On gimmickry
I’ve entered a photo for consideration in JPG magazine, in the category of “Family.” To check out the image (and vote for it, if you like!), click here.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to my self-imposed routine of every day posting a photo I’ve taken that same day. Justin James Reed touched on a similar subject a few weeks ago, though he was raising the question in terms of the value (or lack thereof) of posting new work or work in progress. Justin’s blog, and the blogs of others whose work I admire (Ben Huff and Shawn Gust both come to mind), include recent photographs from ongoing projects. This sharing of work in progress seems, I think, to have a lot more value than the photo-a-day schtick I’ve been up to.
Why? Well, although posting a photo a day was a decent goal (and really the only one I had in mind when I started this blog on January 1), it’s also a bit of a gimmick. The experience of posting a photo a day becomes more important than the quality of the photographs. In fact, most of the photos I post here are not ones I’d want to use in any other context, and some of the photos have nearly caused me to cringe as I clicked the Publish Post button. The obvious follow-up is, “Why post anything you don’t like?” The answer: Some days I just don’t get a photo I like—some days I’ve been lucky to find the time to take any photo at all.
Which brings me to the questions I need to answer for myself: Have I accomplished what I set out to do at the first of the year? If so, has posting a photo a day run its course? Has my blog evolved into something other than what I thought it might be in the beginning? (Sometimes the photo-a-day thing feels, to me, a bit like CNN trying to fill those twenty-four hours. Some of what they report is relevant, but so much of it is just filler—and I often wish they would spend more time on one story instead of filling their airtime with crap because they’ve given the big stories such a cursory review.) Is it better to only talk or post when I have something to say or show—and then do that subject justice by spending the time it takes to get it right? Or is there value in forcing myself out there to shoot every day, and using the blog as the forum in which I hold myself accountable? Is it worth it to post photos I don’t like, photos without any real context or purpose? Or would I be better off posting less often, but posting photos that are part of something bigger? Are you able to discern which photos I like, which photos are part of a larger project, and which ones are just one-offs, sometimes even shots taken just because I had to find something to photograph that day? Does it even matter?
These are all questions I’m mulling. I don’t have any answers yet, but I’m open to comments or suggestions.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to my self-imposed routine of every day posting a photo I’ve taken that same day. Justin James Reed touched on a similar subject a few weeks ago, though he was raising the question in terms of the value (or lack thereof) of posting new work or work in progress. Justin’s blog, and the blogs of others whose work I admire (Ben Huff and Shawn Gust both come to mind), include recent photographs from ongoing projects. This sharing of work in progress seems, I think, to have a lot more value than the photo-a-day schtick I’ve been up to.
Why? Well, although posting a photo a day was a decent goal (and really the only one I had in mind when I started this blog on January 1), it’s also a bit of a gimmick. The experience of posting a photo a day becomes more important than the quality of the photographs. In fact, most of the photos I post here are not ones I’d want to use in any other context, and some of the photos have nearly caused me to cringe as I clicked the Publish Post button. The obvious follow-up is, “Why post anything you don’t like?” The answer: Some days I just don’t get a photo I like—some days I’ve been lucky to find the time to take any photo at all.
Which brings me to the questions I need to answer for myself: Have I accomplished what I set out to do at the first of the year? If so, has posting a photo a day run its course? Has my blog evolved into something other than what I thought it might be in the beginning? (Sometimes the photo-a-day thing feels, to me, a bit like CNN trying to fill those twenty-four hours. Some of what they report is relevant, but so much of it is just filler—and I often wish they would spend more time on one story instead of filling their airtime with crap because they’ve given the big stories such a cursory review.) Is it better to only talk or post when I have something to say or show—and then do that subject justice by spending the time it takes to get it right? Or is there value in forcing myself out there to shoot every day, and using the blog as the forum in which I hold myself accountable? Is it worth it to post photos I don’t like, photos without any real context or purpose? Or would I be better off posting less often, but posting photos that are part of something bigger? Are you able to discern which photos I like, which photos are part of a larger project, and which ones are just one-offs, sometimes even shots taken just because I had to find something to photograph that day? Does it even matter?
These are all questions I’m mulling. I don’t have any answers yet, but I’m open to comments or suggestions.
Copyright © 2007 Liz Kuball
Labels: Ben Huff, blogs, CNN, Justin James Reed, photographers, Shawn Gust, TV
posted by Liz at 6:13 PM
4 Comments:
Liz,
Your questions and ponderings are all relevant. In fact it reminds me of life in general…
Here is an example…
A situation is never permanent. Life is a never-ending sequence of changes… that said…
You set out on a journey, usually with conditions, some direction and possibly even a goal in mind…
Once you begin your journey it is usually with all your energies funneled into one direction… this is the point at which all is new, undiscovered and it is impossible to reflect upon what you’ve learned because you've only begun...
Once into the journey you run into all sorts of unexpected obstacles, not all of which are tangible… at this point you begin to make conscious decisions on where you have come from and where you are going… however the direction is still ongoing in your original goals...
Then, you reach a point at which you begin to wonder what the purpose of your journey was in the beginning, because all of a sudden it somehow has changed direction without while you were not paying attention… So at this point, you have the ability to reflect upon the distance you’ve come and the lessons which you’ve learned…
This is where wisdom comes from… You may be questioning the importance of your blog? But the blog is just the journey and nothing else… Focus on what you have learned from the journey so far… take with you the wisdoms and leave the rest… focus on a new journey from in respect to your blog... the blog is the "utility", the "tool", the "vehicle" whatever you wish to call it... Use it to your advantage or choose not to use it... whatever you decide, your decision should feel like the right direction for your continued growth...
After all, that is what life is about… and all that goes along with it…
There is a great message I learned years ago from the I Ching … (For those of you who are not familiar with the I Ching, it is the Chinese Book of Changes, which was laid down by the Chinese ruler Fu Hsi some 5000 years ago.)
Hexagram 60: Bottom Line (which is symbolic for feet… therefore, movement in life…)
“You don’t go through the door that leads to the inner courtyard. No mistake. You know when to go and when to stay.”
What this is saying is once you’ve gotten to that point along your journey; at which you question your direction and objective goals… using the knowledge you already have… reflect upon that knowledge - you will know what to do!
What an exciting point in your journey you are!!!! Nothing but possibilities from here!!!
I just hit the same realization about my own blog as well. It seems to be a common question among many bloggers... Good luck
It’s not every day you get someone quoting the I Ching on your blog. Thanks for the kind words.
Excuse me for a moment while I make this about me. I just have to point out that the tattoo on my forearm is from the I Ching. I don't claim to have any deeper insight than that, though. :)
Okay, done with my narcissism. I think this blog helps drive you when your mood gets in the way of your work. I don't know that a stringent one a day rule is necessary to do that, but goals can still be very useful to make progress.
Shannon, I never knew that tattoo was from the I Ching. What does the tattoo mean?
Yeah, I agree with you: Goals are definitely useful. So far, I continue to post a photo a day, so obviously I’m not ready to stop just yet. I do still feel that I get something out of it. Some days more than others, but that’s the way it is with everything, isn’t it?
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