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Sometime people send me questions and I decided to post some of them in my blog, here is a recent one and my reply:
Susi,
I frequently create "images" from my photographs, as you do. Like you, I use many of the new tools available to me (Photoshop and many plugins) to create these images. Often, when a person looks at one of my mounted photos, he/she will say, "what is it?" ...."Is that a photograph or a painting?" When they ask me about my techniques and I talk about the tools that I use beyond the original photograph they seem to think "less" of the artwork, as if it's merely a creation of the new-fangled digital technology and is done automatically by the software. It's almost as if there are two categories of photography that exist in their minds.....one being an outstanding photograph created by an outstanding photographer with extraordinary skills.....and the other, a new breed of photographer, who can take an ordinary photograph, and, with the help of digital technology, turn it into a fascinating image. The problem is, I come across more and more people who see the latter category of photographer as being something less. Just wondering if you ever come across this phenomenon and how you handle it...what do you say to these people? Thanks.
I was just discussing this with my daughter and here is my analogy. If you go to a restaurant and you order a piece of cake , all you care is that it is good right? If you found out that the cake was made from scratch and took all day to make , rather than 'made from a box' you would still not think the cake taste better, although you may have more respect for the cook.
I grew up as a traditional artist and did paint and draw "From Scratch" until 1999 when digital hit. I used photography as a reference tool for my work and did not consider photography an art ,in and of itself, because it was just a 'click of the shutter' .. but I now have great respect for photography and consider it an art, even more, now that we have creative control of the 'developing'.
I feel certain that Norman Rockwell (whom my work is sometimes compared to) would relish the flow of digital art! Rockwell used to project slides on the back of his canvas and paint over them, so he was actually working in a very similar way as we now do in Photoshop. When I first read about this , I actually felt a bit betrayed, as though he had been hiding this secret , that he had been cheating. But, he was honest in the interviews and so, how can he be a 'cheater'.. it was really my perception of him that was a lie, not the artist himself.
Someone said "All Art is a Lie" and I would add to that "But it is an Honest one!"
The integrity must reside with the artist. I would never enter my digital art in a traditional show (I know pros who do, and feel this is very dishonest) ..I also know digital artists who use stock images and yet call the finished piece their own. (Very dishonest in my assessment)
Take a Look at the level of digital art we now have ! PIxar and Disney are 100% digital (to name a few) and are very much respected and held in high esteem. Is that not art?
There will always be those who shun any changes or progress and consider it to be 'less than' but in the end , it is all a matter of opinion and how comfortable we feel about progress.
Bottom line, I feel all art is about emotion, what the viewer feels ,what they receive when they experience the dance, song, book, movie or painting. We have no control over human experience and all the intricacies of emotional response. We are fortunate, as artists, to be able to express ourselves in a medium that can be shared, celebrated embraced, or despised and criticized.
We are the 'action', not the 'reaction', of which we have no control over. I, for one, find this an acceptable and exciting aspect that lives within the controversy of creating!
Susi
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Some thoughts on Pricing and Photography Services:
Used to be that people who were handing out business cards were only people who were in business and were professionals of whatever trade they were in. But when the computer became common in every home along with printers, well anyone could print out business cards and hand them out and now anyone can create a web page and profess that they are 'photographers'. Hey, it's a free world now ain't it? But, the problem with hobbyist claiming to be 'pros' is that it has made it so much harder for those of us who are , and have been doing this for a living. When a hobbyist slashes their prices (or heck, lets just give it away!) and tells their customers that the 'pros' charge way too much, then people call around and email for 'prices' and choose whoever has the lowest Price. I actually do shoot for free sometimes , but it is always for a good reason , such as helping the community in which I live. Artists spend their life working towards being a better artist , so their art 'work' naturally improves as the years go by and becomes something they feel proud of and feel that it is well worth charging for. For some reason there is the assumption, that in spite of a life time of experience and honest endeavor, art should just not cost much.
I feel my prices are very fair and yes, I am very open to discussing your particular needs and creating a package that you will find affordable. There seems to be a misunderstanding about photography services that people are just buying prints, but when you are hiring a professional photographer you are hiring someone who truly cares about making sure you are completely happy with the outcome and to consult with you about how to make this portrait session , wedding , bridal , etc., as special as it can be. There are the hours at the shoot and the days of professional , creative editing afterwards that makes your pictures shine ! The prints are the least amount of work, but they are the reflection of the long hours in which your photographer has committed to making your portraits something you will be proud to frame and treasure for the rest of your life and passed down to your grandchildren !
So, photography is not a 'product' but a professional creative service. You could think of Photography as a service similar to hiring a plumber, a carpenter, a mechanic or any other professional service where you hire someone with the experience and knowledge to do the job right and you don't mind paying a little more for this assurance.
I would love to discuss your portraits needs and how find out we can make yours unique . I can tell you I will listen to what your expectations are and I will offer a price that I feel is fair for the amount of time, work and expertise involved.
I want you to care enough about your portrait needs to take the time to discuss them with me and we can work together as a team to meet the goal of documenting a beautiful memory in a beautiful (and yes, affordable) way and produce stunning prints, a painted canvas or custom hard bound book to treasure in your home for a life time.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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