LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process Brooks Jensen

Yesterday, I was discussing the difficulty of purchasing art as an investment. In the real world, it rarely works. But trading photographs is another option for acquiring work that is completely outside the constraints of commerce.

One of the chief arguments for purchasing artwork is that it functions as an investment. With the passage of time, the value of the artwork will increase and ultimately justify your purchasing decision, at least based on economics. But does this really work out in the real world?

What is cliché to me might be exotic to you. I've been photographing in the Western landscape so long that I often drive by subjects because they seem trivial. But that's because I live here!

I had a particularly interesting experience photographing in the woods. I knew the spot was just gorgeous, but I was having a difficult time composing a photograph that encapsulated the feelings I was having. I decided to just walk around a bit, and observed that with every step the forest changed. The relationship of trees in three dimension modified the view with every step. And then, quite by accident, I took a step and found the perfect composition.

As technology has improved over the last twenty years or so, it's become possible to produce replicas of fine art photography originals that are visually indistinguishable from their originals. What's the difference?

Elsewhere, I've talked about PBWA - - Photography By Wandering Around. Here are some more thoughts about this strategy and lead to unexpected lessons. It's more than just luck. It is, or can be, a productive way to discover some interesting things about yourself.