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Photo Longevity


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I don't know whether this is Casual or philosophy, but I am honestly doing some

soul searching concerning my pursuit of photography.

 

On this site, originality and aesthetics are discussed. I have also seen

interestingness as criteria. We take photos to document and others for artistic

expression, others to advertise & report.

 

My question is about the life of a photo. As I browse the gallery today (no

different thyan any day), one question arrises TO ME. Where will this photo be

in 1 week, in 20 years, etc..?

 

I would venture to say that a large majority of these photos will not be on a

wall in a house ... probably will not be included in a museum ... are not to be

found in long lasting books about art, photography, our time-period, etc...

 

This is alot of work.

 

A snapshot of my daughter may find its way to my wall for decades, Ansel Adams

will have longevity by his notoriety ... where will all of our photos be in 10

years?

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Hi Thomas, I guess the same could be asked of most things created by man; art,

literature, music, etc. Very little of anything stands the test of time. But that doesn't mean

(imho) it's not worth the pursuit.

 

For some reason your question made me think of Shelley's poem, Ozymandias.

 

I think Wiki sums up the gist of it pretty well by saying: "Without directly stating it, Shelley

shows that all works of humankind - including power structures and governments -

eventually must pass into history, no matter how permanent they may seem at the apex of

their influence. Ozymandias' short-sighted pride seems amusing at first - until the reader

realizes that the lessons conveyed are equally applicable today. All things must pass."

 

************************************

 

I met a traveller from an antique land

 

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

 

Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,

 

Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown

 

And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command

 

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

 

Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things,

 

The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed.

 

And on the pedestal these words appear:

 

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

 

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

 

Nothing beside remains: round the decay

 

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,

 

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

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Very few things in life on this earth ever achieve a historic significance to be remembered but for a while. There is no such thing as forever. <P>

 

Most people will live a life with a variable mix of love, hate, joy, sadness, success failure, contentment and despair and pass on only to be missed and remembered by a close circle at the most a generation and then all memories fade away.<P>

 

I take pictures to enjoy and when it is good and my peers say it is good I am gratified. (For those who photograph for living gratifying comes as payment for work). <P>

 

It is a pleasure to enjoy when you like something and its validation enhances the pleasure. Photography is fun (or a job) and it may record history but will not make history.<P>

 

I love chocolate ice cream and enjoy it but it is not remembered very long. Regards ifti

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Thanks for the comments so far.

 

I'm even questioning longevity in our own personal "albums". As my volume of photos expands, I wonder where a picture that I enjoy now will fit.

 

I guess it's like much of what we do, it is temporary. We wonder why others don't always respond to our photo, but I wonder what it means that even we will change in our views towards them over time.

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philosophy aside:

B&W negatives and prints, if properly handled, can last well over 100 years.

Brady's photographs of the civilk war and photos linked here of Lincoln's 2nd inaguration. They will last.

 

any color photograsphs, with the possible exception of kodachrome,

which seems to last 70-80 years, may be short lived.

 

Cromogenic B&W and C-41, Life may be unknown.

I don't know about e-6, but it is not used that much so it may not be that significant as far as HISTORY is concerned.

 

Digital: there are questions concerning the life of a cd-r or

Dvd recordables. Some say only a few years, there is a big debate and I was almost called a Liar when I suggested, on a computer forum. that cd-r's faded quickly,

 

That it was the MANUFACTURER, not the brand, that counted.

with the right dye. a cd-r should last.

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Thomas - all things are temporary, including life. When young - we tend to worry about insignificant things, until age changes our approach to most things - including photography.

 

As far as I am concerned - I could not care less. What is important to me - is taking the picture, making it as good as possible, and if someone likes it (or it sells) - so much the better. But I am not concerned with who likes it (or not). I am more concerned with my own shortcomings as a photographer - and this is the only thing which I am trying to improve. The rest is a moot issue.

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