Music of Photography: Ode to vision

Last Updated on August 6, 2016 by Patrick

There is an ongoing war in the world of photography between the followers of “artistic photography” and the followers of “realistic representative photography”, each one against one another, acting and counteracting ideologically against each other and none of them are winning it. In fact, the struggle in their own minds is even greater because the more they “fight”, the more they sustain their conflicts. This also destroys their vision in what they do.

Each and everyone of them feel the need to be right and feel betrayed that they are not listened to.

The debate goes ever on about what should be photography and what shouldn’t. One day I read in a book written by a great spiritual master saying that nowadays painting is nothing more than photography and that is not original, for it imitates what is been seen in the world. Also, he said that true painting is the one made by the chinese and japanese even from the ancient times (such as the zen of chan paintings). If one studies these paintings can see that the artists’ vision of the world is quite unique and original and the forms in which they paint their landscapes, for example, comes from their understanding of the true essences of what they paint and how they paint it. It comes from hundreds of years of contemplating the archetypes and their originality comes from daring to cross the boundaries of art itself.

To be original is not something ordinary nor far fetched. It can be reached by anyone who dares. The true courage is when the intention is made and cristalized into action in this world. But originality or uniqueness is not a trademark of art. It can be found in science, philosophy, religion, medicine, and in any day-to-day crafts as well.

Almost the same thing happens in the world of photography today. Many passionate photographers are starting to cross the line between the industry of photography and the quite unexplored original photography that has much to offer. Of course, that realm is not for the faint hearted, so to say, being only for the ones who love to get out of their comfort zones, for the adventurers of art who are truly pushing their own limits of creativity given by their conscious levels of their own Soul.

On the other side are the ones who like to impose rules and regulations because they don’t feel comfortable not being in control of their art or their craft, even if it is non-artistical. They are affraid of the power of their emotions and the more they fight against them and try to “hide the Sun behind the finger” the more powerful and uncontrollable their emotions are. Trancending their emotions is not on their list or, if it is, they don’t know how to do it or they are affraid to even try, even if they know how.

They say what’s real and what is not. They are against post-processing and want to do everything right in camera, like there really is a right and wrong in photography. This is the old paradigm that wants to wage war againts its own other side. So, it is a war between both sides of the same thing. Curiously enough, they have no idea that they complete each other. The same thing happens in our world with every other aspects of practical life when we are trying to put borders on them and control them.

Recently, I traveled to the sea, our Black Sea. Late March, very cloudy and moody too. The atmosphere, there, was interesting and I was thinking about doing some monochrome photography. I found my spot, setup my tripod, put the camera on it and tried to compose some frames. I was also thinking about long exposure because the sky was full of clouds and it was very dramatic as well.

In my vision the wide horizon met the open sea and tone, contrast and perspective were made by the very deepening the highlights gave, depicting a large, in the distance, view offshore.

There isn’t a sense of place here as we know it, it is only conceptual. It speaks something, it sings something. But what? Do you see?

It sings in my mind in a largo tempo and reminds me of the simplicity of thought. But how does it sing it? ;)

Often in music, as well as in photography, things, ideas, notions, what we communicate is very simple. Notes are simple as the drops of water composing the sea, the ocean. The gathering of notes, the musical syllables are simple too. But how can one show this simplicity better? I think it could be done by using long notes, long tempos. In photography we use long exposures to stretch time or the tempo of an image.

I want to say this last word to those haters out there that despise the whatsoever processing of images after the shooting. Remember that back in the early days of photography, photographs were made using only long exposures! Does this alter the reality you’re so much attached to or not?

This is the first study:

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