In an earlier post I mentioned a You-Tube video featuring a photographer named Katie Wynn and a "Whats In The Bag" film clip. I watched it with interest, primarily because she is obviously surviving in an extremely competitive business. I may not want to walk a mile in her pumps and pursue a career with Getty Images. But she has actually "been there, done that", and while some of her strategies might not be found in my own playbook, she explains her rationale well. It was first published March 3, 2008:
I finally got around to reading some of the posts made by those who viewed the short video. As expected, there was a sprinkling of compliments, some bordering on the obsequious. But surprisingly, there were many "critics" who felt she wasn't qualified to call herself a professional because she said she used a Canon DSLR she called a "Mark II 1D N" instead of Canon's official designation of "1D Mark II N". I can only assume that some geek types feel that the syntax of equipment nomenclature is an accurate indicator of one's ability to use that equipment effectively. She was also criticized for saying "BOH kuh" instead of one of the other accepted pronunciations of the word. The picking of nits never seems to end.
I must say that nearly every snarky comment was challenged, not necessarily by other professionals, but by viewers who simply recognized rudeness when they saw it. There were some honest questions, and often helpful answers provided to other viewers.
The entire "socialization" of the web is no doubt here to stay. But it does present a basic question whose roots are in the fundamentals of social interaction: Is the wisdom of a large group of lay judges more sound than that of a few anointed critics? I believe that if you want the perspective of the common person, ask as many of them as you can. But this seriously confines your data to the limits of your contributors' experiences.
The Internet has contributed mightily to this situation. Frankly, the fact that you are reading this entry speaks to the ease with with an unknown hobbyist-turned-dilettante photojournalist can have his thoughts float about in the ether is proof enough. However, I hope that you'll accept that my posts represent observations made while trying to make good photographs. And while I do have a editor who has the power of thumbs up/thumbs down over my work, there are no laurels of entitlement gracing my brow. I try, I succeed, and I make mistakes just like everybody else.
My own take on the situation is hopefully more balanced. Creativity is sometimes defined as the fusion of two or more ideas that had not co-mingled to that point. One must assume that for creativity to occur, one must accumulate a vast number of facts that on first glance might appear to be disparate at all levels. This is the raw material that allows creative people to assemble new collaborations for the purpose of presenting something in a fresh, unique way. I rely on seeing the work of others to fuel my own ambitions to create images that are interesting and informative. A technique may yield an uninspired image in one context, but totally transform an image made in another venue. Precious little is made from whole cloth these days, as an entire body of creativity is now readily available on the web. It is the classic showcase of ideas, and those ideas are available for the spectator to accept or reject. And while valid criticism is certainly part of this process, it should be used to build upon the growing body of knowledge, and not simply as platform for the kind of sniping that anonymous criticism has become. If you have an opinion, you should label it as such when it is submitted to the marketplace of ideas, and one should be prepared to defend that opinion in a civilized discourse, whether online or off.
Now snarky is as snarky does, and I never felt that sarcasm was a particularly effective weapon when engaging in a war of words. However, I do remember reading about a verbal confrontation between a young upstart and and a seasoned veteran. When asked, "What makes you think you're a professional?", the retort was, "Knowing that I don't have to prove my professionalism to you".
That you are reading this posting means that I have moved on, figuratively or metaphorically, or that I neglected to move the publication date further into the future. This blog has been something of a self-assigned creative writing class that demanded a new essay every Sunday. I have held to that schedule as closely as I could, and sincerely hope that you found the whole adventure as worthwhile as I found it satisfying. I wish you the best in all of your photographic pursuits. I was born in 1951, and leave you to conclude my disposition as a writer, photographer, and hopefully, devoted friend.
I love you Toadie. Always have, always will.
