Ted Orland, The View from the Studio Door.
(Ted was a former teacher on Ansel Adams' workshops and used to produce mostly "fine art" black and white landscapes. He is also the co-author of Art & Fear with David Bayles)
Sunday 27 January 2013
Art that matters.
"Nowhere is it inscribed on stone tablets that art made even in the service of God reveals larger truths, or adds greater authenticity, than what is captured in honest work of any flavour. Over the course of our lives, the need repeatedly arises in each of us to make peace with the world with our work, and with ourselves. When that happens, our internal compass directs us naturally to the course we are meant to take, and "art" issues simply fall away. Coming amid the usual turbulence of life, such periods of grace and clarity (however fleeting) bring as well the realisation that making art matter, and making art that matters, are two sides of the same coin. Art will matter when it once again concerns itself with issues that matter, when it once again arises naturally at the points where art and life intersect, when it once again demonstrates that making art is the way we manifest being human."
Ted Orland, The View from the Studio Door.
(Ted was a former teacher on Ansel Adams' workshops and used to produce mostly "fine art" black and white landscapes. He is also the co-author of Art & Fear with David Bayles)
Ted Orland, The View from the Studio Door.
(Ted was a former teacher on Ansel Adams' workshops and used to produce mostly "fine art" black and white landscapes. He is also the co-author of Art & Fear with David Bayles)
Friday 16 November 2012
My views on landscape photography
Below is a series of Tweets I posted on Friday 16th of November outlining my opinions about landscape photography.
As these will inevitably become mangled by the Chinese whispers of the Twittersphere, here they are in full.
As some people seem determined to misrepresent my opinions, here is a clarification.
90% of landscape photography I see is dull, regurgitated, amateurish and shallow.
Which is fine if you're a beginner, I've been there, I understand.
But part of the problem is the clubbish, unchallenging attitude that surrounds the scene.
Which is tolerant of an artless, simplistic ’hobbyist’ approach.
Part of my artistic progression is to criticise both where I came from and the work of others.
It is essential. We cannot do anything worthwhile without having opinions.
A very small minority of landscape photography impresses me.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is either patronising, naive, lying or bought.
My approach is 'wake up people, smell the coffee'.
Most are missing out on a wonderful opportunities for personal expression.
When we describe ourselves as artists it is simply to say that we believe meaning can extend beyond the surface.
It is not self aggrandising or setting ourselves apart as ’other’. It is sharing the journey.
I wish someone had told my past self this. I would have felt more supported in my progress and less alone.
If you find that patronising, superior or offensive, please feel free to unfollow me.
As these will inevitably become mangled by the Chinese whispers of the Twittersphere, here they are in full.
As some people seem determined to misrepresent my opinions, here is a clarification.
90% of landscape photography I see is dull, regurgitated, amateurish and shallow.
Which is fine if you're a beginner, I've been there, I understand.
But part of the problem is the clubbish, unchallenging attitude that surrounds the scene.
Which is tolerant of an artless, simplistic ’hobbyist’ approach.
Part of my artistic progression is to criticise both where I came from and the work of others.
It is essential. We cannot do anything worthwhile without having opinions.
A very small minority of landscape photography impresses me.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is either patronising, naive, lying or bought.
My approach is 'wake up people, smell the coffee'.
Most are missing out on a wonderful opportunities for personal expression.
When we describe ourselves as artists it is simply to say that we believe meaning can extend beyond the surface.
It is not self aggrandising or setting ourselves apart as ’other’. It is sharing the journey.
I wish someone had told my past self this. I would have felt more supported in my progress and less alone.
If you find that patronising, superior or offensive, please feel free to unfollow me.
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