You know as an artist, a photographer my self esteem is
based not only on my family, the ones I call dear, but also upon my work. Maybe
I do so a bit more so than others maybe a bit less; some is even based on my
income as well. To a large extent I believe that other artists are similar in some
ways.
Last week I asked a prestigious photographer to critique my
work, I know he is running one of these workshop businesses, you know where you
can go shoot a “model” use the light setups provided, and if you get stuck
there is a mentor standing close by. He also is, if I may, well famous in certain
circles in the publishing arena.
His feedback was I need to pick up more techniques and of coarse
the pitch for the workshop. Not bad really when I set and think about it, so
all this last weekend I am thinking about it. You know if I improve I could get
more of that kind of attention. You know famous in certain circles.
Monday came and went and I was just going through my images,
a bit of difference for me because I went off to the Coast in Lincon City
It rained all weekend and the wind is still in the news
today. The kind of rain that even if your camera is in a water bag it is in
danger. So I didn’t get a chance to shoot as many images I wanted but the ones
I did get I am satisfied, yet not. I wanted so much more.
Well I was trying to avoid the many responsibilities of
running a business, email and contact with the outside world was cut to levels
of priority and only checked twice in three days. You see I did not want to
miss the value of the experience. I wish that was more of a reality for others
but I can understand the need for that instant attention and validations.
Tuesday morning came and my level of contact with the
outside world was back in full swing, answering the over 300 emails a day, the
view of traffic on images, the links and updates I do daily, the stuff that
seems to take most of my days, with what seems the mundane simplicity of just
telling the world I am a artist a photographer or just that I am here.
When setting in this stack of emails was this email that
just seemed to stick with me, “Hi Chas, I have to say, as a figurative artist,
that your images are excellent, especially those with lots of deep shadows
making them very atmospheric and certainly more sensual than the conventional
images generally shown in magazines, the sign of a true artist. best regards
and thanks again, Tom Green” I am dumbfounded
over this unsolicited critique, or this admiration from a fellow artist.
So do I need to learn more or just stay in the dark? This
question has been bouncing around in my little brain since I read that email. Sure
it is always good to get recharged on the fundamentals, being better is being
better, really it is. At the same time I really like what Tom Green said, It
too bad that there are so few photographers running workshops on low level
detail captures. Or that there are so few books on it, I like the shadows I
always have.
I certainly like the statement from Tom, “especially those
with lots of deep shadows making them very atmospheric and certainly more
sensual than the conventional images generally shown in magazines, the sign of
a true artist.” I sure wish I could place that statement in front of the
publishers in certain circles especially knowing they are changing their view
of what is atmospheric and sensual or who they choose to shoot it.
Maybe that is why they are running the workshop to replace
the income. Makes one wonder.
Either way I am sure to be looking into a workshop or two, I
like learning, at the same time I kind of like my style.
No comments:
Post a Comment