Photographer Clay

Tag: fine art

  • My photography is a reflection of me

    My photography is a reflection of me

    Yesterday, I wrote about photography as a metaphor. Not only do I believe photography is a metaphor but it is also a reflection of my perspective, my mood, my personality, and in fact me. I don’t believe any of us can be so dissociated from our art. This is why I believe it is important to accept both concepts of photography as a metaphor and a reflection of ourselves. Once we accept these concepts free expression of our intent in a photograph becomes easier. These are good things. It can be a bit frightening to knowingly let others see into our minds but doing so allows us to create fantastic art and isn’t that really what many of us want to do? Think about it, freedom to do your art as you want. Express our reality, our vision, our dreams, our hopes.

    It’s time for some introspection and set your creativity free. I’ve done it and it has given me an entire new view of the world, my art, and my life.

  • Is photography really a metaphor

    Is photography really a metaphor

    A podcaster I listen to on a regular basis talked about a book by Minor White, Mirrors, Messages, Manifestations. His discussion led into photography may be a metaphor. Since listening to that podcast yesterdy, I have thought about this a bit. Merriam-Webster defines a metaphor as;  an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else. To me, that is essentially what photograph is, a symbol of something else. It isn’t the object represented. If that is the case then in most photography, realism doesn’t matter. The photograph is merely a symbol. Reality, or as close to it as we can get is only critical in documentary photography. Everything else becomes open to artistic creativity.

    Having now come to this realization I finally have my arguement for creative expression of nearly all the photographs I will take. My work is a metaphor for this object represented in the image. I feel like I have been set free. Think about it. I believe it is hard to argue against photography as being a metaphor for the people, scenes, and objects we photograph.

  • It’s a bad day for photography

    It’s a bad day for photography

    I’ve heard this so many times and it has been from people with cameras. You often hear this when the weather doesn’t meet their expectation. Too many clouds, flat grey clouds, no clouds, raining, snowing, etcetera. In reality, there is no bad day for photography. Just because the weather doesn’t meet my expectation or provide the conditions I wanted to photograph doesn’t mean it is a bad day for photography. The true sign of photographic artists is that they are able to adjust to the conditions. A photographic artist can visualize the art. Is the weather not doing what you hoped? Take a moment or two, study your scene and subject and adapt.

    Some of the most compelling photographs I have been under what many of those “it’s a bad day for photography” people would say it’s a bad day. Under some weather conditions, it may be necessary to use precautions because it’s dangerous, and I may have to wait a bit but, to me, it’s still not a bad day. Embrace what nature gives us to photograph you may actually be surprised and able to get one of the best photographs you’ve ever taken.