quote of the week, march 19, 2005

Andy

previous quotes of the week:

march 12, 2004

march 5, 2005

february 26, 2005

february 19, 2005

this week's quote comes from daniel boorstin, historian and writer.

The most refined skills of color printing, the intricate techniques of wide-angle photography, provide us pictures of trivia bigger and more real than life. We forget that we see trivia and notice only that the reproduction is so good. Man fulfils his dream and by photographic magic produces a precise image of the Grand Canyon. The result is not that he adores nature or beauty the more. Instead he adores his camera –and himself. -Daniel J. Boorstin, ch. 4 (1961)., "The Image : A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America" by Daniel Joseph Boorstin, ISBN: 0679741801

do you fail to "see the forest for the trees?" or the opposite? are you more involved with making the perfect photo, rather than enjoying the beauty around you? i'm reminded of a narrative account of a hiker who was doing the grand canyon... one of his film caches was missing, he couldn't find it, dunno. his account of that section of the journey was much more vivid than the rest, because he "photographed with his eyes and brain."

discuss.

wxwax

Lemme write a note before I read your comment on the quote, Andy.

Boorstin has that 'sin' thing hanging around his neck. It's like, if we enjoy it and it's made by man, it must be indulgent and bad. Pride, that's a sin right? So we're sinners because we enjoy an artifice of our own creation.

Well, that's a pretty repressive and puritan view of the world. And it makes a false distinction. We also admire diamonds. By his book, that's not a sin because diamonds are natural.

Rubbish.

We enjoy a well made still image because it reveals to us something that the movie of life does not. By isolating and freezing a moment in life, we find new meaning in what had seemed commonplace. Boorstin dismisses the subject matter of a photo as trivia. And sneeringly says our fascination with the image is adoring the camera and ourselves.

For my money, that's nonsense. Reality takes many forms. And the reality that's captured in a photograph is different to the reality that we see with our naked eyes. Both are valid.

gus

She stood at the bridge at midnight,
her lips were all a quiver,
she gave a cough
her head fell off,
and floated down the river.

digital faerie

andy wrote:

previous quotes of the week:

march 12, 2004

march 5, 2005

february 26, 2005

february 19, 2005

this week's quote comes from daniel boorstin, historian and writer.



do you fail to "see the forest for the trees?" or the opposite? are you more involved with making the perfect photo, rather than enjoying the beauty around you? i'm reminded of a narrative account of a hiker who was doing the grand canyon... one of his film caches was missing, he couldn't find it, dunno. his account of that section of the journey was much more vivid than the rest, because he "photographed with his eyes and brain."

discuss.

I like to think of it as taking the perfect photo that captures the beauty around me that I can share with others.

Sam

wxwax wrote:

Lemme write a note before I read your comment on the quote, Andy.

Boorstin has that 'sin' thing hanging around his neck. It's like, if we enjoy it and it's made by man, it must be indulgent and bad. Pride, that's a sin right? So we're sinners because we enjoy an artifice of our own creation.

Well, that's a pretty repressive and puritan view of the world. And it makes a false distinction. We also admire diamonds. By his book, that's not a sin because diamonds are natural.

Rubbish.

We enjoy a well made still image because it reveals to us something that the movie of life does not. By isolating and freezing a moment in life, we find new meaning in what had seemed commonplace. Boorstin dismisses the subject matter of a photo as trivia. And sneeringly says our fascination with the image is adoring the camera and ourselves.

For my money, that's nonsense. Reality takes many forms. And the reality that's captured in a photograph is different to the reality that we see with our naked eyes. Both are valid.

Well said!

Sam

ginger_55

andy wrote:

this week's quote comes from daniel boorstin, historian and writer.



do you fail to "see the forest for the trees?" or the opposite? are you more involved with making the perfect photo, rather than enjoying the beauty around you? i'm reminded of a narrative account of a hiker who was doing the grand canyon... one of his film caches was missing, he couldn't find it, dunno. his account of that section of the journey was much more vivid than the rest, because he "photographed with his eyes and brain."

discuss.

And, by looking at the minutia, one looks at the whole, or one can't find, etc. Apreciation, absolutely.

ABSO F LUTELY!

If I used to want to sleep with my camera. I take better care of it than I do of myself.

If I take a photograph I like, I adore it. Until the next one.........

Now is that so bad? Can you all honestly say different? Etc.
gotta leave for church... now. Turning off!

ginger

bfjr

Quote:
The most refined skills of color printing, the intricate techniques of wide-angle photography, provide us pictures of trivia bigger and more real than life. We forget that we see trivia and notice only that the reproduction is so good. Man fulfils his dream and by photographic magic produces a precise image of the Grand Canyon. The result is not that he adores nature or beauty the more. Instead he adores his camera –and himself. -Daniel J. Boorstin, ch. 4 (1961)., "The Image : A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America" by Daniel Joseph Boorstin, ISBN: 0679741801


Rubbish is being kind :argue
I take my camera because of the beauty, nature, place whatever I see and want to capture/share and enjoy after the beauty leaves so I or whomever wishes can revisit. Yes I think of my camera, only to try and set controls etc. so as to record what I feel and see.
One of the major benefits (for me at least) is that I never think of myself when I'm busy with photography.
OK I'm done now.

ginger_55

I am never so aware of the forest as when I am looking for certain trees, as an analogy to photography.

When I am photographing something, and particular when I am "in the zone", looking for and at things, I see the whole picture and the minutia more than at any other time.

And yes, I am proud and whatever else I said, I photograph for me. I like complements on things I have done that I like. I also like to make other people happy by taking photos that they want.

But when I am in the process of taking a photograph, I am completely immersed in the whole picture.........otherwise I might let a telephone poll grow out of someone's head.

ginger

Shay Stephens

What a bunch of self serving drivel. As anyone who has tried knows, a photo of the grand canyon is a poor representation of it. The goal that keeps people coming back and trying again is that of capturing a little bit more of nature than they did last time. This guy probably thinks people should be extinct for the good of the planet. His quote is laughable and trite and I utterly reject it.

So there! hehehe

andy wrote:

this week's quote comes from daniel boorstin, historian and writer.

Andy

Shay Stephens wrote:

What a bunch of self serving drivel. As anyone who has tried knows, a photo of the grand canyon is a poor representation of it. The goal that keeps people coming back and trying again is that of capturing a little bit more of nature than they did last time. This guy probably thinks people should be extinct for the good of the planet. His quote is laughable and trite and I utterly reject it.

So there! hehehe

now, that's what i'm talkin' about! i try to get these quotes that will hopefull get folks' blood pressure up!

thanks shay

DoctorIt

Humungus wrote:

She stood at the bridge at midnight,
her lips were all a quiver,
she gave a cough
her head fell off,
and floated down the river.

I like this much better than mr boorstin...

wxwax

Shay Stephens wrote:

What a bunch of self serving drivel. As anyone who has tried knows, a photo of the grand canyon is a poor representation of it. The goal that keeps people coming back and trying again is that of capturing a little bit more of nature than they did last time. This guy probably thinks people should be extinct for the good of the planet. His quote is laughable and trite and I utterly reject it.

So there! hehehe

Cool, I get to disagree with Shay.

I think any photographer who's merely trying to capture the reality of what he sees, is missing the point. A good image takes us to a different place, it's an alternative reality, something we don't necessarily see with the naked eye.

Andy

wxwax wrote:

Cool, I get to disagree with Shay.

I think any photographer who's merely trying to capture the reality of what he sees, is missing the point. A good image takes us to a different place, it's an alternative reality, something we don't necessarily see with the naked eye.

i know many who share this view, too!