I have never regarded myself as a “photographer” – I mean, I would
never put “Maree Clarkson, Artist, Naturalist and ‘Photographer’” in my
resumé and I’ve never visited a photographic exhibition like I would
visit an art exhibition. Sure, I love taking photographs, but it’s more a
‘record-keeping’ thing for me; which plant is flowering, what new bird
is visiting my garden, when did one of my chickens lay her first egg. I
would photograph something just because it’s beautiful and just use the
default settings for the camera, not actually having a clue what’s going
to appear.
And I’ve always wondered about people that have an absolute
passion
for photography, who choose it as a profession and who get to know
their camera, how it works, which setting is for what and experimenting
with their settings like I experiment with my watercolour paints.
So I decided to investigate this ‘phenomena’ and found this
website that gives
six reasons why photography matters.
1. Our photographs tell us what is important to us
When you ask people what possessions they would rescue from their
burning house, one of the most frequent answers is the photograph album
or a computer with their digital images. When in panic mode it’s
interesting that we would probably grab photos rather than valuable
jewelry. This impulse to save our recorded memories is a powerful force
which tells us much about the role of photography in our lives and our
constant desire to distil our most precious moments into images.
2. Photographs are part of our legacy
Photographs matter because they freeze moments of our lives which
pass unremarkably and which seem to have little importance to us at the
time. The significance, however, may be for others who search for the
person we once were or the places we once knew. They can be small pieces
of a jigsaw that complete the larger picture of our lives.
3. Photographs allow us to share and to communicate.
Images are much more than a simple record. Photography speaks to the
best and most generous part of our human nature – the desire to share
what we find beautiful and interesting with others. You only have to
look at Flickr and a multitude of photo sharing sites to see this
impulse at work. Millions of people sharing their personal, passionate
and sometimes quirky take on the world around them. Our images can
involve a world of strangers in our life. How powerful is that?
4. Photography makes us artists
Photography allows us to express ourselves through an art form. We
notice a beautiful landscape or flower or an old man’s lined face and we want to
capture it. Each of us will have a different reason to do so but,
essentially, we want to create something. However humdrum our
nine-to-five lives may be, the creation of an image makes us an artist.
It feels good.
5. Photography is a complex language
Our images can express joy and sorrow, wonder and sympathy. Every
human emotion can find a place in photography. For many years I never
valued my photographs of overcast landscape because I believed that
there was no beauty in a land with muted colours and a leaden sky. I
wanted the land to be alive with colour and vibrancy. However, lack of
colour in a landscape makes you search for other things that often go
un-remarked in bright sunlight. It could be a symmetry of hills or a tree
standing out from a forest of thousands.
6. Photography has the power to move us
Photographs can grab our attention and speak directly to our
emotions. Nick Ut’s photograph of a crying Vietnamese girl whose clothes
have been burnt away by napalm embodies the power of a single image. At
a more subtle level, we can learn lessons about a whole range of
emotions. Grief has the power to wash away the luminance and chrominance
of our lives. There is no magic way to restore them at will. We have to
be patient. But while waiting we can search for the shapes and patterns
that are still there in the greyness. They will lead us back to colour
eventually. At moments of great sorrow in my life I have used images to
express that hope of returning colour.
Photography should make you happy. Never let someone impede on
your personal happiness. You love HDRs and someone else doesn’t – who
cares? You are enamored with landscapes but your friends think they’re
droll – don’t let it bother you. You’re a fashion nut but no one gets
your style – just keep being you. Enjoy your photography for what it is –
your own. Know that not everyone will appreciate it, but if it
personally fulfills you, that’s all that truly matters. Be true to
yourself and you’ll never regret a day of your life.
Read my
Saturday Chat on RedBubble and view some more excellent photography!
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