Just a brief thank you to everyone who commented on the two "scenic" posts. So many thoughtful comments and such a wide and interesting variety of perspectives. It reminds me to mention that Internet discussions are never deciding anything—we're not seeking to become a "community of belief" that has a doctrine that must be adhered to. Agreement, especially enforced agreement, is never the point. Discussion of art and practices, of experiences and aesthetics, are almost the opposite of that—they're collections of insights from which each individual can pick and choose. When someone says something that resonates for you, that sticks in your mind, then perhaps it's something you're ready to hear, a "hand up" for your own evolving thoughts, an insight that could help; when another person says something you think is wrong or that leaves you cold, no harm's done. The insights that miss are the way you get to the insights that help. To the nourishing kernels amongst the chaff.
I always try to pick a few representative comments to promote to "featured" status, adding them to the post, for people who don't want or don't have time to read all the comments. But I could have picked just as long a list of entirely different comments, there were so many good ones. I enjoyed the discussion.
Mike
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Reminds me of one of my favorite cartoons, the wife is sayings " Honey, come to bed it is late". The husband responds as he is furiously typing away on the keyboard," I can't, someone on the internet is wrong".
Love the discussion.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Metzger | Thursday, 22 January 2015 at 09:11 AM
The two articles on scenics offered some of my favorite TOP insights in recent memory -- congealing concepts that are often sloshy, even around articulate photographers. Thanks for the great writing and considered perspectives! I look forward to combing the comments when time allows.
Posted by: Matt | Thursday, 22 January 2015 at 10:13 AM
One last comment. Brought to my attention in another context. "Nothing becomes a cliche without being great first"
Posted by: Terry Letton | Thursday, 22 January 2015 at 02:32 PM
Regarding scenic photography and how it's received and defined by different people, I find it's also influenced by what you (or they) look for in photographs and your (or theirs) expectations of photography in general. The discussion reminded me of this story.
A couple of years ago I made a photobook of my home town. It is a small town, and the book was done in b&w and a documentary-style approach. The manager of the town's hotel visited the bookshop of the publisher when the book was new and inquired about it. After leafing through a few pages, his comment was: "Why are there no beautiful pictures in this book?" Followed by: "This is not the sort of book you can give to people!" With that he stormed out of the store without buying. He was expecting scenic and quaint "postcard pictures" and wanted to present them to valuable clients and was surprised and shocked to see a different kind of photographs. I feel that this is the highest (unintended) praise the book received!
Posted by: Gunnar Marel | Friday, 23 January 2015 at 05:57 AM