_MORE DIRECTIVES _LESS PROOFS

We don’t often think of it this way, but I’m told that traditionally, 80% of a book’s contents are proofs, backpedlings in defense of anticipated push back to the main point. Had we been more trusting readers many of our favorite authors could have distilled their books into more-to-the-point directives.

Do this, this and this; book over. Well that sucks.

So what’s this have to do with photography? A lot, actually. Lately I’ve given thought to how much time, if any, should be spent defending the new kids on the block, “Wide & Tights” and “Landscape Diorama?” The answer won’t make the people who need the history lessons most particularly happy. But these styles aren’t for them. So why force-feed redundant proofs to folks with hearts and minds firmly on board, muddying the complex workflows they are working to master and potentially ruining it for these, the only folks that really matter, the ones who care?

Unfortunately, one other hitch in the get-a-long are that smaller demographic, yet a bit green and even less historically hands-on, still looking to the powers that be for a nod of approval and requisite blessing. A blessing and approval that is unlikely to ever come from those with the most to lose. To what knowledge base do they turn?

Therefore I have decided to isolate all proofs to a given area, a staging ground of sorts where all the evidence, as seen, admittedly through my perspective alone, can be arranged in a thoughtful semblance of order. Both for the new and the old. Hopefully then the new artists, through better understanding of how we arrived at this crossroads of artistic consciousness, might gain confidence in the voices within their own heads inspiring further rebellion and out-of-bounds personal fulfillments. There are no claims here of a singular right and even less so the notion that I own it.
‘Plenty of room for folks to go on as they please.

Therefore, for those adversarial, including perhaps even a wayward troll or two; an implied, yet cordial invite to the door. Let’s hope our partings be amicable and with grins-on aplenty.

Proceed then we will, serving those that care, respecting their time and attention, teaching in an un-proofed style, unfettered by further cynicism and other constricting thoughts. Not an easy task, seemingly turning tail, but inevitable lest there be blood.

But before I wander off all unconcerned like, let my subjacent, soon-to-be silenced sentiment echo quietly in the fiendishly clever perspective a tough little gal from the climbing community shared about push-back in the wake of her first ever free climb of the Nose;

“…It goes boys” … lynn hill

TWILIGHT