61/365 - Proof.

61/365

 

Dear Diary,

Today got me thinking a lot about image ownership.

Who is responsible for the image being what it is?

If every detail in a photo helps that photo become what it is.. who deserves credit?

If an image wouldn't be interesting without the frill that the makeup artist, costume designer, that specific gorgeous model, etc. . and you didn't put every piece of that photo together.. who's image is it?

(Keep in mind this is regarding photos where the subject is more controlled.. not like a mountain you can’t change much)

If other people do all the preparation and every single piece isn't orchestrated by the photographer.. does it just make our job easier?

A few points/questions:

 

I’ve recently been using some royalty-free stock images for backgrounds.. I thought of putting the two together, I did the mixed media work… I took the main picture.. do I get 75% of the credit?

 

Question: Why are some of Annie Leibovitz' photos so intriguing to me? Honestly, half of my interest in them is that the person being manipulated is famous. Is this something seriously psychological going on?

Sometimes I wonder what truly constitutes beauty? Is our brain really wired to admire the golden rectangle Fibonacci number jazz? Did my society say: “This is beautiful...” And I was nurtured to believe it?

I’d love to make my next venture.. beauty in things that aren’t “beautiful.” I might do a theme like so.

 

Today I saw a stranger and asked to photograph her right then, right there.. I thought to myself, -Beautiful girl. Instant- Easy- 365 – done.- lets take it.

 

Of all of these posed girls and guys – all so attractive… which picture am I the most proud of? :The candid picture of an old man bearing wrinkles and smiles as he congratulated his granddaughter at her wedding. This is not about design principles. This is straight up psychological. It’s the moment, it’s the meaning, it’s the authenticity, it’s the realness, it’s the person; not posed, not directed, unknowing of my presence in his moment.

I feel a change in the winds coming in my photos. I want photos that have a story. And I want the story to be more than a fun conversation as I cover a face with makeup.

I’m starting to figure things out, how they seem to me at least.

In regards to the it factor in my book- and drawing back to the image ownership theme-

I feel that picture of the old man was completely his and completely mine. It was this strange interaction between it being pure on both sides. Something about using a model, no matter what: I know it’s an act. What do we try to accomplish? Faking the viewer out to get this feeling of authenticity – give them a tear on their cheek- oh, when you look at this image, I want you to know she was crying over a broken heart…when.. it’s really egg whites, and she’s happy as could be to do the photo shoot. What if you were to capture a broken heart without a fake tear? And I know in my heart that if I knew a photo was real, I’d be satisfied… but the viewer would feel what they were feeling. No wonder Avedon’s work is classic, it’s deeper than just what our society deems beautiful. His work is sometimes rough and real- the authenticity must play a huge part in what our brains decide is a good photo. If I had all the right settings, took an exact replica of a friend dressed up like a tattered farm girl.. it’s still my friend in the end.

 

Sometimes I wonder what fuels me. What is this collage of pixels and why do I stare at it for hours til its perfect, why do I spend all this time for something people typically view for a half of a second, click the like button, and move on. Would I be doing well with this project if I didn’t have facebook and flickr for recognition and significance? Would I be doing this project at all?

I think the competition and the fact it will be seen by tons of people affects it in a positive way… like in a cycling class. You don’t go as hard and as long and do as well if you are alone on the bike in your basement… why do we pay memberships to gyms so we can do the same thing –just with people to hold us accountable?

 

One of the girls on my floor asked me how much time I spend on my images each day- I stuttered, almost at a cross between embarrassed and ashamed…well, usually I get started on it around 9… I go to bed around 1am.. What? I just said it out loud and it sounds crazy. If we had a ticking clock on our forehead with how many hours we spend on facebook we spend each day, or even total in our life: we’d be on it less. Hi Professor, 3546 hours.

Hours. . . Hours.

I’m on day 61. I think I’ve had two days where I spend less than 2 hours dealing with that image. So.. much.. time.

So far, I rarely question “for what?” “why?” “of course this is a good use of my time”

I haven’t been drained of my love for photography, it seems it only gets me thinking more and gives me something to do. What if I played basketball 3 hours a day. You’d probably say, “great! A hobby! That person is doing something with their life”

But tomorrow, when the games are over, you are 40, looking back, or even the next day looking back… what do you have? What do you actually have? Memories? In better shape? That feeling of invigoration and accomplishment? Or maybe… all you have is.. an image… and that image means soooo much to you. Why?

Why do we take accounts of events and not just art? “Here, Here, Look at me at this party!” “ Look at me! !” Why are we so drawn to this? I know I look through the albums on people’s profiles that were taken for status.

Gosh.

I know I have too many questions. And not enough answers.

But the great thing about loving the world of philosophy is that you don’t “get somewhere” when you find the answer.. you “get somewhere” when you find the right question.

 

Proof that this project is worth it to me: I’m thinking more about truth and life and love and God and the universe in this simple side hobby, than I am in any of my university classes.

 

Thanks for listening. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

Chelsea

 

P.S. Just wanted to thank to all of my photog friends who keep me going and enlighten me with their expertise. I couldn't do it without you guys.

Done