{"id":121084,"date":"2018-12-09T18:00:02","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T02:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=121084"},"modified":"2018-12-09T18:00:08","modified_gmt":"2018-12-10T02:00:08","slug":"use-photography-as-a-optimistic-stimulus-for-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/09\/use-photography-as-a-optimistic-stimulus-for-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Photography as a Optimistic Stimulus for Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a simple thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid pessimism in life. Use photography as a tool, a stimulus, to help you find more purpose, direction, and joy in life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Upon reflecting on the history of photography, this is an epiphany I had:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the history of photography is very pessimistic (rooted in the history of MAGNUM).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The history of Magnum photos is that Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>, Robert Capa<\/a>, etc wanted to document the world. Generally, their focus was photo-journalism. And what kind of images generally sell? Photographs of war, pain, famine, and suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thus this was the result:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos were only legitimate if they were depressing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This is why we see so many photographs of suffering, famine, war, etc in the world.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it is important for us to photograph injustice and suffering in the world– but the scales are unbalanced. 80% of the photos out there from ‘legitimate photographers’ are about pain and suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why isn’t there more positive, or optimistic photos in the world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So this is what happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many young and aspiring photographers who seek to make a name for themselves in the photography world seek to make dramatic suffering photos (which have a spirit of pessimism).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To be honest, it is difficult to make dramatic photographs with optimistic and joyful photographs. Most people are hard-wired to be ‘risk averse’– which means, photos of pain, death, and suffering impact them more than happy\/optimistic\/joyful photos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We new photographers– perhaps we should strive to make powerful and optimistic photographs.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, perhaps our photographs shouldn’t scream so much about morality. I believe that ultimately photographs and images are amoral (they are just light reflections). Photographs and images only become moralized via the interpretation of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Perhaps we should strive to make more photographs which we consider beautiful — photographs that have a spirit of beauty and optimism.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just think to yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I go out and shoot photographs, what kind of moments, mood, or feelings am I trying to capture?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When you’re out shooting photos, do you look for pain and suffering? Or do you look for joy and optimism?<\/p>\n\n\n\n