2.08.2013

Thoughts on Photography

"She just doesn't look like a photographer."

Although not said in a negative way, this comment (which was directed towards myself by a friend of a friend) has stayed with me. It has stayed with me because it reminds me of things I have thought myself. Being involved in art class since high school, I have always realized that I am not an "artsy" person. There were those weird artsy kids who draw anime and wear beanies with animal ears. There was the "really good photographer" but really just had a really nice camera compared to other 16-year-olds. Then in college there were those deep, intellectual artsy ones who were a little stuck-up and never smiled. The more art classes I took, especially in photography, the more I realized what kind of people were "photographers". And I wasn't one of them. While I could make friends and chat casually with people in my history, math, or English class, I have rarely even talked with those in my photography classes at college.

What I've gathered is that photographer = hipster.They wear vintage thrift store dresses, these shoes and the biggest, baddest glasses ever. They are likely to be a vegetarian or something similarly healthy. Photographers wear red lipstick (females, at least). Their pictures are insanely trendy and candid. They definitely use VSCO Cam and a faux-filmy grain edit. Lots of bokeh and blank stares.

In a classroom full of these really attractive, trendy people.. I just feel so completely NOT a photographer. Once while shooting a wedding, the mother of the bride asked to her friend "I wonder where the photographer is?" while I was standing just a couple feet ahead of her with my camera. I am 5'2". My clothes are simple. I tried a sock bun once and it looked absolutely ridiculous. I like pictures that are bright and happy and natural. I wish I could end this with a big ol' "I'M DIFFERENT AND I LOVE IT!" monologue or something of that effect.. maybe some day. I'm not sure what my point is in all of this, except to not judge a book by its cover? Something like that.
Posted by at 3:08 PM

6 comments:

  1. Emily, I completely understand! Especially the paragraph about how trendy photography is. I hate that I feel like I HAVE to put a faux-filmy gran edit on my pictures. Like, is it okay that I like bright happy photos where everything looks like it doesn in real life? Plus I feel like it's A THOUSAND times harder to edit photos the natural way we do because we have to make sure it looks real and the white balance is perfect and skin tones are JUST right while so many photographers just stick a bunch of actions on one photo and call it good because they don't have to worry about whether the skin looks a little too magenta or a little too green. I'm not saying it's bad to be trendy or that people can't love that vintage/hipster style, but I just don't like when everyone does the exact same thing because it's what's in. And I'll always be bitter that post-processing is easier for them. ;) Man.. sounds like I need to write a venting post myself haha. Apparently I have some unresolved issues... stepping off the soap box now... :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! You are INCREDIBLE at what you do and I love you for sticking with your personal style! And honestly, I've ALWAYS thought you looked like a photographer. :) But maybe because I'm in the same boat as you. ;) Love ya girl!

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    1. Jennie - THANK YOU! :) When you get back from Jerusalem, I think we need to sit down for lunch and talk photography because you ALWAYS understand any issue I have! I love that. :)

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    2. So much yes!!! Remember how we lived together for a semester?! Hahaha that is so weird to me. Because I just keep thinking about how I want to hang out with you and get to know you.. this is our second chance!! haha. But I'm so glad you get me too. :)

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  2. "Don't judge a book by its cover" sounds kind of like you feel those people are justified in having a "type" in their head; don't feel like that hipster cover is the right one. Your style-cover-CAN be a photographers cover if you like it. I think hipsters are annoying because they are a trend, most of them are not genuine-as in born loving that style. If a person loves the style before its trendy and dressed that way it is one thing, but to suddenly start dressing that way does not seem very original. I am not bashing the look in itself, but rather the shallow, trendy motivation behind it. My sister was in art school in college for a little while (she switched to math because of moral issues with some of the classes), and she was very clear about not being "that kind of artist"-she is in math school, so I think her art was more clean cut or something.

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    1. I agree with you - it's all about the motivation behind the trendiness. Sometimes I second guess myself - do I like this style because I actually personally LIKE it? Or do I like it because it's popular...?

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  3. Hi Emily,

    I have to tell you, this is actually why I started reading your blog--your style, but also how you're different from the other "differents". Your writing and photographs are very accessible and friendly; you seem like someone who's easy to get along with. Not to say the hipsters and otakus aren't---but they have that veil of "I am an artist" image that's harder to get through. So...rock on!

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