Is Photography Dead?
Written on December 5, 2007
Is Photography Dead? Bold question asked in this Newsweek article.
I absolutely understand the point he is making, and he makes it from the perspective of art…but I agree that the next generation of great photographers will really need to differentiate themselves, and not just with easier and more available tools. The idea of talent will really have to come into play in the future.
I remember having a conversation with a friend a good while ago and we both felt that there would be a coming backlash to the overly retouched and photoshopped work out there market. Everything is cyclical and perhaps this will come to bear.
I certainly don’t think that Photography is threatened. If anything, more photographers means more great photography. You just have to sort through larger piles of crap to get to the good stuff.
My theory is that the over-photoshopped look is a reaction to the late ’90’s style, the “real” people look. The pedestrian-like photographer exposing all the blemishes, dark circles, awkwardness, etc….. of the celebrity and/or model. These talents feeling exploited hired publicist, who rose to power by demanding all their clients always look their best or none of their clients would be in the offending publication…….. just my theory.
I have commented on this elsewhere, I half agree. I have narrowed it down to the surreal and/or trying not to try look that has encompassed contemporary photography for several years. As Eric said I dont feel photography is threatened, I just feel maybe photography needs to take a step back to its classic intention which is to capture. I also feel that this contempoorary photography maybe needs to be given its own area in the art world and refered to photo illustration as some say. As in “I am a photo Illustrator…” or “I am a photographer…” Are we ready for that designation? This is just meant to be a little constructive criticism. I can not be the first to think of this, can I?
@Alan
And the 90’s realism was a reaction to the gloss of the 80s. It follows music, somewhat. We just have to suffer through this synth-pop phase….again.
I agree with Greg, seems that photography is splitting in 2 somewhat.
From very straight imagery that pushes the fact that the image was taken in one shot and left pretty unaltered, which I think sometimes comes across really honest simple and stripped down photography. then the more photography illustrator style which leans on photoshop or other post production tools. It feels quite exciting to me, that you can almost create new worlds with photography these days.
And as people get there head round the idea of more photo illustration type photography, it might help define the art form for people.