Zen and the Art of Photographic Appreciation
Published by Ken Scott on 26 Mar 2008, 19:03: Tag Philosophy, Judging, Psychology, Photography
In my deeply philosophical state of mind in recent times, I’ve been reflecting on what photography is really all about. And one question in particular has been on my mind:
What is the difference between a marvellous photograph, and an ordinary photograph of something marvellous?
When people comment on photographs, for example on Flickr, to what does the comment refer? Often it will be a comment in one-word hyperbole like “awesome” or “marvellous”. Are they commenting on the subject matter or the image?
Marvellous photographs, or photographs of marvellous things?
A good example of photographs of marvellous things would be the countless images I’ve seen of places like the Himalaya. One could argue that it is difficult to make unimpressive pictures in the Himalaya, because the place is impressive. Yet some photographers definitely create images, marvellous images, that have more soul than others. I think the Himalaya are marvellous mountains, but what is special to me is ordinary to others, and the scale of variance is infinite.
Subject novelty or familiarity can lead to confused distinctions between marvellous photos and marvellous things. I’ve seen critics rave about an image of …
Extended Views Exhibition
Published by Ken Scott on 22 Feb 2008, 12:33: Tag Exhibitions, Photographers, News, Photography
The Focus Group is a group of highly-talented photographers from the south of England. The group’s second major exhibition “Extended Views” opens for public viewing on 3rd March 2008, and runs until 15th March, at the Oxmarket Galleries and Arts Centre in Chichester, West Sussex.
The Oxmarket Galleries are in the Little London district of Chichester city centre.
John Beatty - Wild, Spirit in the Land
Published by Ken Scott on 5 Jan 2008, 12:41: Tag Photographers, Mountaineering, News, Photography
Steyning Camera Club is thrilled to present the award-winning multimedia show “Wild, Spirit in the Land” by John Beatty - NOW Wednesday 20th February 2008 - in Steyning, West Sussex.
John is widely recognised as one of the most exciting and stimulating nature, travel and adventure photographers in the UK. His last visit to Sussex was over 20 years ago, and this presentation is UNMISSABLE if you have any interest in wild places and nature. The show has been seen recently at the international film festivals for mountaineering in Banff (Canada), and Telluride (Colorado).
This description of the show is from John’s website www.wild-vision.com:
“Wild, Spirit in the Land is an award-winning multimedia experience that explores the timeless rhythms of nature and man’s place within it. Journey into wild places, to mountain, forest and desert, absorbed in the textures and spirits of the wild. Meet indigenous peoples and hear their song in a flow of gently changing images, choreographed to music produced and composed by Robin Beatty. Wild, Spirit in the Land strives to evoke a sense of wonder, of beauty, …
366 2008
Published by Ken Scott on 4 Jan 2008, 16:31: Tag News, Photography
What is happening in the TTL world? I mean what is happening … ? TTL is following the crowd and doing a “pic a day” project. I’ve been intrigued by the 365 idea for some time, and 1st January 2008 seems an ideal opportunity to move it along.
For me the real interest is in what it might reveal in hindsight as a collection, whether in open subject choices or self-portraits, a little like writing “morning pages” with the camera.
I want it to be present, in the moment, and not contrived. Ideally it would be in the Jim Brandenburg style - releasing the shutter just once every day. But there is too much other work to be done for that to be realistic.
So here goes. Follow the series on my flickr site. Infer what you will from the images and enjoy. And please DO interact and let me know how you are responding. I will review in a year’s time.
Keep the Spirit
Published by Ken Scott on 23 Dec 2007, 1:30: Tag News
Wishing a very happy Christmas and successful new year to everyone who has touched the light with me in 2007. It has been wonderful fun meeting so many new friends through my work with clubs and lecture tours, and via Flickr. Let’s continue into 2008.
I’m always taken by the idea that we should ‘keep’ Christmas. Whatever it is we are celebrating, the spirit that develops among us as people at this time of year is genuinely uplifting. Why not ‘keep the spirit’ for the whole year? Why not be open and loving every day?
With this image of the brocken spectre, I am not surprised that we have the symbol of the angel that we have. The spirit is with us all the time; it is perhaps only when we see it like this, our shadow looking back to us, that we realise it …
… Ken
So Digital makes it easier … ?
Published by Ken Scott on 18 Dec 2007, 17:05: Tag Equipment, Photography
“Digital Photography makes things easier”, or so they say.
Any counter-claim is likely to be regarded as heresy by the zealots: an opinion that you are not allowed to have. “Away with you dinosaur luddite …” they would say.
Now it has also been known for this writer to exhibit cynical tendencies occasionally. Whenever I hear claims for technological advances, I am drawn to the practice of “seasoning” a cast-iron pan to make it non-stick, which pre-dated Teflon by several thousand years.
We call it progress.
Let me be clear now that my main interest in photography is the image and its quality of expression. Equipment means little to me. However, there are some aspects of digital photography that I perceive to have made my life more complicated. Let me explain.
Fume Cupboards and Safelights
In days of old, when enthusiast photographers developed film and printed images in the darkroom, hours were spent in darkness in the presence of noxious chemicals, visual senses attuned to safelight, in the pursuit of craft. We could have contracted the whole process out to a printer, of course, but that was to sell our creative and technical souls down the river of …
Down
Published by Ken Scott on 10 Dec 2007, 16:10: Tag Site Updates, NewsApologies to everyone who has tried but been unable to access the blog over the last week. We have had server access problems with MySQL and have had to reset databases and passwords. Sorry again for any inconvenience.
Beating the Photography Blues
Published by Ken Scott on 23 Nov 2007, 11:54: Tag Psychology, Photography
Ever had that blue feeling ? Just blue. Down. Depressed. The kind of feeling that has you thinking you’ll never make a good photo ever again. What can you do to get out of it?
Sometimes it lingers for months. It undermines your confidence. It makes you choose to do something more comfortable. Avoiding, evading, always deeper downwards.
Creativity is one of the most indefinable skills any of us has. For some of us it is more developed than in others, but it is there. Children have it in abundance until it is reasoned out of them by adults. It comes and goes in cycles, even for the most creative of us, and when the spark isn’t there, nothing happens.
Most of the time it is because we are our own worst enemies. We get distracted. We get too busy doing something else, doing something else. We tell ourselves we are not creative.
Musicians, artists and writers know what it feels like. So do sports people.
And yet when there is a spark, nothing stops us; images flow into the mind faster than they can be …
Flickrites
Published by Ken Scott on 15 Nov 2007, 22:06: Tag Photography
You will know that I have recently been promoting FLICKR heavily and it is about time that I gave some LOUD CHEERS to some of the brilliant photographers I’ve contacted. Do give them a visit:
Adrian’s Art, Autism Mom, Cuibel, DL Ennis, David Cartier, j neuberger, Jim Dollar, Matilde B, neloqua, photosecosse, Polystyrene cup, realkuhl, RobDG, ScarletFaerie, Sierra Impressions, Tampen, torpenhow3, virginiaz, vonvonvon, …
New Gallery - Fuerteventura
Published by Ken Scott on 15 Nov 2007, 11:40: Tag Gallery Updates, News
This is another archive publication of images from the second-largest, oldest and emptiest of the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of North Africa. Not a description that in itself would generate much excitement. However, Fuerteventura is wonderful, with expansive dunes, wild beaches, barren inland hills and fabulous colours. It is also a therapeutic haven, embracing naturism on almost all beaches.
See the Gallery. Read the Gallery Notes.
Photographically, the sand offers many new perspectives in natural light. I’m departing from my principles a little here, with recent emphasis on place. However, place offers me a convenient way to organise the archive before pulling together some more themes.
