[Leica] Journalist buys a Leica!/Reinvigoration

[imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser)]

As someone who learned photography on the job at a commercial studio, 
attended a dreaded "art" school that didn't even offer photography (at the 
time); earned a BFA degree; taught visual design at Columbia College 
Chicago; sold photographs through art galleries; spent 7 years as photo 
journalist; photographed for ad agencies, editorial work in various industry 
magazines, corporations, annual reports, fashion, products, medical, and 
portrait clients; hired and art directed other photographers for my own 
graphic design firm - 

I find all the posturing "against" the various photographic markets so very 
silly.
Most of the photographers we now consider the "masters" worked across 
numerous market areas at various times in their careers.

The best illustrators, portraitists, journalists, landscapists, 
fashionistas, editorialists, et al have found their way into galleries, 
museums and history books; as part of the history of the photographic 
medium, the arts and history in general.

What is the point of one photo discipline sniping at another? Especially 
when THE VERY BEST of each and every discipline achieves the status "art" if 
not "Art" or "ART."

I find the same foolishness occurs with my metal artists and crafts person 
friends. If they don't produce sculpture they seem to need to "put down" art 
for Art's sake.

Historically those we consider the classical masters of painting were also 
portraitists and doing "commercial commissions" for the church. The 
engravers did so for illustrated manuscript publication. And it remains so 
today - even though it may be on the web; as well as on paper.

a note off the iPad, George

On Dec 30, 2012, at 10:49 AM, Greg Rubenstein <gcr910 at gmail.com> wrote:

> This is my experience and my prejudice as a photographer and as
> someone who has hired photographers, as well as someone who spends a
> fair amount of his time with photographers. I have yet to meet a
> fine-art photographer who grasps any of the concepts mentioned above
> except attitude.