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+1 @ Jeff ^
Camperjim wrote:
I think the idea of trying to exhibit forces me to work at my "art".
I think (as if I know anything ) that one of the things that makes photography a challenge for "art" is that it is so often devoid of the tenets and fundamentals of art to begin with. By that, I mean taking a picture of something is 99% of the time void of such considerations ... rather it is a recording device.
Here, we have NOT an image from recording device, but a PRESENTATION. You have presented us with the very essence of form .. in some ways, it reminds me of those who shoot the human body as an art form (key word @ form). The nudes that I am most endeared to are NOT the ones that are picture of a naked person, but the ones that present form as indicative of a study.
I would suggest, that like one who STUDIES the human form ... Jim, you have indeed STUDIED the floral form. It is this study of form that is revealed in a presentation through the photographic medium. 99.9% of the images that inundate and proliferate the world are void of such studies. THIS (imo) is where the great divide is between photography and fine art ... artists (typically) have studied and practiced form and the other tenets with diligence and can readily recognize when another has presented those considerations. They can also readily recognize when others have not. It is often the absence of such tenets that separates the wheat from the chaff.
Meanwhile, the masses (not you) with a camera don't understand why they don't get more consideration from the art community ... yet, continue to neglect the very studies that are classicly the infrastructure to art. We can make amazingly pretty pictures, but in doing so that doesn't mean they exhibit the studies involved. I see all too often where an image has contradictory tenets involved ... suggesting the artisan has NOT given credence, nor display their understanding, of such underlying principles. For the artisan judge, this is an EASY trip to the thrashing floor in favor of those who clearly embody, include and present such tenets ... particularly given the magnitude of competitiveness involved.
Most anyone can take a picture of a pretty flower ... Botanical Gardens are abound with them. Cameras can record them to infinity and beyond. But that very "commonplace" aspect is part of what makes it such a challenge to reveal and present your subject in such a way to actually present a message that stands out from the myriad of other commonplace messages. This spawns the desire to be "different" ... but all too often folks try to be different, merely for the sake of being different, rushing past other considerations.
Sadly, they bypass the aforementioned tenets in their efforts to distinguish themselves from the masses, which essentially takes them from the frying pan to the fire ... only to join a different group of commonplace (i.e. devoid of the the studies / tenets revealed in the lack of command & control @ contradictory attributes). Although, the difference can be VERY POPULAR, it can still "tell" a lack of study & utility to the tenets embodied in understanding the form.
YOURS ... that we see here ... are indeed different. In that, they distinguish themselves from the commonplace. ADDITIONALLY, they also show their strength in a presentation of form ... WITHOUT contradictions (i.e. tells).
This (imo) avoids the frying pan of commonplace, AND it avoids the fire of a tell @ "you haven't done your studies". Now, it no longer goes to the thrashing floor as chaff, but is retained as wheat ... to then be judged as good wheat or great wheat or different wheat, but still making it beyond the thrashers.
But, even beyond the subject of judges & art ... I think that these fall into a much more significant category @ "I want to show you something." To me, these are indicative of a communication (message) where YOU see something that YOU want OTHERS to see, that they may have otherwise never really taken the time to study or observe. Note that here again, the STUDY has revealed itself as integral to the message.
Well, I've rambled to the reciprocal of Scott & Jeff's simplicity ... but I like them and think they embody much goodness for what they are AND for what they are not. I would urge, as Scott & Jeff already have, to pursue this exploration further to a level indicative of your mastery @ command, control and communication toward the essence of such beauty and form. I suspect that your longstanding work / study of the floral subject is about to move on to another level.
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