This is quite refreshing… and reassuring.
So… beauty is… just that. When something is beautiful… there’s no need to explain it, or justify it to another. Just look at it, let it take us away from all the things that trouble or worry for a moment, even a split second.
Art isn’t the actual physical thing, it’s the essence of that reality, it’s what the “artist” (if you will) pulls out of the actual scene. Clearing away the noise… the clutter… and filtering it to a state of purity that we can actually observe. I’m not saying that just looking is better than experiencing the real thing, but it’s a nice chunk of it that you can share with others. It’s all about giving. Not about yelling “ME, I MADE THIS.”
An argument for having strong opinions about pictures: Photography takes skill… yo. I don’t really have much confidence in my images, but I’m constantly learning and looking, and always eager to share. The framing, the focus, and the settings work together to give the viewer the essence of the scene. I’d like my pictures to say… “Hey, maybe… take a second look at appreciate what’s there this time around.” This is probably why most of my favorite pictures by others are subtle and natural… and why I strive to make my images look that way.
I gotta say that the film man could have done better without abusing the fake blurryness thing though. Props to Wayne for the link.
