The ImageReflex Gallery: Obligations

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February 18, 2005

Obligations

We all have obligations. Whether they are to our families, our jobs, our communities, or even ourselves, we all have them. Photographers, professional and amateur alike, have the added obligation of sharing the knowledge they’ve amassed with others who share an interest in photography. Perhaps it is something about technique, perhaps it is something about understanding light, or film, or the noise associated with digital sensors that cause noise; no matter the specifics, we have an obligation to share information.

Such obligations exist for several reasons. First, helping others learn about and share a love for the art of photography helps ensure that the art form will continue even after we’ve all stopped creating images. Second, it is an opportunity to give something back, and to repay the kindness of the more experienced photographers who shared their vast knowledge with us and helped us become the photographers we are. Third, sharing photographic knowledge with another photographer may give us the opportunity to learn something new. When we impart our knowledge to others, we may achieve an understanding of that knowledge that enables us to do something never before considered. Likewise, when we share information with others, we encourage them to take our ideas, develop them with a new viewpoint, and share them with us. Either way, we are likely to learn something more and add to the base of knowledge we previously had.

I was fortunate enough to be able to share some information this week. An English teacher who also serves as the yearbook advisor for a high school posted a message on a message board seeking advice for lighting a basketball court. He was looking for advice so that his students could use what equipment they had to shoot a basketball game the way that the professionals would. Once you’ve learned how to light a basketball court with strobe lights, there’s no real magic to it. I am still somewhat disappointed that more people didn’t take the time to respond, or to lend some suggestions. At least I was able to spend a few minutes with the advisor on the phone, and give his students some suggestions for working with the equipment they had.

The photographic masters shared their insight, technique, and tools with us, whether directly or indirectly. The least we can do as photographers is attempt to emulate the people who made us want to be photographers.

Posted by slewis at February 18, 2005 7:51 PM

February 18, 2005

Obligations

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