Revisiting an interview I edited some time ago, I could not help but stop and pay attention to a specific section that spoke about the idea of belonging to a certain group or way of thinking. As I feel very much the same way, I felt the need to write something about it myself in order to fully support those views.
The question from the interviewer that sparked all of this was: “There is much chat around the photography communities about how much Photoshop or image manipulation is too much. What are your thoughts on that?”
The short version is that the discussion mentioned one of the great masters of landscape photography, Ansel Adams, and how he engaged in his own equivalent version of Photoshop by manipulating negatives; there was also some concern expressed about ‘taking the heat’ for saying so. Personally, I fully support those views. I do not think for a moment that there is a landscape photographer who does not regard Ansel Adams as one of the great masters. Yet he can clearly be considered one of the biggest ‘Photoshoppers’ of his day; all you need to do is read his explanations about how extensively he worked on film negatives, which is a technique equivalent to today’s Photoshop work on RAW files.
Now, my question to landscape photographers would be: “Do you want to simply record an event, or do you want to add your own interpretation to the image?” There is no right or wrong way to practise landscape photography. My question to all those landscape photographers who criticise others for the way they express themselves would be: “Are you happy with the way you photograph landscapes? And if you are, why do you not let others be happy with the way they photograph instead of being judgmental?”
Talking of judgment; I must admit that I cannot stand the word. Who are we to judge others and, more to the point, what gives us the right to do so? I believe this world would be a much better place if we all got along better instead of constantly judging or criticising one another.
At some point in the past, a good friend asked me whether I ever looked over my shoulder to keep an eye on the competition. My reply was that I have an aim in life: to run a successful business and enjoy my photography in a way that allows me to fulfil my ambitions. If others have a problem with that, they can keep looking over their shoulder at me.
My advice to all is simple: mind your own affairs; concentrate on what you enjoy doing and how you choose to do it. This way, all your energy can be focused on your own aims, allowing you to live a fulfilling and enjoyable life.
There are clubs and groups out there that believe their way of doing things is the best and that all others are wrong. Do not feel the need to become a member of the club; any club. Do your own thing.
