Originally Posted by montsnmags
As per my opening phrase, I only speak from my own experience. I have a limited "range" of photography I practice. Aside from casual people photography, I do take photos of things in an urban landscape that people might find boring - certainly people wonder why I'm taking photos of some things (a streetlight, a small bit of plumbing against a brick wall, trolleys). Now that I'm somewhat out of the urban landscape, I find flotsam and jetsam to be subjects, and coastal patterns, and other details. In the latter's limited respect, I guess I do subsribe to Henry Miller's "The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself".
I don't think I make people look beautiful. Generally the subjects are often critical of my results, because I don't make the age-lines go away, or 'shop the blemishes or stray or unbrushed hair, and I frequently get crit'ed with "It's a shame they're not smiling" (I'm not a "Say cheese" kind of guy). People I take photos of rarely know I am about to take a photo of them, and are frequently not looking at me/the camera.
That is, I don't "make" people look beautiful. Anything in the photo was in the subject when I took it.
I think you're conflating the superficial "beauty" in individuals that I am suggesting into a metaphysical state and statement, and imposing on me the naive optimism of "rose-coloured glasses" that is quite significantly disconnected from my reality. I view the world, not proudly, through cynical eyes, often from a slough of despond that has me begging for airless and drowned relief. I struggle with social interaction, and reflexively recoil from the seeming all-pervasiveness of petit resentments, selfishness and disingenuousness. My "wonder" is not only that we live like this, but that we continue to live.
It is the apparent preoccupation by society and the media with dull, imposed, straightjacketed concepts of "beauty" (where the "ugly duckling" is only ever redeemed by becoming the "swan", and never redeemed by becoming "human" in the eyes of the critics...Shrek aside for the moment ~wry smile~) that makes me surprised, and yet not, when, no matter who I take photos of, they can appear "beautiful". That is, the result is not dependant on what may seem readily apparent to the eye (from general perceptions and quick judgements of "beauty" and "ugliness", to use the extremes).
Which is to say, beauty on the outside is easy...is there. But that metaphysical type...well, if I can't find it in myself...?
I agree. I like spiders...well, all arthropods...all invertebrates really...and vertebrates...basically animals...and plants too....rocks are nice...clouds...the sun...the moon.........
Cheers,
Marc
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