Why is photography philosophical?

It reminds me of the story of the grasshopper and the millipede.

 

One day the grasshopper met the millipede on the road.

 

"You know," said the grasshopper, "there is something that I have always wanted to ask you."

 

"Well, ask away." answered the millipede.

 

"With so many legs, how do you know which one to move first?

 

"Hmmmm," said the millipede, "I never thought of it before."

 

So he sat down and thought..and thought...and thought...and never walked again!

I thought that one of the great joys of photography was that it could be almost anything you wanted it to be.

"It must suck to be you."

 

Pico loves to hand it out but he sure hates to be on the receiving end. If he learnt manners he might be able to contribute something usefull to these threads but he seems to be so full of spite that he just has to have a go at anyone he thinks will put up with it. A while back he promised to ignore me but, like everything else he posts around here, that turned out to be a lie. I suppose we'll just have to learn to put up with it.

See what I mean ? It can even foster acrimony :)

The analogy to playing jazz or racing fast cars is appropriate for certain types of

photography, including the street photography that Travis is in to.

 

It's all about

being spontaneous, uninibited and fast.

 

Think about your picture too much and the

picture will pass you by. Save your thoughts for the contact sheets. (Though if you're

good at this type of photography, you will have learned to think very quickly, in an

instant.)

 

Other types of photography benefit from prolonged philosophical engagement - indeed

they're dependent on it.

 

Duane Michals, Jeff Wall, Andreas Gursky.

 

At this level, photography is absoloutely not about picking up a camera and snapping

away

at things 'you like' (which seems kind of retarded).

 

The photography I enjoy would be better compared to building a cathedral, writing a

novel, or making a feature film. It's the result of a prolonged and complex thought

process. At its heart is imagination, but that imagination must be structured to facilitate

communication.

This all sounds very mechanical and materialist...<BR><BR>

 

If all one can do by being alive is just to move different parts of one's body at different times (for instance, choosing to move a finger when it happens to be touching the shutter of a camera), then yes, what is the point in thinking about anything, what's the point of art, music, philosophy, literature or even emotions? What's the point in being alive? Why not just become a photo-taking robot?

"Why not just become a photo-taking robot?"

 

Why bother being even that? It's not clear to me that intelligence or self-awareness evolved for any purpose beyond my own amusement but I don't see much point in turning them off before I might find out if the roaches inherit the earth.

Jack,

 

"pretty bored by a lot of what passes for philosophy...most of us

don't talk it to death, or...try to puzzle it out...or feel the need to... "

 

But thank you for addressing the forum, your Honour.

 

Grant (Philosophy major/English minor, stockbroker, dishwasher, derivatives trader, labourer).

I think Travis' question is valid. He may be reacting to the endless angst expressed on this forum about everything from, "is it art" to "is the picture mine if someone else pushes the shutter release". He's saying just go out and shoot what you feel is a valid image.

 

Generally, Travis is a street shooter and the very nature of that often reqires a more reactive technique.

 

BTW, IMHO Travis is far from a beginner. Check out his pix, which are reliably terrific. Perhaps that is so because he shoots more from instinct than from a preconceived notion of what makes a good image.

Photography itself cannot be philosophical. You can be philosophical.

If you are not philosophical, then photography can be very depressing and seem almost pointless. Go placidly amid the noise and haste. Be calm. And remember to measure the light. Or, as an old friend of mine said, put it on "P" for professional and press the button. Either way, you may need to be philosophical with the result.

The Philosophy of photography is that the camera has nothing to do with making the photographic image-the photographer sees the image he wants to record, (either mentally,visually,or both)He needs to answer 3 questions- 1. What is the main subject?

2. How do I make the main subject stand out?

3. What do I leave out of the picture ?

When he has answered these questions-the image has been made- without the camera-the camera is then used to record the image for posterity,regards, Kenneth William Caleno (Dip.Phot.)<div></div>

As Travis says, just point the camera at what interests you and press the shutter release...<div></div>

Oops! (no thought used there)<div></div>

I'm not sure which is worse, the cookie-cutter wedding photo or the jolly snap at the jolly

gathering.

 

Aren't we talking about more than this in this forum?

I'm not sure which is worse: Eliot's elitist posturing or the Simpsons.

 

Surely we can talk about less than this in this forum?

HP, The point of this forum is to "philosophise". Some abstract notions may be unintelligible to some (including myself) but the charge of elitist is misplaced.

 

Some postings may benefit from elucidation but its absence should arouse the curiosity to pursue or explore vague ideas further. That's how we learn - if we wish.

 

The antithesis - an appeal to philistinism or dilettanteism - benefits no one, and is counterproductive in the context of a forum.

 

Keep life simple, sure, but not the mind.

 

Grant.

Grant Lupton: "Keep life simple, sure, but not the mind."

 

To quote the person who made a revolutionary invention in our lifetime, "When the answer is found, it will be simple."

 

I'm speaking of Domina Jalbert, inventor of the Parasail (Jalbert Parafoil), the most radical new invention in sail/wind technology that could have been made at almost any time in the past few thousands of years. Was it simple? Well, it was one of those inventions that made people say, "Well, if you want to do it THAT way!" which tells me it was fundamentally brilliant and affirms his quote.

 

Aside - persons who come to this particular forum just to denegrate it remind me of Xtian evangelists who believe they earn a special place in God's eye for receiving abuse because they post antagonizing anti-philosophical rhetoric. Don't pay any attention to them. It just ruins their day.

There's nothing wrong with people going on at length or reading depth into things. There's everything wrong with gratuitous nastiness. Personally, I don't mind being nasty in return but others may be put off and simply stay away, which would be a shame. As for Pico, I intend to be gratuitously nasty about him for just as long as it takes to teach him to leave me in peace but that's a special case.<div></div>

"As for Pico, I intend to be gratuitously nasty about him for just as long as it takes to teach him to leave me in peace but that's a special case."

 

I wasn't talking to you, but if the shoe fits... So it looks like you are a self-identified anti-intellectual.

 

And finally, you deserve nothing good until you apologize for calling me a liar and a thief (stealing other peoples "pictures"), and for having my images deleted from this forum while your stuff goes on forever like a bad dream. Explain, or just shut your cookiehole.

I was going to post a nasty reply but, hey, I can be magnanimous. If Pico stops digging at me, I'll stop reminding him of those pictures he posted. If I recall correctly, he promised to ignore me, so, Pico my lad, you stick to that promise and I'll ignore you in return. But no cheating, mind, no sleekit comments on my postings and I won't make any on yours.<div></div>

SFB said: "If Pico stops digging at me, I'll stop reminding him of those pictures he posted."

 

REMIND ME! Make my day! If those are not my pictures, then who's are they? Why do you think they are not mine? You don't even know me!

Alas, such a short memory, so much ire! Posting pictures taken by HCB and some military photographer. Tut-tut! And forever sniping at people instead of contributing to the thread. Naughty, naughty. Just learn to play nice and there need be no further fuss...<div></div>

That Lady Said: "Posting pictures taken by HCB and some military photographer."

 

First of all, I apologized for the HCB picture. It's history. It was an honest error, and besides I am sure that if you investigate (instead of casting innuendo blindly) you will see that it fell within the FAQ as fair use, and besides it was a public thumbnail.

 

I don't know what you mean by the "military photographer". Point it out or shut up.

 

Finally, you explicitly said that the pictures of my own that I posted were stolen then you machinated to have them deleted. If you had an email address, I'd take this to the private side but you do not. I DO have an email address. What are you ashamed of? Are you our moderator playing power trips on us? I guess we will find out Real Soon Now.

 

Like I said; if you are here to negate the purpose of this particular forum, then you are out of line, old girl.

Poor old Pico, perhaps it's not lies so much as paranoid delusions. Everyone knows I have zero influence on what goes on around here and I couldn't get anything deleted even if I wanted to. Having said, which, no doubt this entire thread will go to the bit bucket when a moderator gets around to looking at it. So I take it that my offer of mutual ignoration is being refused, then...<div></div>

"isn't it a simple activity of picking up a camera and shooting a scene you like and then print it?"

 

it depends on if you are taking a photograph or making a photograph.

 

hp and pico

 

why don't you two get a forum for yourselves so that you can have some privacy and spare the rest of us.....