In a message dated 10/16/98 3:21:24 AM Central Daylight Time,
petrush@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< One sees an image in their mind's eye (talent)
and creates that image with camera and film (skill). Both skill and talent
are enhanced by learning and experience. Both are important to master. But
while automation can buy an awful lot of skill sometimes, it can never buy
talent. >>
Yes! You have made an excellent point. I made a nice living for a lot of
years as a newspaper shooter. People often told me what a great "artist" I was
when they liked one of my photos. Buy I'm NOT an artist. I'm a "technician," a
camera geek that spent years since a kid of 10 years old learning everything
possible about photography. I read and studied everything I could find about
photography. Took and printed thousands of photos. When I saw a photo I liked,
I figured out technically how to do it. And got really good at it.
But an artist takes the various pieces and creates a synergy that becomes
"art." That is the joy of the artist's creation. My thrill has always been
solving the technical problems in getting the shot. I've always tended to
switch into mental "program mode" when confronted with a photo op. I'd switch
into "Sports Ilustrated" mode or "National Geographic" mode or "Vogue" mode,
retrieving the settings from my studied experience to make technically good
shots. And tecnically good made me happy. And still does. But, it's not art
that I do. When I try to "do art" I just come up with sappy nonsense.
Fortunately there are outstanding artists out there who can take a plastic
"Diana" camera and no knowledge of photography and make great art. Then I can
figure out how to technically copy them and have everyone rave about how great
an artist I am ;-> And the OM cameras are a photo geek's nirvana!
Jim
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