Good essay, highlighting the cultural influences in the meaning of words!
Some well-known photographers who considered themselves more like photographers than artists:
Walker Evans: "Good photography is unpretentious."
HC-B: For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity."
Stephen Shore: "I wanted to make pictures that felt natural, that felt like seeing, that did not feel like taking something in the world and making a piece of art out of it."
André Kertész: "I am an ordinary photographer working for his own pleasure."
Alfred Stieglitz: "Photography is my passion, the search for truth, my obsession."
Personally, I do not pay too much attention to labels but see a spectrum that ranges from documentary photographers all the way to artists who use photography to document and share their art. 🍷
Perhaps labels are applied by others and go along with their insistence for the 'artist' to explain or justify themselves.
I remember as a young and hopeful 'musician' in a hopeful band being asked by a journalist we had all but begged to see, "What sort of music do you play?" or was it, "What sort of band are you?". My memory fails as rock 'n' roll didn't come by itself in those days 😉
Anyway, I was mortified that the guy insisted on categorising us somehow, as if he wasn't willing or able to describe what he had (presumably) listened to.
It was as if he was trying to decide which bin to use in the record shop: punk, new wave, experimental, pomp, and so on. I felt insulted that our craft was not being appreciated for what it was, along with the passion and creativity we put into making it. As a drummer (sorry, did I say musician earlier?), that also involved blisters, blood, sweat and tears.
As it happened, the only bin our music ended up in, was the ... err .. bin!
Rather than artists or musicians, we were just a bunch of kids having a laugh and being the centre of attention for a while.
In later years, there is the desire to be regarded merely as someone who hides behind a camera twiddling dials and pressing buttons, rather than a tog, pro, commercial, wedding, artist or, damn the word, hobbyist!
It's a good story, and yes, labels are a shortcut to avoid using one's judgment. I also assume the journalist wanted an easy way to communicate to his readers and may not have had the confidence to categorize the band by himself. As a serious hobbyist photographer, I see the label "artist" used in two ways. One is when the person labeling believes "artist" is a better compliment than "photographer" and thinks the photographer will appreciate the compliment. The other is when the person labeling does not understand the difference between making a snapshot and a good photograph, thus having low esteem for the medium and being hesitant to use the label "photographer." Dina refers to that. In both cases, it is done in good faith. Thanks for the story!
My issue with wedding photography is how stressful it seems to be. I think you have to be the right kind of person to deal with bridezillas, the difficulty of wrangling groups of subjects, the concerns of staying out of the way while getting the shots that you have to get. I am not that person. It stresses me out just thinking about doing that work. I think a lot of photographers feel the same way, but choose to be assholes and look down at the people who can pull it off.
Wedding photography is hard! It’s not just the part involving getting the pictures, but like you said it takes a certain set of people skills and an ability to work under pressure while helping keep everyone happy and calm despite all the stress and chaos.
I’m not that person. But I shot a bunch of weddings and have the utmost respect for those who do it well.
I never had the language to express the tension I feel using the word “artist” and I think this article provided some context / validation. I still identify as an artist but enjoyed the critique in here.
The late photographer Joe Rosenthal said more than once that all he wanted was to be a journeyman (union newspaper) photographer. And he spent most of his career at the San Francisco Chronicle as a staff photographer. I knew many newspaper photographers who did same. Joe had one other claim to fame. He photographed the flag raising on Iwo Jima. Joe considered the 4X5 he made that showed the “boys” faces to be a better, more useful picture. From stamps to statues I doubt there’s a more famous photograph. Joe, I think you made it as a journeyman photographer. Oh one more? Please, please don’t get me started on “lens-based artists”.
It was interesting to read this, having just posted about a wedding I photographed earlier this year. I don’t have the time for them like I did in college, but I’ve always enjoyed photographing weddings, and I wasn’t aware of the negative stigma 🤷🏻♀️
Is this an American thing? I think in the UK and New Zealand (cultures I’m familiar with) I’ve only ever heard people refer to themselves as photographers ‘artist’ would seem very pretentious. I think you might hear ‘professional photographer’ to make it clear they’re not a hobbyist.
Wedding photography is Hollywood for sub-par artists or photographers or content creators or whatever they are. Wonderfully written piece, Dina! Huge respect!
Same for me, photographer is just fine, just like "photo" or "video" is better than "content". Let's be precise!
Good essay, highlighting the cultural influences in the meaning of words!
Some well-known photographers who considered themselves more like photographers than artists:
Walker Evans: "Good photography is unpretentious."
HC-B: For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity."
Stephen Shore: "I wanted to make pictures that felt natural, that felt like seeing, that did not feel like taking something in the world and making a piece of art out of it."
André Kertész: "I am an ordinary photographer working for his own pleasure."
Alfred Stieglitz: "Photography is my passion, the search for truth, my obsession."
Personally, I do not pay too much attention to labels but see a spectrum that ranges from documentary photographers all the way to artists who use photography to document and share their art. 🍷
Perhaps labels are applied by others and go along with their insistence for the 'artist' to explain or justify themselves.
I remember as a young and hopeful 'musician' in a hopeful band being asked by a journalist we had all but begged to see, "What sort of music do you play?" or was it, "What sort of band are you?". My memory fails as rock 'n' roll didn't come by itself in those days 😉
Anyway, I was mortified that the guy insisted on categorising us somehow, as if he wasn't willing or able to describe what he had (presumably) listened to.
It was as if he was trying to decide which bin to use in the record shop: punk, new wave, experimental, pomp, and so on. I felt insulted that our craft was not being appreciated for what it was, along with the passion and creativity we put into making it. As a drummer (sorry, did I say musician earlier?), that also involved blisters, blood, sweat and tears.
As it happened, the only bin our music ended up in, was the ... err .. bin!
Rather than artists or musicians, we were just a bunch of kids having a laugh and being the centre of attention for a while.
In later years, there is the desire to be regarded merely as someone who hides behind a camera twiddling dials and pressing buttons, rather than a tog, pro, commercial, wedding, artist or, damn the word, hobbyist!
It's a good story, and yes, labels are a shortcut to avoid using one's judgment. I also assume the journalist wanted an easy way to communicate to his readers and may not have had the confidence to categorize the band by himself. As a serious hobbyist photographer, I see the label "artist" used in two ways. One is when the person labeling believes "artist" is a better compliment than "photographer" and thinks the photographer will appreciate the compliment. The other is when the person labeling does not understand the difference between making a snapshot and a good photograph, thus having low esteem for the medium and being hesitant to use the label "photographer." Dina refers to that. In both cases, it is done in good faith. Thanks for the story!
My issue with wedding photography is how stressful it seems to be. I think you have to be the right kind of person to deal with bridezillas, the difficulty of wrangling groups of subjects, the concerns of staying out of the way while getting the shots that you have to get. I am not that person. It stresses me out just thinking about doing that work. I think a lot of photographers feel the same way, but choose to be assholes and look down at the people who can pull it off.
Wedding photography is hard! It’s not just the part involving getting the pictures, but like you said it takes a certain set of people skills and an ability to work under pressure while helping keep everyone happy and calm despite all the stress and chaos.
I’m not that person. But I shot a bunch of weddings and have the utmost respect for those who do it well.
I get what you’re saying. And you’re an artist anyway.
:)
What’s worse is the washing machine phrase “I’m a creative.” Yeah, I think of the pretension of “artist” and think of my MFA debt.
MFA debt still triggers me
This is the best thing I’ve read in a long time!
Thank you!
I never had the language to express the tension I feel using the word “artist” and I think this article provided some context / validation. I still identify as an artist but enjoyed the critique in here.
The late photographer Joe Rosenthal said more than once that all he wanted was to be a journeyman (union newspaper) photographer. And he spent most of his career at the San Francisco Chronicle as a staff photographer. I knew many newspaper photographers who did same. Joe had one other claim to fame. He photographed the flag raising on Iwo Jima. Joe considered the 4X5 he made that showed the “boys” faces to be a better, more useful picture. From stamps to statues I doubt there’s a more famous photograph. Joe, I think you made it as a journeyman photographer. Oh one more? Please, please don’t get me started on “lens-based artists”.
What a fantastic piece! Glad I found you. :) This gives me something to mull over.
It was interesting to read this, having just posted about a wedding I photographed earlier this year. I don’t have the time for them like I did in college, but I’ve always enjoyed photographing weddings, and I wasn’t aware of the negative stigma 🤷🏻♀️
I wasn't either until art school.
Good. Be proud of what you do, we all should. Those critics that Teddy Roosevelt talked about… can go about their meaningless business.
Art’s a state of mind
Is this an American thing? I think in the UK and New Zealand (cultures I’m familiar with) I’ve only ever heard people refer to themselves as photographers ‘artist’ would seem very pretentious. I think you might hear ‘professional photographer’ to make it clear they’re not a hobbyist.
I do think it's an American thing.
It’s spreading, though.
Yeah it’s not a German thing either.
I’d quite like to say I’m an artist, but at best I’m a craftsman! I very often describe myself as ‘a snapper’, which really seems to wind people up…
One of the best pieces I have come across on Photography. Thank you for writing your reflections.
If you ever get time, I would love to know of what you think about photographers who are serious in their work but don't shoot commercially.
Wedding photography is Hollywood for sub-par artists or photographers or content creators or whatever they are. Wonderfully written piece, Dina! Huge respect!