What we’re (still) about
Posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago at 10:29 am. 20 comments
One month into this site, I wondered whether or not to change this introduction, and decided against it for a while longer. I still want to stress that it’s about the act of photography, and while it’s pointless to deny the rôle of software in digital shooting, it is certainly not the be-all and end-all.
Manifesto’s too grand a word, but there is a purpose behind this website. This is to present a view of photography by photographers, which may sound obvious enough, but in a world where photography has become a near-universal activity, its meaning has become somewhat scrambled. By photography I mean mainly the act of taking a photograph by engaging with the world in front of the camera, rather than the frankly secondary activities of messing around with it afterwards and of equipment-ogling. By photographers I mean people for whom it is a major commitment, or who at least are heading in that direction, and who are prepared to treat it as a discipline.
So, it is not about tricks, especially not mouse-clicking tricks on the computer, nor about regurgitated, clichéd advice. There will not be 10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Photography that include ‘try throwing your entire image out of focus’ and ‘be rebellious and place your subject dead centre’, as I read recently in a major popular photography magazine. No, I hope we’re going to be a little more thoughtful and interesting than that. And the way I’m setting out to do this is through four articles that change monthly, but with a change every week. One article is an opinion piece, a second is technical (but my definition of technical, which ranges wider than dials and buttons), a third is a talk with a guest photographer (all of whom, I promise you, will be interesting and professional), and finally an update on what I’m engaged in, this last probably the shortest and least interesting, but we’ll see — at least you’ll get a look at how one professional attempts to cope with his career. Among the guests I’m lining are the celebrated Italian reportage photographers Romano Cagnoni, Mike Yamashita from National Geographic, Cary Wolinsky, another N.G. photographer but with a quite different style, the large-format black-and-white photographer Tim Rudman who specialises in lith printing, and Martin Reeves, who has taken infra-red photography well beyond the familiar ‘grass-like-snow’ approach.
And a reminder, please, to post comments (especially disagreements!). Most of what I write here is intended to be a stimulus, a starting point for discussion.
I’m now in Colombia, and for the last two weeks in Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast. (...)
Lovely to see you have an online presence now. I have to thank you, one of your books got me started (some years ago I have to say) and without it I may not be where I am today.
So
THANK YOU
Hi Michael!!
Besides engaging with the world in front of the camera do come to Shanghai and let’s have a drink in Manifesto( one of my favorite pubs lately)
I have been thinking about encouraging my two children to learn photography. Hope this will be a good place to start!
Wonderful idea! Well done to Michael and everyone at OCA for making this happen.
From a student’s perspective this will be an incredibly helpful and motivational resource. I look forward to it.
Great idea and a great site! Thank you to Michael and the people at OCA. I will follow this closely.
what camera shall I buy? (the bailiffs have confiscated the old ones)
How soon will you update your blog? I’m interested in reading some more information on this issue.
Ah, Luca, so sorry to have missed you in Singapore a couple of weeks ago. Have you considered something like a Holga, with deliberately distressed lenses and astoundingly cheap? Their great incidental quality is that they’re fashionable, and this quietens art director clients who might otherwise question your choice. Meanwhile, if I can have the address of the bailiffs, I’d quite like to buy those cameras at a knock-down price….
About updates…. Konstantin, a timely question! We’re working our way through the usual teething troubles, but the idea is that each week there will be an update of one page. As there are four pages, it means a complete revision monthly. I think that, once we’re completely organised, we’ll do this on a fixed, particular day of the week.
Hi, Sir Freeman, I have to thank you much for your books. Photographers eye book is always in my schoolbag, just in case I wanna refresh my mind and my composition. You really helped me to get my photography to another level. By the way im following you on twitter ! Thanks again
Hi Mi, I’m following you on twitter also. Thank for this Website. It help me and inspire me a lot to get back to the thing that I like most. Now i’m still enjoy with my baby camera Cannon Kiss X2. It’s not too bad but need time to practice more with it. Thanks and hope to see you someday.
( P.S. When you will come to Thailand gain.)
Michael,
Did you live in Athens, Greece suburbs in the early 70s and use a Canon F1? I’m looking for an old friend with your name.
Thanks,
Pat
I’ll be a regular visitor. Enjoyed the Michael Yamashita piece. I did a workshop with him years ago at ICP while on the Photojournalism Program there. He is a most excellent teacher.
Good luck with the Freeman View.
Paul Treacy
http://paultreacy.com
I love the idea of exploring actual photography in preference to the usual stuff on photographic equipment and the ubiquitous Photoshop, keep it up.
Michael, you have a talent to select and present the right subjects for the rifght audience in the right way. And that’s why your books are right up there with Mante’s The Photograph and beat the competition hands down. Keep it up.
Being a mostly BW street and people shooter who has not got a chance to learn picture design and composition in a systematic way I’ve been searching for a book on BW composition and design. Hopefully your latest book is the right one
Great point of view, I love that you’re not pushing any magic solutions, refreshing to hear.
My only question though, particularly with the OCA courses, is how to choose the right one. 12 months is a lot to commit to one level one course, particularly if I chose the wrong one for me.
Hi Tristan,
If you were to choose a course which, upon receiving, you then found to be unsuitable for you, you can return it within 14 days and receive all your money back, or transfer to another course.
Great website! I’ve been a avid fan and a passionate believer ever since you came to my country and did your wonderful book on Sudan: The Land and the People. What made me a believer in your teachings and methodology was your classic work The Photographer’s Eye which focuses on composition - one of the least talked about yet the most important aspect of any photograph!
Thank you for your inspiring work Michael but more importantly thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge and experience with us free of charge, and free of nonsense…
HI,
I would very much like to try the Course “Digital Arts 1: A Creative Course but I’m not sure if it is right one for my needs. I’m a printmaker and use my digital camera as a starting point but am hopeless when it comes to manipulating a lot of my images on the computer. When I finally get a reasonable image I then use the photoetching method and print the image on silk. I have only ever used my digital camera (it’s a Cannon Digital IXUS 70) model for taking pictures. I still have to learn a lot more how to use my camera to it’s full potential!!! What do you think?
Inge
Hi Inge,
Your best bet is to call the OCA office on 0800 731 2116 for advice on which course is best for your needs - the Digital Arts course is not directly related to photography, but does include tuition on the manipulation of images using Photoshop.