On 05/09/06, Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> The liberation is an internal event.
>
> A camera, or other tool, doesn't create the liberation. The liberation
> creates the choice and manner of use of the tool in its movement toward
> external expression.
>
I like very much that you have conceptually reversed the commonsense
idea that a camera liberates, that it assumingly stands between the
photographer and creativity. I agree with you that the camera is in
fact the final factor, not the intermediate one, which enters the
equation after a 'liberation' has been achieved within the
photographer's mind and understanding! (It follows too that there are
many 'liberations', not one kind of liberation, as many distinct
individuals are out there, so the same tools will not do for everyone)
As concerns p&s digital cameras, my experience is that the particular
one that I was using for a while was not giving me the aestheic result
I wanted. As photography has been growing inside me towards my
particular 'liberation', that A80 was handy (and maybe revisited for
that silent in public skill...) but its sensor never competed with the
different 'canvas' provided by a series of different films. The
particular B&Ws that I want to achieve were also out of question..
(Let's see two not bad but not there examples:
http://christosgallery.fotopic.net/p26142300.html
and http://christosgallery.fotopic.net/p32340427.html)
All this of course should be judged, as we both have emphasised,
within the particular context and needs of every specific
photographer, In this case my particular personal needs and
'liberation' are something near the classical aesthetic results of a
Kertesz in b&w or the the colours produced by Alex Webb let's say.
Yet, even if the desired aesthetics were not exactly there, the issue
of the thematic importance of the produced results, which usually
overshadows anything else and depends on the development of the
photographer was not affected of course. In other words, this is why
skilled individuals can produce good results with any kind of
equipment. Although they might achieve more and express themselves
better with their prefered equipment.
So, we may say that there is some liberation involved in choosing a
particular tool, because certainly some cameras may delimit your
creativity, but.. and this is a big BUT, this happens as long the
photographer has already aceived some development of skills and
creativity, has been 'liberated' already...
Otherwise, as so many of us have realised here, if someone expects to
find liberation just by buying the 'best' camera and sharpest lens,
s/he is just dreaming awake... :)
Let's all note finally one more thing. We all assume that liberation
is conceptual. For some photographers of us, however, liberation is
dual, conceptual and physical. Because physically we can not use most
of the equipment out there which like so many other things made so
far by a predominantly disabling society, it is made upon a general
norm which disables all others (with sensory and physical
differences).
Olympus OM cameras have been a great 'liberating gift' to me, because
their compactness and lightweight, apart of their quality, made
possible to me to use professional SLRs in a full and creative way!
Christos Stavrou
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