We have long enjoyed
living in the modern classless society, or so we are told.
Yet I still marvel
at the way language, particularly the use of verbs, nouns, jargon,
clichés, and certain expressions in the vernacular, still
delineates, and in some cases alienates well defined, self imposed
groupings, (complete with sub-groupings, cliques and gangs) where it
seems that the purposeful use of a class distinct language has become
so ingrained that once a willing participant has imposed upon himself
his chosen idiom, he totally relegates himself to that particular
echelon only.
The ramifications of
membership of any of these factions, include the creation of
invisible but distinct boundaries, that it is never permissible to
cross.
Nowhere is this
supposedly non existent class system more apparent than in the world
of what is loosely, and somewhat erroneously termed “The
Photography Industry”.
Since the birth of
photography:
“Photographers” have simply
“made photographs”!
Now however, in the
seemingly endless sea of artificially created and self perpetuating
lower classes: “creatives” who use camera equipment in their
“work”, carefully define themselves, by the regurgitation of
hackneyed phrases which are as stale as yesterday's bread:
“artists”:
“image” their “works of unique vision and creative
imagination”, which unsurprisingly are pretty much identical to so
many thousands of other unique visions floating around.
“togs”:
(an unholy, loathsome word in itself, for a large and evidently
undisciplined social order riddled with subgroups, cliques and gangs)
“do shoots”, which are seemingly always “great for your folio”,
and increasingly for “potential publication”, but which
unswervingly reveal a complete lack of knowledge of both what makes a
great portfolio, and the necessary qualities suitable for
publication.
“fauxpros”:
invariably use their “passion” to “grab awesome captures”
“casual
shooters”: “snap” “shots”, and a distinct subgroup
“snap pretty pics”...this group always seems to have a following
which emphatically suggests “you should turn professional”, which
immediately scores a quick come back: “I only do it for fun,
but...”, merely hours before creating a facebook “photography
business” page.
But by far the most
perplexing and disturbing is the:
“amateur”:
whose favourite platitude not only completely contradicts the meaning
of the very word amateur itself, while with inherent nastiness tries
to demean and belittle all those who make money by the use of the
camera.
The irony being of
course, that it inevitably turns itself back on the person uttering
it, subverting the industry as a whole, destroying any value in any,
and all photography, and no doubt destroying society as whole.
“I am only an
amateur, so I don’t charge anywhere near as much as the exorbitant
fees professionals charge.”
The “supreme
irony” though, “the great leveler” if you will, the “elephant
in the room”; which never fails to bring a smile to the dial of old
cynics such as myself, is that:
Photographers
continue to make photographs!
©Copyright: Stephen Bennett, MMXVI
Except as permitted by the
copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate
any of the content on this website, including any photographs and
files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the
copyright owner.
The Australian Copyright Act allows certain
uses of content on the internet without the copyright owner's
permission. This includes uses by educational institutions for
educational purposes, and by Commonwealth and State government
departments for government purposes, provided fair payment is made. For
more information, see www.copyright.com.au and www.copyright.org.au.
We may change these terms of use from time to time. Check before re-using any content from this website.
My other Blogs.
Mostly for Photographers:
