No one cares about your photos
It is easy to try and justify or minimize that statement by talking about the importance of those pictures to other people who may be close to us. Or perhaps the likes on our social media have convinced us that somehow those pictures we took mean something. Its easy to fall into that self deception in believing our own hype.
Let's be clear I am not saying people don't like our photos. They may very well think they are pretty or they are "nice" or "cute" or capturing momentary attention. I totally think, no I know that is true.
What I am talking about is no one really can understand that moment like you can when you look at that photo. Let me go a little further. People are not searching or concerned about the meaning behind the photo. They may see something but they can't or will not allow themselves the ability to really get what it is you thought you put in that photo.
Its very easy to toss the statement "Look, I am not trying to convey anything, I just want people to see X". I get it why concern yourself if people don't understand all that was going on when you took the picture.
1) If that was your attitude when you took the picture. trust me that comes through too.
2) If people want to see the Eiffel Tower there are far better images than anything you likely took, so you wanted people to see something. To prove you were there? Do your friends think you're a liar?
3)To remind yourself that you were there? If your memory is that short, pictures won't help you. Perhaps that picture reminds you of a moment. But it wasn't that moment you really remember, because the pictured moment was after that moment.
4) So that people can "join" or grasp what it is you saw, but can a two dimensional image most likely viewed on a cell phone screen really transport the person to the time and place?
5) Because you want to show people your exciting life? How important to you is making your life seem great? I mean honestly, if everybody else could do it, eat it, try it, be there would you have even shown it? Does that make people embrace you or rather stir up jealousy, envy and a host of other feelings
6) Because it felt like you should take a picture
Stop, Stop, Stop - it's one thing you took that picture. Its quite another reason that you decided that you wanted to show that picture to others. My point is, think about why you chose to do it. Just shoveling pics of the kids out for the grandparents? What do you want to show them? Why is it important that they saw "this" moment? Do they get it? Or are they ignoring what you thought and just happy to see them.
I am sure you could list a few others down here with this. So why this train of thought. Maybe this is where my photographic journey has taken me. To a realization that no matter how honest, realistic or even beautiful a photo may be, frankly no one outside of myself really cares....
A sobering thought that makes me pause and reflect on the expense, effort and the time devoted to a craft and art that is in itself has a very limited ability to carry any real connection. The truth of the statement may mean nothing to some people. However its made me take a serious moment and hit the stop button.
The videos that helped me think about this are located below. Watch them in order if you will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4pE-pdhnJw
https://craftandvision.com/blogs/all/vision-is-better-ep-54
Taking a moment to get real about photography its not about being sad or despondent, just about being honest.
"Anyone can buy a camera. Anyone can point and shoot. But if you don't care deeply, neither will those who read your photographs"- Duchemin
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