I know that I have been talking about the photo festival in Gex quite a lot already. But I would like to share one more thought, or I should rather say the result of my presence there. The really great thing about the festival was the opportunity to talk to other photographers and visitors. I was very much surprised how all the attending photographers were willing to talk about their work, share their experiences and ideas. It was really special.
Since I moved to Switzerland seven years ago, most of my interaction about photography has been done over the internet, which is great tool and everybody can find there a lot of help and ideas. On the other hand I am finding internet to be quite impersonal and forcing people (me included) to spend more and more time behind the computer looking for something, creating virtual friendships and waiting for immediate feedback on whatever we do. At the end this situation leads to one and one results only: “we spend less time outside taking pictures”.
Do not take me wrong, It is great to have a feed back on our work and internet can provide us with that, but I see the big problem in the way how all the social networks are influencing our minds, creating standards and trends, which are being followed without thinking and at some point there is no difference between my work and work of others. I am not the one, who should say whether this is good or bad, but just for me personally I am not happy about it and I want to move somewhere else, to be “independent” again. Therefore, I kind of intuitively started to spend more time in darkroom, reading books and trying to find more interaction with “real” people. Luckily thanks to Alexis Gaillac (who I met in Gex) I will have a chance to join very special group of photographers called ARTgentik 73, who are confessors of the traditional analog photography.
So what I actually want to say with all of this, that I am going to limit my time with the internet. From now on this blog is going to be the main place for me to share my work and thoughts. I will also stay active with my friends from Lightharmony and I will try to dedicate the extra time to organize and visit more exhibitions, to finish our book about Iceland, improve my darkroom skills and most importantly keep searching for my own way.
Title: View Point II, Camera: Mamiya RB 67 Pro S, Lens: Mamiya Sekor 50 mm, Filtr: Cokin Red and 0.9 ND, Film: Kodak T-Max 400, Exposure: 120″ , f 11
I will be gone for next two weeks skiing, snowshoeing and hopefully taking some pictures. Therefore I would like to wish you all very happy Holidays Season and all the best in New Year 2013 !!!
I am absolutely with you on this. I’m certainly not the most prolific blogger or Flickr user or Google+ user or Twitterer but have occasionally dabbled in all those things. I find these are great tools for keeping in touch with like-minded people but as you say, they all keep you in front of the computer and not out taking photographs, or even staying in and taking photographs.
You read/write/talk more about your subject of interest but spend less time actually doing. I’ve unsubscribed from all of the social media sites – I simply find them a distraction and I don’t get a lot out of them. I work as a web developer during the day and I don’t want to spend my time in the evening looking at websites if I can help it. I’d far rather be out shooting and learning my craft.
Good luck to you, I’ve enjoyed reading this blog and will continue to subscribe and read the less frequent posts you perhaps will be making! And good on you for that!
“[...] I see the big problem in the way how all the social networks are influencing our minds, creating standards and trends, which are being followed without thinking [...]” -> Even if I am pretty new to the ‘worldwide photographic web’, I totally agree with this point although I think one can also see it as a ‘what to avoid” list of examples to be original and creative.
Anyway, nobody can disagree with spending more time outside than inside, though I wish you good luck for the future. And please … continue making such great photographs!
Hi Alastair,
Thank you very much for your comment. It is very encouraging for me and my decision. I will try to post here new photos and some thoughts from time to time. Since, I am now focusing quite a lot on the traditional black and white process I guess I will write mainly about it:) Have a great holidays and very successful year 2013!!!
Ota
Thanks a lot Julien, for your support! I will do my best:) Good luck to you and all the the best in New Year!
Ota