On labeling things …

Returning from the beach
Yesterday I was reading Paul Butzi’s post about reality. Though the entire post was not about art, so to speak, one paragraph caught my interest:

I admit that I struggle with the whole ‘art’ concept. I’m no longer sure what art is, or if what I do is art. I’m more or less resigned to the fact that I’m going to do what I do (which is make photos to help me figure things out) and if people think it’s art, why, that’s fine. And if they don’t think it’s art, well, I guess I’m ok with that, too.

–Paul Butzi

Firstly, bravo for the last sentence!!! I’m glad to see he is totally doing it for himself.

Interesting, I thought, that we struggle with the word art. This thought hit me as I was doing my morning walk, which I am enjoying very much these days, especially since the weather is getting a tad bit cooler. I made a connection between walking and photography. Yesterday I stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up a heart rate monitor to keep track of my ‘effort’. Instantly, this morning’s walk nearly turned into a self-imposed competition. Suddenly, I was competing with myself to keep my heart rate up to a certain number, complete a mile in less than “x” time, etc. All I really wanted to do is see how ‘well’ I was walking. Fortunately, I reigned myself in, enjoyed the walk, and didn’t pay much attention to the monitor. I checked it a couple of times out of curiosity, but that was it.

With photography, I tend to run into that same scenario when I start with the thoughts of is it really art? How come I’ve never been published? Should I sell some of my work? All, if you think of it, outward signs of ‘success’, when all I want to do is take pictures of what ever appeals to me for whatever reason. I, unlike Paul, don’t even think that I’m trying to figure anything out. Perhaps I’m just trying to show appreciation for the things around me. Sometimes, especially when I point my camera towards my family, I’m trying to capture a feeling, a particular special moment, which later sparks sweeter, even more accurate memories.

Certainly, this is not to say that he should not think about such things. Photography, I think, is a fantastic way to work things out. Personally, though, when I start to think, is when I start to loose that ‘feeling’, whatever it is.

In the end, I guess, it’s just the pleasure of clicking the shutter … of which I’ve been doing too precious little of.