Shadow – © John Neel 

It seems to me that nearly everyone has a different opinion of what photography might be, which seems to beg the questions:

• What makes your photography worthwhile to anyone else?
• Why should anyone spend their valuable time looking at your work?
• Is photography simply a form of amusement?
• Does all photography have the same importance (value)?

These are questions to ask yourself. They are also questions I ask myself. I simply ask that you think about these questions when making photographs. You might want to think about them even when you are not making photographs.

I think as you ponder these questions, you might come up with new questions that should help define what it is that your work is about and why you should continue or perhaps alter your way of seeing your world.

Personally, I think that an image should be thought of in the same way we consider written language. A photograph needs to have a point. It should express something new to the viewer (reader). To me, the real value of an image is in what it offers the viewer. If the concept of the image is shallow, the viewer is wasting his/her time looking. I believe that the photographer is obligated to offer something substantial to any audience that might be tempted to look. I see the act of photography as an opportunity to impact the lives of others in a profound way. Anything short of that risks the viewer’s time. And time is something we all should value.

In my back yard – © John Neel

Images can have the power to make people think about their lives. A photographer that realizes this as a potential, will work hard to give his/her audience the best bang for the buck.

For me, the best an image can be is when it suggests something that I might have not thought about before. It opens my mind to new possibilities and knowledge. Photography for me is a way to grow our understanding of the world. A great image is one that sparks contemplation and introspection. It shows us something about the world we might not otherwise realize. A great image opens our eyes.

It is a two way street. By that, it requires a creator as well as an audience. The photographer is also a viewer. But the images when shared become the stimulus for possible thought within the potential audience.

I believe that the artist should realize and respect the power that this position offers and use it wisely. Photography is a form of language. It needs to be stated in ways that provoke conversation within the viewer.

Otherwise, it just may be a waste of time for all.

You can read about my book “Rethinking Digital Photography” here.

Please have a look at some of my other posts here.

NOTICE of Copyright: THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, GALLERY IMAGES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE COPYRIGHT © JOHN NEEL AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR lensgarden.com. THE IDEAS EXPRESSED ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE AUTHOR.