[Leica] Directions

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

wonderful Peter...I will hang on to this...Steve


On Aug 24, 2007, at 12:23 AM, Peter Klein wrote:

> Tina:
>
> I'm going to answer your questions with more questions:
>
> * What is the purpose of your photography?
>
> * Are there some common threads in your photographs, themes that  
> keep popping up?  Do you know what they are?  Do you know why you  
> are drawn to them?
>
> * If you had to stop shooting tomorrow, what would you be most  
> proud of, and what would you regret most not doing?
>
> * Do you have to make X dollars per year from your photography?   
> Who says?
>
> * What do you like most about your photographic life so far?  What  
> do you dislike the most?  Is there a way to do mostly the former  
> and less of the latter?
>
> * Suppose there was no choice #3, (muddle along alternating between  
> new pictures/stock/travel and working with your negatives).  You  
> have to choose between #1 and #2.  Would either make you happier?   
> Or would either make you miserable?  Why?  Now, put choice #3 back  
> in the picture again.  Do you feel incredibly relieved?  That tells  
> you something.
>
> You don't have to answer any of these questions here, but answer  
> them for yourself.  It might tell you what you want.  Write it  
> down, it helps.
>
> Remember, artists and engineers operate from a completely different  
> basis.  Your husband may want everything to make sense.  You know  
> it doesn't. :-)   The fun and beauty is in exploring how and why it  
> doesn't always make sense.  Your photographic business may be  
> simply an excuse for you to be able to photograph, for you.  Your  
> husband may want to "straighten things out," make it more orderly,  
> more profitable.   I suspect it will always drive him a little  
> crazy.  He'll probably enjoy it, if you can get him to understand  
> what it's really about.
>
> Personally, I think that you have a legacy of work showing the  
> brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity across cultures.  That's  
> what's always struck me about your photos. It's not just pictures  
> of poor or hungry people.  It's not been only about getting people  
> to donate to this or that cause.  It's been about the beauty of  
> being part of the human family.
>
> There's a book or two or three in that, and IMHO it would be a  
> shame if they didn't happen somehow.  But will you be content to be  
> a shut-in with your negs?  Maybe not.  I think travel stimulates  
> you.  Maybe you need to alternate by month or by season for a while  
> and see how it feels.  And at some point you'll say to yourself,  
> "You know, I'm tired of running around so much," or, "While I can,  
> I'm going to get out there and see new things."
>
> Maybe you need to collaborate with an editor.  He or she might see  
> patterns in your work that you don't, and that could be the basis  
> of a book. Or stimulate a related but fresh line of shooting.
>
> Hope this is helpful.
>
> -Peter
>
>
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