Thoughts from the book Zen Camera by David Ulrich

As most who know me realize that I am not much into Eastern Philosophy. I have enough difficulty with Western Philosophy. Recently Michael Cruso loaned me book, Zen Camera by David Ulrich that I would like to quote from.

“Through photography we cannot help but become more attentive to and conscious of both the dynamics of self and the realities of life. Photography demands that we look inward and outward simultaneously. The degree of which we can delve within ourselves—to witness and know our very personal characteristic and those we share with all others—is the degree to which we can see and know the world. We cannot adequately know the world without first becoming self-conscious. Photography helps you discover your authentic self, the nature of your conditioning, and how you relate to others and the world itself. You see all of this directly reflected in your imagery if you care enough to look with an impartial eye. You cannot empathize with the conditions of others without first knowing your own humanity: your potentials, flaws, and deep contradictions.”

There are two statements in this paragraph that I have tried to convey to other amateur photographers with little success because I am not as eloquent in expressing my ideas.

“Photography demands that we look inward and outward simultaneously.”  

“Photography helps you discover your authentic self, the nature of your conditioning and how you relate to others and the world itself.”

Art, and many of my amateur photographer friends think of their photography as their form of artistic expression, comes in my not so humble opinion from within yourself. If you are going to create art you must show in your photograph the way you inwardly see and are affected by what is in front of your camera. Otherwise it is simply documentation--a copy. 

You cannot be an artist by following ‘rules’. You cannot be an artist by mimicking the work of others. Yet, this is the thrust of almost all amateur photography. And, sadly I must admit, way too much of my own thrust. It is extremely difficult to break that cycle, especially when you are a member of a camera club.

I would love to go into a discussion of Minor White's Mirrors, Messages and Manifestations or his description of the difference between the photographer as an Interpretative Documentation and an Poet Photographer because it all ties into this same idea. But maybe another day.

BTW, Ulrich's statement, "You see all of this (meaning your inner character) directly reflected in your imagery if you care enough to look with an impartial eye." The scary part my friends is that he is so correct. It is all there whether or not you chose "...to look with an impartial eye." That is why rules and mimicry are so prevalent in amateur photography. What does your photography say about you?