like tissue for that thrill. But there are many hidden thrills to be enjoyed over time. I wondered after the conversation if too much importance and pressure is placed on surprise and instant thrill and not enough on discipline and living with the image. He also very much worries about what to call the images, even before taking them. Is this an “art” project, is this an “editorial” style and so forth… When I look at your work on this blog, (which I very much like by the way). I find myself pulled in and interested by it... I wonder what has led you to these themes, what is happening with you psychologically... I wonder if our expectations have to change, if what we're looking for will never be captured at a glance, but only with a careful long-term study. I guess my answer (and I absolutely struggle with all these issues you bring up and found this post very close to my own feelings) is to withdraw a bit, to consume work, to love it and to look at it, but to not think about the "point" of work I do. I honestly believe that we must work hard not to create even “great” work, but to insert ourselves into our work… because artists people who can do that, they connect with people, they connect with me. So maybe we should ask… how would this subject matter impact me… what shakes me to see… what am I afraid to see… what makes me sick or want to cry… I don’t know the answer... Sorry for the rambling  Alexander http://hoganalexander.blogspot.com Cara,

What really struck me about this post was your comment about editing yourself right off the bat. It made me wonder if the real inhibition that you feel is the weight of the pre-existing work or the strictures of what passes as “good”.

A friend of mine told me the other day that he engages images for that “surprise” of the first moment. It reminded me of the first moment you see someone you like nude. But if you’re focused on those moments you begin to run through lovers like tissue for that thrill. But there are many hidden thrills to be enjoyed over time.

I wondered after the conversation if too much importance and pressure is placed on surprise and instant thrill and not enough on discipline and living with the image. He also very much worries about what to call the images, even before taking them. Is this an “art” project, is this an “editorial” style and so forth…

When I look at your work on this blog, (which I very much like by the way). I find myself pulled in and interested by it… I wonder what has led you to these themes, what is happening with you psychologically… I wonder if our expectations have to change, if what we’re looking for will never be captured at a glance, but only with a careful long-term study.

I guess my answer (and I absolutely struggle with all these issues you bring up and found this post very close to my own feelings) is to withdraw a bit, to consume work, to love it and to look at it, but to not think about the “point” of work I do.

I honestly believe that we must work hard not to create even “great” work, but to insert ourselves into our work… because artists people who can do that, they connect with people, they connect with me. So maybe we should ask… how would this subject matter impact me… what shakes me to see… what am I afraid to see… what makes me sick or want to cry… I don’t know the answer… Sorry for the rambling 

Alexander

http://hoganalexander.blogspot.com

]]> By: charliecrane http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-41 charliecrane Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:54:53 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-41 I think it's important to keep going even if you know other work is coming out on the same subject, it doesn't make your point of view any less relevant. I recently completed a project that three other photographers were also doing (unknown to me until the final stages) and it was very touch and go as to whether my book was going to be published. As it happens three books were published on the same subject within months of each other and each photographer has a taken a slightly different approach to their subject. I'm happy that the other work was created, it actually reassures me in some way. Love the blog by the way Cara, keep it up. I think it’s important to keep going even if you know other work is coming out on the same subject, it doesn’t make your point of view any less relevant.
I recently completed a project that three other photographers were also doing (unknown to me until the final stages) and it was very touch and go as to whether my book was going to be published. As it happens three books were published on the same subject within months of each other and each photographer has a taken a slightly different approach to their subject.
I’m happy that the other work was created, it actually reassures me in some way.
Love the blog by the way Cara, keep it up.

]]> By: christian harkness http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-40 christian harkness Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:43:40 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-40 Hi Cara - oh, sure. I absolutley agree. Just don't get discourage - well, I think you are not! cheers - christian Hi Cara – oh, sure. I absolutley agree. Just don’t get discourage – well, I think you are not!

cheers – christian

]]> By: Cara Phillips http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-39 Cara Phillips Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:31:46 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-39 Christian, Thank you for the thoughtful response, perhaps my post was not clear, I was only raising the question of how one deals with this issue. I agree with you that you cannot be sidetracked or give up just because someone else has shot something. But I do think it is important to make work that considers these concerns. You can't just blindly make work without considering what is going on around you and has come before. But after considering it, you do should just go out and make the pictures that are right for you and your subject. Christian,

Thank you for the thoughtful response, perhaps my post was not clear, I was only raising the question of how one deals with this issue. I agree with you that you cannot be sidetracked or give up just because someone else has shot something. But I do think it is important to make work that considers these concerns. You can’t just blindly make work without considering what is going on around you and has come before. But after considering it, you do should just go out and make the pictures that are right for you and your subject.

]]> By: christian harkness http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-38 christian harkness Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:14:28 +0000 http://caraphillips.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/damn/#comment-38 Well, I go from the assumption that there are too many photographs out there already, and the world does not need one more picture. Sure, 99.99 percent of the photography we see in print or in museums is derivative. So, how do we, as photographers deal with this. I think we have two choices; either toss our cameras on the trash heap or go right on photographing. I believe that if you have some talent, and work hard, your work will be greatly appreciated by some people. Now, those people might not be the ones you want – you may want the others to appreciate your work, but be careful what you wish for……. “…perhaps photography will only start to grow when it is free from the art market and education system that is currently sustaining it.” That may or may not be so, however I think that this kind of worrying about what is going on in the big bad world is totally counterproductive, because no matter what, there isn’t a darn thing one can do about it. I had a discovery similarly to yours when I started making small prints, tearing the photo paper to size, and then just sticking the prints on the wall. Low and behold, then I ran across the work of Masao Yamamoto…..what can I say. For one thing, if I were to feel I was copying other photographer by – for example - mounting my prints in white window mat within a black frame, then I might as well give up again. Therefore, I think one needs to just go on, perhaps invigorated by the thought that if others are doing work like we are doing it, then it might be of interest to a wide group of people. Of course I also think that if one is a good photographer, than ones style and talent will be recognized, but I can’t sit here worrying about it. Well, I go from the assumption that there are too many photographs out there already, and the world does not need one more picture. Sure, 99.99 percent of the photography we see in print or in museums is derivative. So, how do we, as photographers deal with this. I think we have two choices; either toss our cameras on the trash heap or go right on photographing. I believe that if you have some talent, and work hard, your work will be greatly appreciated by some people. Now, those people might not be the ones you want – you may want the others to appreciate your work, but be careful what you wish for…….
“…perhaps photography will only start to grow when it is free from the art market and education system that is currently sustaining it.” That may or may not be so, however I think that this kind of worrying about what is going on in the big bad world is totally counterproductive, because no matter what, there isn’t a darn thing one can do about it.
I had a discovery similarly to yours when I started making small prints, tearing the photo paper to size, and then just sticking the prints on the wall. Low and behold, then I ran across the work of Masao Yamamoto…..what can I say. For one thing, if I were to feel I was copying other photographer by – for example – mounting my prints in white window mat within a black frame, then I might as well give up again. Therefore, I think one needs to just go on, perhaps invigorated by the thought that if others are doing work like we are doing it, then it might be of interest to a wide group of people. Of course I also think that if one is a good photographer, than ones style and talent will be recognized, but I can’t sit here worrying about it.

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