I was recently watching a documentary series I have seen numerous times called The Genius of Photography. If you haven’t seen nor heard of it then you’re missing out. Put out by the BBC in 2007 it is hands down one my most favorite videos to watch on photography and its history. If you haven’t seen it and are interested take a look around online, there are some places from which you can watch.
Now as many times as I have watched it for the first time a quote from Chuck Close stood out to me more than it had before.
“Here’s the dilemma and the strength of photography. It’s the easiest medium in which to be competent but it’s the hardest medium in which to have personal vision that is readily identifiable.”
I’ve heard it many times before when watching the documentary series only now it means more to me as I have looked over my work to try and understand if there is anything about what I shoot that stands out to be mine. To be honest to myself and with this post I have to answer with a no, at least not yet. I’d like to think maybe one day there will be something that is mine and identifies me. For now I simply enjoy black and white more than color and I like a punch of contrast too.
If you are able to obtain a vision that is identifiable as your own then great. You’ve achieved what many artists from all mediums are looking to do but if not, maybe you will one day or maybe you won’t. I say, who cares? Do what you do and do it for you.
Richard Scott 