Peter Dexter
Well-known member
In downtown Cali,
In downtown Cali,
My apologies to Peter, to you and all, but it is very rare for me to spend 30 minutes looking at any photograph, even it was made by some deity. How can you do that seriously? I may come back to a certain photo at different times so that the total time I've looked somewhat approaches 30 minutes but not in one go. It must be my ADD at work here.
...How we value a photograph and how much time we are willing to spend with it go hand in hand....
In this context, Pete's picture has value for the very reason it has created this conversation.
.....
Hi Tom,
Great input, thanks for that. We have had this discussion in the past indeed and I remember all too well that for you the value is in the discussion itself. For me, it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes I am too impatient or unwilling to spend any time on discussing things (photos or not) which are not worthy of my time. And I decide, fully subjectively, what is worthy of my time in each given case. In this case, I have decided to engage in the discussion not because this particular photo is valuable to me but because I value you, Asher and Peter and entering the discussion is my way of appreciating that value.
PS: the following seems like a vicious circle to me. The more we value a photograph, the more we spend time with it and talk about it, and the more we talk about it the more value it creates.
Fully agreed Tom.Quite true, my friend.
Some days we just don't want to be bothered. If I see one more picture of a sunset, cat, dog, baby or George Cluney I swear I'll kill someone.
I also feel the same way about even the best image when I'm in a shite mood, which is often.
Value is relative. Having a clean pair of jocks is of value when meeting and greeting but in the current climate in Darwin the last thing you need is undies.
Those photos where I learn so much are those I value most. Not about photography but about the circumstances or people's ideas. Most times that sort of thing needs to be explained to me or investigated.
I don't have time for everything I see. But don't we do that with paintings in a gallery?
Try going through the Tate in London and spending equal time on each Turner to appreciate the full value.
That's why we have art books full of photos of such paintings. We can browse at our leisure.
Or not.
I understand it Peter, I am not that much different myself.Very, very interesting discussion. I posted the photo not knowing or convinced it was worth posting I admit. To me the criteria for posting an image is really very simple: is it interesting in any way to look at or not. Does it invite me to peruse for more than the time it takes to see it. In many if not most instances I post photos that are illustrative of a culture or documentary of a subject from nature. Only occasionally do I think one of my photos has artistic merit. But I am doing unto others as I would have them do to me since what I am principally interested in seeing on a photography forum are peeks into a time, a place, a culture that others choose to share.
Very, very interesting discussion. I posted the photo not knowing or convinced it was worth posting I admit. To me the criteria for posting an image is really very simple: is it interesting in any way to look at or not. Does it invite me to peruse for more than the time it takes to see it. In many if not most instances I post photos that are illustrative of a culture or documentary of a subject from nature. Only occasionally do I think one of my photos has artistic merit. But I am doing unto others as I would have them do to me since what I am principally interested in seeing on a photography forum are peeks into a time, a place, a culture that others choose to share.
In downtown Cali,