I get more questions via email and social channels than I could answer in a lifetime, but occasionally one jumps out at me as incredibly worthwhile to share. The answer to this question is important, and my response is below. Chime in and let me know what you think:
“What’s more important as a photographer… to remove yourself from the photograph, or to make the photograph about you as a photographer?”
-from photographer Jay McLaughlin
In order to make the most successful, effective (read: insightful, moving, impactful, beautiful, etc) image, the photographer must be “present” in the image. Simply put, this is crucial–perhaps MOST important for any shooter– you should strive to make a photograph that no one else in the world can make. And the primary mode of being able to do this is to infuse your personal vision to the image. Period, whether it’s reportage, fine art, or a fashion shoot. Doing otherwise is creating a commodity – something that anyone, or an “other” can make– that can be bought or sold like a pork belly or a barrel of oil.
Making such a photo that no one else can make can take many forms–technical excellence is a part of that–but at it’s essence is the need to reflect a mood that only you can capture or evoke, based on your access, your knowledge, your interpersonal skills or otherwise. So you absolutely must put your fingerprints on the shot. It’s not “about” you (sic), but you are clearly present…
Thanks Jay for the evocative question. Readers please chime in below if you feel inspired, otherwise go make that photo that no one else can make.
Yo, I love the post, love your answer and the picture is great! But… icould have taken that picture, as well as anybody with a camera… What makes it so striking?
Hands consume, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a colossal mixture of all sorts of apps vs a rather distressing choice of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, markedly in the realm of games, on the contrary I’m not definite I’d want to consider proceeding the impending if this aspect is focal to you. The iPod is a much enhanced array in that case.
we are the ones framing the scene before us, so it is imperative that we express ourselves through the image. how else could several photographers cover the same event,subject or landscape and produce entirely different images? If i as an artist could not express myself, certainly photography as a medium would entirely lose it’s appeal.
Wow that makes me think, huh? I’d love to have my own line of photos with my own feel without literally adding myself in the picture. That would be something I am in the quest to discover!