The Other Perspective
Posted on: April 15, 20105 Comments |
When I asked you all to think about how your life would be different without photography many of you mentioned — in one way or another — how much more observant working with the camera makes you. I doubt there is a photographer out there who would argue with the basic premise that visual perception is enhanced through the practice of looking through a viewfinder and experiencing the world from the other side of a lens. Undoubtedly, the process of photographing forces us to slow down. It makes us more deliberate about and aware of our experiences.
But that got me to thinking: What does the process of looking at photographs do for us? How does it change our perception and understanding of the world? Does it expand our horizons — or replace our own vision (or imagination) with that of someone else? Does the effect differ based on the “type” of viewer? Perhaps a skilled and practiced photographer will have a different experience from that of an enthusiast. Perhaps a true patron of the art will have a different experience than that of a casual observer. Does the context in which the photo is displayed or viewed make a difference? Gallery vs. computer screen vs. magazine. Feature vs. advertisement. Does it matter whether the photo is one of your own creation or the product of someone else’s vision?
I’m keen to carefully consider photography from the viewer’s perspective. I’d like to share all my thoughts on the subject with you, but (1) I’m still collecting them, (2) I’d rather start a discussion, and (3) I’m copping out a little because I’ve got one of those really annoying springtime colds and I need to get some sleep.
So let’s do this: Take a few minutes to thinking about one or more of the questions I’ve posed. You might also consider how looking at photographs has influenced your art, life, and your relationships, if at all. Has is changed your sense of place or belonging? Has it had an effect on your values? Your priorities? Your dreams or goals? Are there any particular photos that really had a profound and lasting effect on you?
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April 15th, 2010 at 10:34 am
First, let me start by saying that I really enjoy your posts and I really appreciate how you make them interactive by creating discussions.
I think that as far as the viewer, being viewers ourselves as well, we tend to deliver what we would like to see in a photograph or what moves “us”. If for example, I am attracted to minimalist photographs as a viewer, I start looking for those compositions as a photographer and explore that to deliver exactly what I like to see.. (Am I even making any sense? lol)
As far as influence, there are photos I have taken or others have taken that have strongly influenced my paintings. It might be the entire composition, or a texture or some colors. Photography is such a big part of me that I am constantly looking around and seeing potentially good images (even whithout my camera), just as I have in my mind others’ images that have moved me or influenced me.
As far as how the photograph is viewed, on a computer screen, on a gallery wall, magazine, etc.. I think that if the photograph is strong and it appeals to us, it will no matter if it is on an ad or on the computer or on a wall…sure, it will look better on a gallery wall, but ultimately it is the image itself that is impacting us, not the form in which it is presented.
feel free to cut my response by 1/3 lol
April 16th, 2010 at 12:10 am
*edits Maite’s typos first*
okay, now i can move on…
i think those of us who have our sight are extremely lucky to be able to see a photograph in the first place. seeing everyday life and seeing a photograph are two completely different things because of the fact that a moment has been plucked out of life and frozen forever. There is no way I could pick one or two “profound” shots that have influenced my life or my photography…i see them every single day, whether online, in real life, on tv, or in print. i think photography shapes much of the world around us because of this…
April 20th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
i’ll have to agree completely with maite and abe.
i definitely have a better appreciation of my environment, what i can see, what i can photograph, the atmosphere and what i feel in that moment, of when i’m taking the photo and what i’m taking a photo of.
i like that i think about composition, even if i’m just looking and not photographing anything, like maite said. like writing in a journal, taking photographs helps me remember the moment more, no matter what emotion has been felt at the time. it makes my memories more tangible.
April 21st, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I am a very visual person, and I love looking at all sorts of visual art. I have never really considered who is looking at my photography, I just try and please myself. However, I am starting to think about getting together some photos to submit to a contest, and now I am considering these things more… will this change my outlook? Probably. For better? Hopefully. But I think I am my own harshest critic…. probably not true tho. Thanks for the food for thought!!
June 18th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
“Perhaps a skilled and practiced photographer will have a different experience from that of an enthusiast.”
This sentence struck a chord with me. As an exercise, sometimes it is useful to explore the boundary conditions… the opposing ends of a spectra. In this case, what does my mom think about when looking at a photograph versus what does a ‘skilled and practiced’ photographer see?
My mom looks at a photo, and sees a picture. By that, I mean photographs taken to capture a decisive moment, to create a memory. She can look at my photos and murmur words about how nice it looks. Then she can look at a family portrait and get really animated, looking at the people, remembering where it was taken, etc etc. For her, photography is essentially commemoration.
It’s hard for me to imagine what someone with skill sees when he looks at a photograph. I can only postulate that s/he looks for the craft. What were the tricky bits in taking this photo? Oooh, he used flashes here, here, and there. Right, she got down low and went wide with that one. Skill begets skill, and understanding the process some is essential to learning more.
As for me, since I am not particularly skillful, I can see where there might be problems, but cannot always see how they were solved. I am able to step back from analysis and appreciate. I think art, for me, is best left as magic and it will be disappointing if ever I achieve enough talent that the magic disappears.
(By they way, I was pointed today to your page. It looks promising, thanks.)