How do you deal with beauty?

[paull]

Really interesting thread at dpreview

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=12401741

his discussion brings to mind that what we see a lot of are indeed pretty pictures. I occassionally have a good look at the photos at photo.net (can spend about an hour doing it) but increasingly find it a bit exhausing. The prettiness can be a little tired(?) particularly if a conventional composition is married with a familiar subject matter. Nonetheless and given my skills are not even at the "conventional" pretty level - i continue my struggle to produce pretty pictures in the vain hope of breaking this mould someday to produce something original.

[Killakoala]

I am listening and empathising with your train of thought.

I can understand the need of every artist to express his/her inner ideas/thoughts/desires/lusts/fears and trepidations in their chosen medium, in a way to help release themselves from the unreality of their own reality.

Photography is an art, there is no question about that. It gives us a way of expressing ourselves in a way that allows us to understand our own emotions. By taking photos of pretty things we are perhaps trying to make a nicer world of something that is maybe not so nice. Taking pictures of flowers and children smiling in all their innocence may be masking our own fears and is a way we can release ourselves form the 'pain' of life. Taking pictures of half decomposed animals, rotting putrid vegetables and images that respond with a sickening feeling are the same. They cause us to respond with an emotion that we might not normally feel.

Mixing pscchology and art is a dangerous thing, we know not where it might lead us, but by taking photographs of subjects we are comfortable with is a way we can help ourselves cope with a reality that is not so pleasant and by the same way , photos of things that are outside of our comfort zone can also help in the same way, by allowing us to express our angsts with others.

It sounds like a ramble but i think it is part of the human pscyche to seek answers to things we don't understand. Taking photos is just one of many ways we can achieve this. And if on Monday morning, back in the land of reality, you feel better after having taken a photo of roadkill, then so be it.

It is therapy, it is useful and for some it is a way of living life.

IMHO......

[Manta]

Pretty damn good "rambling" Steve. I think you've summed it up very nicely.

[paull]

wow. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and investing the time in doing so. I'm not even going to try and add any more for the moment - but want to think/meditate on what you have said - and reread it (when I have had a little more sleep).

I started photography as a way to balance out life and exercise the right as well as left hemisphere of the brain. Thus I can appreciate and understand the balance element to your comment as I can also appreciate the therapy aspect. 'Nuff said - for now.

Hopefully I'll find more to add and do some justice to you interesting post.