I did a seminar yesterday with David Duchemin. Sponsored by Manfrotto (I wish I could afford Manfrotto gear!), the seminar was titled “Confessions of a So-Called Pro.” It was thought-provoking and has me thinking a lot about what the craft of photography means and what’s important about it.
The Pixilated Image Blog: David Duchemin's Site
→David Duchemin is a photographer I have admired, and I have posted about him here before. I have long admired David for his work as a “humanitarian” photographer, serving the photographic needs of Non-Governmental Agencies (NGO’s) and other global needs. In his writing, David has articulately and compellingly made the case for uniting vision and craft in personal photography.
The first point that David made that I found important was a comment about the nature of “amateur” vs. “professional.” Explaining his title of “So-Called Pro,” David confessed to being uncomfortable with a distinction. “Professional” should just refer to the business aspects of a photographer’s work – photographing for clients – and there are many “professionals” whose work is not art. “Amateur” – literally, one who loves – should refer to our work in a field that we love. Being a professional photographer does not insure that what we produce is art. Nor does not being a professional preclude a commitment to our craft, to high standards, to developing and cultivating both vision and skill, and to making photography that is art.
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The Art and Craft of Photography
I did a seminar yesterday with David Duchemin. Sponsored by Manfrotto (I wish I could afford Manfrotto gear!), the seminar was titled “Confessions of a So-Called Pro.” It was thought-provoking and has me thinking a lot about what the craft of photography means and what’s important about it.
The Pixilated Image Blog: David Duchemin's Site
→David Duchemin is a photographer I have admired, and I have posted about him here before. I have long admired David for his work as a “humanitarian” photographer, serving the photographic needs of Non-Governmental Agencies (NGO’s) and other global needs. In his writing, David has articulately and compellingly made the case for uniting vision and craft in personal photography.
The first point that David made that I found important was a comment about the nature of “amateur” vs. “professional.” Explaining his title of “So-Called Pro,” David confessed to being uncomfortable with a distinction. “Professional” should just refer to the business aspects of a photographer’s work – photographing for clients – and there are many “professionals” whose work is not art. “Amateur” – literally, one who loves – should refer to our work in a field that we love. Being a professional photographer does not insure that what we produce is art. Nor does not being a professional preclude a commitment to our craft, to high standards, to developing and cultivating both vision and skill, and to making photography that is art.
More after the jump …
Continue reading →
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Posted in Commentary, Other Photographers, Photography
Tagged blog review, Craft of Photography, David DuChemin, Photography, photography as art, photoshopping, professional photography, professional vs amateur