In this excerpt form the book “On Being a Photographer: A Practical Guide” authors David Hurn and Jay Bill discuss the process of selecting a subject. I read this text at the very beginning of the semester and it really opened my eyes to what it means to be a photographer. I now went over my notes again and many of the points made still feel important to me.
It starts off with a powerful statement saying: “You are not a photographer because you are interested in photography” but a photographer is rather a “subject-sector” driven by curiosity which leads to intense examination of a subject (Hurn and Bill, 1997: 43). Photographs are therefore a tool and not the end result and although the authors make it clear that the images one takes needs to relate to ones’s personal experiences it is equally as important for them to be of interest for others as well. Simply using the justification of “this is how I feel” when showing one’s work is simply not sufficient. This ties in with the next point made by the authors. An unique style which is commonly aspired towards among artists should only be the by-product of the photographer’s visual exploration and not the goal itself.
Furthermore, the subject one selects needs to be visual and “lend itself to images” while also being accessible and practical to work with. Essential is also, according to Hurn and Bill, that the subject is one of which the photographer knows enough and feels continuously enthusiastic and curios about for the duration of production.
Finally, Hurn and Bill agree upon that love and knowledge both play essential roles in the creative process of photography and a deep and long-lasting respect for the subject matter will lead the photographer to a satisfying and successful outcome.
Works Cited:
Hurn, D. and Bill, J. (1997), On Being a Photographer: A Practical Guide, Portland, Or: Lenswork Publishing