Thoughts on Photography

I'm almost finished with my AA degree in photography. The entire point of the degree is so I can say I have a college level education, no photography job will ever ask for it. Although I fear it may be a Masters or higher to work at McDonald if this taking pictures thing doesn't work out.

I've spent the last couple of years immersed in photography. I've noticed there are plenty of cynical and jaded people and then there are the successful photographers. Ok there is some overlap but it seems like those who are making an impact in the world today are those that find fascination and wonder in most things they look at or do instead of constant complaining and sticking to old traditions.

Recently one of my photos was selected for the Academy of Art Spring Show (Image and Spring Show 09 Photo Dept), an annual show the school holds to show off the best of each department, as well as advertise themselves. While I'm proud of this, the reality is that getting into group shows or winning contests is a crap shoot because, ignoring your competition, you are really up against the judge's personal opinions and sometimes cynicism. You may have an awesome photo of a bunny, but if the judge has decided that cute animals are right out, it doesn't matter. You may have a really creative idea but that often means someone will dislike it and thus the winner is something safe that all the judges can agree on.

That's not to say there aren't some really good images in the Spring Show but it doesn't mean anything rejected was bad, on the contrary I constantly saw work in all of my classes I feel are better than many of those in the Spring Show, including my own piece.

When people don't get picked and see 'lesser' works chosen, it breads more cynicism and one day those cynics are going to grow up to be judges who can then eliminate all smiling babies and call themselves edgy. The trick to photography seems to be letting go, of your work, ideas, gadgets, cynicism, etc. Photography is a subtractive art both physically and mentally.