Being a new photo-blogger I thought I would investigate various photo blogs on the web and see what was out there.
I wish I was more inspired.
What I have found fall into the following categories:
Gear blogs
- Frankly, these seem to be blatant attempts to sell ad space
- These have their place. Hey, I visit DPReview daily. I don’t know why, I just do.
- Tips that are self-evident to all but newby photogs.
- Endless discussions comparing minute details of gear.
Image blogs
- Everything I photograph with my cellphone camera!
- All of “my” images – many of these are good because there is an inherent continuity based upon a single author. The problem is that there are a lot of poor artists out there.
Concept blogs
- Hey, how about a picture every day!
- Better yet, a self portrait every day!
- A different photographer every day! (these have some merit and freshness)
Progress blogs
- Photographers working on a project giving regular updates
- Photographers who put up only the good images they make
Training blogs
- How to photograph X
Random thought blogs
- I guess I fall into this category
- People talking about concepts that usually have to deal with photography, with an occasional reference to technique, gear, and stuff
I guess not finding what you are looking for most often comes of not knowing what you are looking for. After my initial search the progress blogs are resonating with me the most.
It seems that more good artists have flocked together on the internet than have struck out on their own. i.e. I have seen some great stuff at Deviant art and UTATA but have not seen many really good independent artist sites or blogs. Does this seem ironic to anyone but me?
Do artists flock to aggregation on the internet and shun them in the flesh and blood world because on-line they don’t have to deal with people face to face?
My favorite blog is Take Pictures, the blog of Clay Enos. It is the one that inspired my to start blogging
Clay is a prolific artist
There is always something new
Clay is a good photographer
It would be boring to follow the travels and travails of a mediocre photographer.
Clay is not overtly self promoting
You really feel the guy is just blogging to have a creative outlet, to inspire others and to share experiences, not as a marketing vehicle or whatever.
Clay is passionate about what he does
He speaks from the gut
He takes a lot of images (For Christ sake, he takes the StreetStudio on vacation!)
Clay is interesting
His blog reads like a diary, and who doesn’t like getting into someone else’s head?
He talks about his work and his thoughts
He seems like a good human
Another good one is Brooks Ayola's blog
Brooks is a really good studio photographer
He shares lots of how-to info and color commentary about shooting
He photographs beautiful women which is always nice.
More photographers should do what Clay and Brooks are doing, posting work in progress, talking about what they are doing, what they are trying to do, what they are succeeding at, experimenting with, discussing a tad of technique, a bit of concept and posting a bunch of images.
james
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yes. Clay is indeed a good human. He is both thoughtful, and thought provoking, to that end, there are a lot of blogs in the sphere that accomplish this nicely. The catch for the average viewer is determining what is actually good work the blogs that catch my attention are the ones which give the reader a slice of life in another part of the world. I'm from the school of, "any pictures IS good pictures". having said that, i do admit, that some pictures are just atrocities. (random photos of a group of people having dinner shot from behind, looking at the backs of their heads, with the flash fall-off just a bit more than ugly.) however, even these images are the work of someone... Someone's unique experience, which will conjure memories somewhere and somehow. In someways, this type of photography feels like watching someone shoot themselves in the foot, yet in others i find it to be very endearing. The point being, that not everyone is KICK ASS at photography, but they are sharing, and trying, and spreading their ideas, good or bad, for FREE, and for whatever it may be worth to complete strangers in the outside world. This is something i find to be absolutely commendible. When i toggle through the blogs, i always try to imagine what the blogger was thinking when they made their selections. Even if i don't like the work, it leaves an impression and as a photographer, i am curious to see if i will ever see these seemingly random photographs in another context in the future. This wonder is something that i feel is driving the "blogosphere" as secretly, and in some cases overtly we are all wondering who is going to wake up famous in the wake of their silly little posts. Myself included.
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