THIS ENTRY FALLS UNDER THE HEADING OF dispelling misconceptions.
item 1 - In light of quite a number of recent entries which featured pictures under the heading of around the house (to include kitchen life / sink), some might assume, incorrectly, that I don’t get out and around much. While I do get out and around quite frequently for a wide variety of reasons, there is something about the cold (and dreariness) of winter that works against my out-of-the-house picture making.
Be that as it may, yesterday I ventured north to see a photography exhibit, North by Nuuk: Greenland after Rockwell Kent, at the Burke Gallery on the campus of SUNY Plattsbugh State College. It was also a meet-the-artist event. The work was sorta decorative art documentary / photo journalistic in style, which is not to write that it was not very high quality. FYI, more on the artist later.
In any event, after a few errands I headed home and along the way my eye and sensibilities were pricked by a couple scenes, so I made a couple pictures. One was made from the driver’s seat of my car, for the other picture I got my lazy ass out of the car. Proof positive that I do, in fact, get out and about.
item 2 - I have been writing, some might think nattering, quite a bit about the notion of fine art. As a result, some might also think that I am thinking very highly of myself and my pictures, or, that I am setting myself up as an oracle or arbitrator on things fine art, photography wise. To be perfectly clear, if anyone is holding those notions, let me write here and now that you are wrong.
Simply put, I am merely offering my opinions on the subject, the intent of which is to stir up some thoughts and opinions on the subject from readers of this blog.
That written, I have some experience, re: my thoughts on the subject of fine art photography. For a period of time I was a contributing writer / critic, re: fine art photography, for the national fine art magazine, The New Art Examiner (long gone). Specifically, they assigned me to review various photography exhibitions (solo exhibitions) around the North East. I enjoyed doing so until it became excruciatingly obvious (to me) that people were taking my opinions way too seriously. As in, what I wrote could seriously effect, pro or con, a photographer’s career.
When I came to that realization, that was the end of that endeavor. I had absolutely no intention or desire to assume the mantle of the maker or the breaker of anyone’s career. After all, it was just my opinion. I was not speaking / writing ex cathedra.
And, FYI, whether of not my pictures are fine art pictures is not for me to judge. I’ll leave that decision up to gallery directors and the like.
