Welcome to Earth! This marvelous marble spinning through infinity is our island in the sea of eternity. Make yourself at home because there’s no escaping this oasis floating in oblivion. The good news is that as a resident you have unlimited access to the most spectacular canvas ever created. Yes, you are free to explore the wonders of this world, relish in its diverse array of natural beauty, and gorge yourself on its endless inspiration. Be forewarned though, this glorious masterpiece that fuels our creativity is one that has already been painted.
That’s the double edged sword of truth for the artist bound to reality, our creations are forever tied to a two dimensional plane with an x and y axis of what and where. No matter how deep your creative well runs, no matter how inspired you become, there’s no escaping this realm in which we all reside. We are marooned on the isle of reality, cursed to walk this land with a creative spirit that can only paint for the blind.
Artistry is extracted from the creative abyss, a mystical dimension that inhabits the free spirit, blessing the chosen few with seeds of inspiration. Sowing these seeds in the fertile soil of a blank canvas, these pioneers are responsible for expanding the frontier of reality. Bringing to fruition an idea extracted from the ether, these magicians are revered for their ability to generate something from nothing. It is a gift, a blessing bestowed upon the select few who offer themselves as vessels to this divine entity.
But the artist is no more the creator than the brush of the painter, the pen of the writer, or the camera of the photographer. They are merely a tool utilized by a heavenly presence to birth an idea that cannot be physically conceived in its ethereal dwelling. Possessing their being, this holy visionary infects the mind with an idea before dousing it with the intoxicating elixir of passion. The artist serves this creative master by dedicating their life to its bidding, honoring it through devout practice. The common man is ignorant to this connection and merely marvels in the work, unaware of the higher power that commissioned it.
This to me is the defining factor for art. Independently, I don’t believe humans are capable of creating art. True art requires inspiration and inspiration is a gift from the muses that reside in the creative ether. These forces compel the artist to create and only through the creation process is the purpose revealed. The artist is not an independent entity, they are vessels, tools of the demiurge bewitched into producing that which we cannot perceive.
This is the truth behind the curious curtain of creativity. Everything made by the hands of man sprouted from the seed of an idea. Every drop of inspiration materialized in the mind from a source unknown to expand the plane of reality into the world of today and every expansion is a form of art. But, this is not the consensus definition of art and because this connection is only known to the creators it has caused the artistic waters to get murky.
If we return to the two dimensional plane of existence and factor in the ethereal plane of inspiration we can add a third axis upon which to plot creative work. This additional axis extends beyond reality and is where you will find the accepted art forms of today. If we envision the x and y axis as the land upon which we walk, this additional z axis plunges into the unknown depths of the ocean. Here is where you will find painters, sculptors, writers, and musicians submerged in the uncharted depths of creativity. But eventually those fluid waters of artistry wash upon the rigid shores of craft and in these transitional shallows is where you will find the photographers bobbing about.
The camera, like the paintbrush, is a tool of the artist but where the painter draws from the uncharted realm of imagination, photographers walk the grid laden streets of reality. Once cloaked behind the threshold of science and wizardry, the digital age has revolutionized the medium, extinguishing the barrier to entry, saturating the craft, and docking it upon those dreaded shores. Today the skills of the photographic artist are easily replicated and diluted by the droves of operators that have dulled the creative edge.
Is there any wonder why photography and art have aligned with the categorical symmetry of fingers and thumbs or rectangles and squares? If you pursue photography to a certain extent you’re bound to encounter a creative gate keeper or two who refuse to allow thee with a lens from entering their castle. There is certainly a divide between the mediums that varies based on the liberal stance of each person and no matter your approach there will never be consensus.
The limiting factor for photographers is our reliance upon the realm of reality. No matter your artistic ability, the emotional impact of your work will always leave an aftertaste of assimilation. Consider abstract art, the painter’s stimulant for curiosity becomes a photographer’s determinant puzzle. There are no puzzles with paintings, the mind is left marveling at the talent and wading through the flash flood of emotions it triggered. With an image there is always a section of the mind attempting to plot it on the map of reality.
I’ve been touring with a collection of work whose intent is to generate a sense of peace. I do this with abstract and minimal compositions as well as broader panoramic landscapes. The entire series revolves around the chaotic landscape of sand dunes so it’s not as if I’m attempting to hide the subject of the photos by any means. The purpose of the work is to provide temporary relief from the chaos of reality but inevitably the question of where arises. When it comes to broad scenes it’s expected but there’s a similar desire to make sense of the abstract and minimal photographs. It’s almost as if the mind feels compelled to understand that which it has not perceived.
I am no different. My gut reaction to a photograph is to question the what and where if not immediately evident. This is by my estimation human nature and I am by no way condemning those that are just as compelled to ask these questions of my work. We exist in the same world from which the photograph originated and our interest becomes about making sense of any unseen visual. But curiosity arose when considering other artistic mediums and whether they face a similar determination to make sense of the composition.
All creative acts rely on talent in one form or another but there’s no avoiding that talent is involved. Painters master their ability to manipulate pigment, sculptors possess a tedious level of craftsmanship, musicians translate emotions into sound, even photographers offer a new perception of the world. But the talent of the photographer is diminished by the creation process in that we are doomed to create our work from a masterpiece that has already been completed.
Make no mistake, there is talent required to capture an impressive photograph but the barrier to entry and the development of technology has diluted the overall impact of the field. There is no artistic medium less humbling for a beginner than photography. Take a swing at painting or drawing, try composing a song or writing a book and your appreciation for mastery will certainly deepen but these days most of us possess the capabilities to produce a quality photograph in our pocket.
The accessibility combined with the fact that we all exist in the realm of creation has depleted the sense of awe for the medium. A unique perspective is all we can offer but, as the masses drown in the modern flood of imagery, any innovation is unlikely to tickle the curiosity of the numbed mind. Society has sped up, life is flying by like an Instagram feed and we can’t even be bothered to read the captions. So, how do we as photographers change the perception of our craft?
The answer, I believe, is to find your voice. There’s nothing we can do to reduce the general public’s ability to access the technology. There’s nowhere we can run to escape the confines of reality. But what we can control is our contribution to the flood.
Interest in photography is at an all time high because cameras are in everyone’s pockets. More people than ever are looking at photographs because of their capabilities to produce the work themselves. While other artistic mediums can impress with their skill and creativity, photographers can impress simply due to the mass following of amateur connoisseurs. To do so though we must stop saturating the market.
The days of photographic sorcery are gone. The scientific wizardry once required to produce an image has been reduced to tapping a screen with your finger, or any flesh covered body part for that matter. Throw in access to the internet and a GPS and all of a photographer’s secrets will be exposed. Today’s photographer must be a pioneer of perception behind which is a hoard of amateur contractors ready to construct a suburban metropolis around their creative nuance. As photographers it is our duty to each other to find our own path, seek our own perspective and creative style to slow the saturation cycle.
Once upon a time, the first photographer entered Antelope Canyon and recorded the first photo of those hallowed walls. Today, the slot canyon in Arizona is a conveyor belt for photographers looking to capture a unique swirl in the dust suspended in the light. Imitation may be the highest form of flattery but the public tires easy of replication. If you don’t believe me, ask Hollywood how many sequels it takes to kill a franchise, tread lightly Top Gun 3.
It is our duty to the practice and our fellow practitioners to bring honor back to the medium. We need to kill the plague of imitation and provide a pedestal for the visionary to stand upon once more. Gone should be the days of interwoven tripods along Maroon Lake or under Grand Arch. We need to reestablish appreciation for originality and return wonder to the art of photography.
Most importantly we need to anchor our boat firmly in the Artistic Sea again. The societal tide has driven us to the shallows and threatens to maroon us upon the desolate shores of craft. But they forget that behind every picture there was an inkling, a mystical call to freeze time. We, ourselves, have gone numb to this call. Our arrogance has led us to believe we are the true masters of the lens. If we are members of the blessed class of creatives that are burdened by the call to create then we must submit to the true powers that control our eye. While our work is cursed to reside in reality, our passion comes from a higher power. It’s our job to honor that call, ignite that ethereal flame, and solidify our place among the arts once and for all.
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