Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 27, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Cole Thompson, an accomplished Colorado photographer, wrote the following in his newsletter about his journey into fine art B&W photography.
This was NOT offered as advice, just what works for him, at this time in his evolution as an artist.
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A friend recently wrote me and said that I had come a long way, and asked "What in retrospect could you share with me about your journey?"
My answer was:
1. I stopped thinking like a photographer and started thinking like an artist.
2. I quit looking at other photographer's work; it caused subconscious imitation and limited my imagination.
3. I stopped listening to other people's advice on my images; it was sincere advice but it came from the perspective of their vision, not mine.
4. I strove and am striving to, find my own style.
Keep in mind that in his first 10 years, Cole admits, "If I wasn’t taking pictures or in the darkroom, I would spend countless hours looking at every book and image I could find."
I doubt that I could ever give up the great pleasure obtained from viewing the works of others.
How do you guys feel about this? Coming from a scientific background, where everyone builds on the work of others before them, I strive to improve on that work, rather than ignore it. However, I do appreciate Cole's desire to avoid even subconcious influence, at this stage in his career.
Posted by Erik Stensland on February 27, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Bill, I think I mostly agree with him. However, I think that one first needs to be well beyond the learning stage to take this approach. You need to already have reached a point of technical excellence and have a good sense of what works and doesn't work artistically. As you mentioned he spent years first learning from others and then eventually saw that he had learned all that he could. I'm certainly not at that point yet, but I do understand it. Creativity sometimes does require one to step outside the ring but with that can also come tendencies towards pride and ignorance.
Posted by Jack Brauer on February 27, 2009 at 4:30 PM
I still get great inspiration from studying other people's images. Specifically, when I see a striking image that I know I probably wouldn't have seen or taken. That kind of thing helps pull me out of "my box", and perhaps broaden my own vision.
Conversely, looking around at others' photography also helps me to see what I want to avoid... the things that become the new trends and cliches.
The key is to try to have some objectivity, I suppose.
Posted by Guy Schmickle on February 27, 2009 at 4:41 PM
I definitely agree with him on #s 1 and 4. Not so much with 2 and 3. I don't think I'll ever consider myself good enough not to look at other photographer's work or listen to their critiques. I may do less of it, but it would always be part of my growth process. You just need to be careful to only incorporate advice that suits your photographic style.
Posted by Paul Gana on February 27, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I am a newcomer to photography so I definitely get inspiration from other peoples work
Posted by Rick Dunn on February 27, 2009 at 4:48 PM
I really appreciate what he's saying, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'd stop listening to other people's advice or quit looking at others' work. "Finding your own style" and being influenced by others aren't mutually exclusive. It's a balancing act, imo. I derive a lot of inspiration from others, but don't want to let their creativity become a substitute for my own.
Posted by Doug Andrews on February 27, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Bill and Erik, you both summed up my thoughts on this better than I could have. Point #3 really struck me. I still listen to others advice on my images but am more aware of the potential basis behind it. This is one of the reasons I don't give alot of advice on other folk's images. I figure my advice would be more of how to make that person's image fall more in line with my vision (what there is of it) than actually helping them improve their work.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 27, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I understand his points, but I don't necessarily agree. I think each of you who has posted so far have very valid points. I think we can get hung up on either trying to find our vision through other's work, or we can let someone's critique change our course of our journey. Neither of those are most beneficial to our vision as artists imo. None of us will arrive at our destination by taking another's path. There are so many paths and so many visions, that most are still without tracks as each new shining light shows us.
I am trying to reach that point where, when I post a photo, I would be able to ask what it makes the viewer feel, and they would be able to tell me on their first look. I want to be able to translate my vision to others and have it resonate with them. That is my journey.
Great topic, Bill. The second part of my intial reaction is I do not wish to give up looking at other's work because it gives me pleasure to see how they viewed their part of the journey. I love looking at good photos as much as I love to try to create one.
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 27, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I appreciate and identify with most of what he says. Certainly echoes my own transition/direction lately.
However, I still thrive/live/breathe upon the enjoyment of other photographer's work. I simply love photography, and can't imagine looking solely at my own work.
No matter how confident I feel about the state of my current work, I also know I am constantly learning, experimenting and "finding my way". I hope that never ends.
Posted by Bob Dent on February 27, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Like everything else in life, I think there needs to be a balance. For me, going to either extreme wouldn't be artistically healthy.
As far as trying to find or create my own style, I personally try to avoid thinking in those terms. I think that can present a danger of one's photography becoming more about themselves than about the image.
Posted by Chris Rice on February 27, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Mr. Thompson is obviously an accomplished photographer, if you visit his website you'll see some very inspiring images, many of which are classic portraits and still lifes. His nature work is right up there.
I would venture to guess that Mr. Thompson is an isolationist to some degree, which is probably very typical of photographers once they become famous and reputable. Insulating himself from the rest of the photographic world is a strategy that he feels is important for him to channel his creativity. And like Bill said, the 10 years of prior examination might have soured his experience of looking at others' images.
It's tough to know what Mr. Thompson is thinking for the most part. He's so much an artist as a photographer, and to me he seems like he's untouchable. I mean do you think he'd come to a shindig? If he did come, do you think he'd socialize with us or would he isolate himself? My guess is, if he were to come (and maybe get him to do a talk on another date), would he be interested in our color photographs or would he dismiss them altogether? Would he do the print exchange?
Back to the matter, this guy operates at a whole different level then me, as I cannot speak for anyone else. It's his life, his true passion, where my life is a big mix of career, school, family, and a myriad of other interests. Not saying that Mr. Thompson does not share that, but he's obviously much more committed to his photography, and that's what makes the fundamental difference.
In conclusion, I would like to remark that I think Mr. Thompson probably sneaks peeks at other artists' works from time to time. To not do that would be just downright unusual, in my opinion. That's part of the business, to know what your competition is doing.....
Posted by Klaus Priebe on February 27, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Definately agree with 1 and 4. # 2 I can't see NOT looking at others work. Seeing other photographers image gives me inspiration to go out and shoot.
# 4 may has some degree of good advice. Sometime you just have to ignore what people say about your work. I have had a few images in the past that were critiqued by other photographers as being not up to par with their "level of vision" only to win awards in art and photo shows. I always go by my gut feeling on a shot and never take critique comments too seriously.
Posted by Kurt Budde on February 28, 2009 at 10:23 AM
To each his own, really. Personally, I don't believe that would ever work for me. I get great pleasure from my work, as well as others. It keeps me motivated to get out there. I find it hard to believe that statement. As an artist, well, you love art. Denying yourself the pleasure of art that isn't your own seems masochistic at best. Anyway.
Critiquing others work is more of a learning process for the 'doer', I think. It helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses in others work, which is in turn consciously or unconsciously applied to your own work, thereby facilitating growth.
There's a certain piece of advice I've been given by several very successful photographers; Don't be your own critic. This doesn't particularly mean let other photographers be your critic, it speaks more to the actual audience you are targeting. However, this works only to a point. In the end it is up to the artist to define their own vision, and stick by it; critics be damned.
Posted by James H Egbert on February 28, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Erik I agree with you as, any Artist who is worth their salt is never out of the learning stage.
I do however like his last two points best.
Posted by bill meikle on February 28, 2009 at 5:26 PM
It's like you have to let your head learn the basics before you can let your heart show you the way to go. In that I agree with Cole but it's really cool to talk to others, view and critique their work and listen and learn as you go along. We need the stimulus and competition from others to fire our passion even further. I get inspired by others all the time but I do what I enjoy, what I want to do. That's why I stopped showing in galleries, I found I was trying to find commercial solutions and it wasn't what my heart wanted to shoot. The most inspiring film I watched was of a National Geographic photographer who just kept raising the bar, "OK that's great but how do we make it better and then better again."
Discussion
14 repliesThis was NOT offered as advice, just what works for him, at this time in his evolution as an artist.
------------------------------------------------------------------
A friend recently wrote me and said that I had come a long way, and asked "What in retrospect could you share with me about your journey?"
My answer was:
1. I stopped thinking like a photographer and started thinking like an artist.
2. I quit looking at other photographer's work; it caused subconscious imitation and limited my imagination.
3. I stopped listening to other people's advice on my images; it was sincere advice but it came from the perspective of their vision, not mine.
4. I strove and am striving to, find my own style.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep in mind that in his first 10 years, Cole admits, "If I wasn’t taking pictures or in the darkroom, I would spend countless hours looking at every book and image I could find."
I doubt that I could ever give up the great pleasure obtained from viewing the works of others.
How do you guys feel about this? Coming from a scientific background, where everyone builds on the work of others before them, I strive to improve on that work, rather than ignore it. However, I do appreciate Cole's desire to avoid even subconcious influence, at this stage in his career.
Conversely, looking around at others' photography also helps me to see what I want to avoid... the things that become the new trends and cliches.
The key is to try to have some objectivity, I suppose.
I am trying to reach that point where, when I post a photo, I would be able to ask what it makes the viewer feel, and they would be able to tell me on their first look. I want to be able to translate my vision to others and have it resonate with them. That is my journey.
Great topic, Bill. The second part of my intial reaction is I do not wish to give up looking at other's work because it gives me pleasure to see how they viewed their part of the journey. I love looking at good photos as much as I love to try to create one.
However, I still thrive/live/breathe upon the enjoyment of other photographer's work. I simply love photography, and can't imagine looking solely at my own work.
No matter how confident I feel about the state of my current work, I also know I am constantly learning, experimenting and "finding my way". I hope that never ends.
As far as trying to find or create my own style, I personally try to avoid thinking in those terms. I think that can present a danger of one's photography becoming more about themselves than about the image.
I would venture to guess that Mr. Thompson is an isolationist to some degree, which is probably very typical of photographers once they become famous and reputable. Insulating himself from the rest of the photographic world is a strategy that he feels is important for him to channel his creativity. And like Bill said, the 10 years of prior examination might have soured his experience of looking at others' images.
It's tough to know what Mr. Thompson is thinking for the most part. He's so much an artist as a photographer, and to me he seems like he's untouchable. I mean do you think he'd come to a shindig? If he did come, do you think he'd socialize with us or would he isolate himself? My guess is, if he were to come (and maybe get him to do a talk on another date), would he be interested in our color photographs or would he dismiss them altogether? Would he do the print exchange?
Back to the matter, this guy operates at a whole different level then me, as I cannot speak for anyone else. It's his life, his true passion, where my life is a big mix of career, school, family, and a myriad of other interests. Not saying that Mr. Thompson does not share that, but he's obviously much more committed to his photography, and that's what makes the fundamental difference.
In conclusion, I would like to remark that I think Mr. Thompson probably sneaks peeks at other artists' works from time to time. To not do that would be just downright unusual, in my opinion. That's part of the business, to know what your competition is doing.....
# 4 may has some degree of good advice. Sometime you just have to ignore what people say about your work. I have had a few images in the past that were critiqued by other photographers as being not up to par with their "level of vision" only to win awards in art and photo shows. I always go by my gut feeling on a shot and never take critique comments too seriously.
Critiquing others work is more of a learning process for the 'doer', I think. It helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses in others work, which is in turn consciously or unconsciously applied to your own work, thereby facilitating growth.
There's a certain piece of advice I've been given by several very successful photographers; Don't be your own critic. This doesn't particularly mean let other photographers be your critic, it speaks more to the actual audience you are targeting. However, this works only to a point. In the end it is up to the artist to define their own vision, and stick by it; critics be damned.
I do however like his last two points best.