It seems that almost every thread on these forums is related to technical issues and artistic concerns are conspicuously absent. I spent my working career in an analytical and highly technical laboratory. My background and training are surely related to my initial interest in photography.
I suspect many photographers are also highly attracted to the technology.
I think I am an artistic dreamer, who ended up having a a technical career. Photography is my artistic escape from the reality of every day. But my technical training helps me solve the technical side of photography. My most loved subjects at school were Art, until they stopped me drawing what I wanted and Technical drawing.
I try to put the emphasis on art, with photography.
I am both a musician and an engineer, highly trained in both. I have also worked at a high level in both areas.
When I take photos, I am guided by theoretical consisderations, but I am taking photos of compositions that are presented to me, and my only aim is to get the best angle I can and record it as well as I can. Unlike my professional activities, nobody else cares about the results I achieve in photography.
David
Interesting question.
I think I would have answered differently a couple of years back, but photography in particular is a very mixed thing for me... It seems like a balance between interest in the technical aspects (in my case the old enlarging/industrial/manual lenses I use, the adaption process and the some aspects of the processing) and the wish to create something artistic and unique or to convey a feeling or idea.
When it comes to inspiration and artistic drive, I would call myself a musician first and foremost, because I'm way less occupied with technical thoughts or aspects like gear, acoustics etc. when I'm making music.
I would describe myself as slightly chaotic and ineffective in almost any aspect of my life though, including photography, which makes it hard for me to explain my thought process properly. I even created an image about that:
I wish... I could show you how I think! by simple.joy, on Flickr
I am a weird blend of which, if I could figure it out, I might have a chance at monetizing it. Alas......
My daughter completed a 5-year, joint program with a performance degree from the Peabody Conservatory and an engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University. The connection between music and engineering is well known, but since I am tone deaf with no musical skill, I don't understand it.
Are you sure about that? Because of the way threads are presented here, I see a lot more images here than on the old place. What is a bit disappointing is that there is not very deep discussion, maybe people lack the language for that.
I think tech versus art is a bit of a false opposition anyway
We discuss quite a bit here, though I dont know whether you would describe it as deep.
David
For 40 years I worked in the world of games and cinema (Synthetic images) and computer animation.
When I rubbed shoulders with technicians and computer scientists. I understood that I was an artist first and foremost.
When I frequented the artists, I understood very quickly that the technique interested me more.
In short, I am neither an artist and even less a technician! A fourth option is missing here 😵
ONF 1980 by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr
As is the connection between music and photography.
When I look at an image and suggest using a polarizing filter, am I giving a technical or an artistic advice?
Truely, I don't know...
I would say I adore to understand complex stuff when it triggers my interest. Am I more a technical inclined person, I'm not sure, because I usually approach stuff with something like a fuzziness or intuitive approach.
And I love also to create stuff, pictures, music, objects, I can sew and enjoy it a lot, always without any patron or defined canvas. Am I then a more artistic person...
I think we all are both, not always at the same period nor at the same intensity.
I'm more attracted by the idea that we cope differently with our personality traits, that change over time, traits and coping mechanisms both.
More and more I try not to categorize people around me, only interact with them as they are without a priori concepts such as left or right brains and that kind of stuff (MBTI has absolutely no scientific basis btw ;-)).
Greg
As I said in another thread, I mostly approach photography as anti-art. I try to make my photos as unappealing as possible. But I also don't think too much about the technical stuff, and my gear is modest. I can use a polarizer to reduce the reflections on the dead salmon and the water around it, I don't need to know all the technical details about how a polarizer works. Photographs are unique in their ability to capture things in excruciating detail, but I only need the details of the rotting flesh, nothing else.
Have I mentioned explaining how polarizing filters work? Have I mentioned the reason why I would suggest a polarizing filter? Do you think that knowing how polarizing filters work helps to know when to use, which one to use, and when not to use?
interesting, thanks. But I wouldn't call most of that a discussion about artistic merit, but more about the content. So now we have [at least] three big subjects.
All my training and my vocation has been very highly technical. It has nothing to do with photography.
I've also applied my "left brain" to photography.
But in my two artistic pursuits, photography and music, technical considerations take a distant (I hope) back seat.
Rich
I would not know how to answer that. My wife has a BFA and a lifetime working as a visual artist. She does a lot of photography. I doubt she has any idea about using polarizing filters. I do know she does not have one. I threw mine away years ago. BTW, with a good throw and a lot of spin, one can travel an impressive distance.
First time I looked it seemed like a social/chat group with lots of very beginner photography. I guess I will give this another look.