Is Photography "elitist" ?

[coolershaka]

Hello,

I've always had a great interest photography as an art form, and very much wanted to take a deeper interest. However I felt I could never "get into it" as such due to the high cost of equipment and my experiences meeting Photography and other Visual Arts students at university.

I studied for my degree in Manchester (and later in Paris and London), and met a number of visual arts and photography students during my studies. Many got into it as their parents were either professional photographers and artists or art dealers and gallery owners, and it seemed a logical step for them. Very few rented equipment from the University, having a decent set of tools for themselves. Only one that I met could be regarded as coming from a "working class" background.

Also, many of the photos that used to be displayed in the graduate exhibitions were often of seemingly glamorous places abroad that I couldn't afford to visit myself until several years later. It made me think at the time that professional Photography, Sculpture and Painting were quite "elitist" careers, in the same way as one often regards being a professional tennis player or barrister. It was only later that I realised that I could be wrong about this.

Does anyone else have an opinion about this, or similar experiences?

[-MasterChief-]

it is only elitist if one thinks that gear makes the photographer. but alas, it is the photographer's eye that makes him one. ;)

[Naturalist]

Believe me when I say that I know what you mean and are gong through.

Those born with a silver spoon in their mouth will always have an upper edge at the beginning of the curve. This is readily apparent in the early days while they are networking, gaining exposure, having the ability to acquire the latest gear and being able to travel the globe to unique and exotic places on mum and dad's inheritence.

I also believe that just about anyone with a few years camera experience under their belt can bring back a great photo from a great place whether its the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Canyon or Lake Geneva.

What separates one group from another then? A burning desire to succeed with a dose of hard work, education, talent, a bit of skill and then being respected in your own right.

Having the ability to "get the shot" wherever you are and while using older equipment and, having cost you a couple of years of hard work, savings and sacrifice to be there at that moment to get the shot allows you to more fully appreciate the image and, therefore, market it more fiercely.

[coolershaka]

Thanks for your replies. It seems that I wasn't imagining it then!

The question to me is an academic one, since I studied Physics and went on to a totally different career. However, professional photography (as did other forms of visual art) did strike me for a while as being elitist and expensive i.e. the cost of equipment, studios, travel if that is your thing, hiring of models etc. I wondered for a while if there were people doing it from poorer backgrounds.

[the_incubus]

physics is a very important part of photography and if you studied physics learning photography will be much easier.

Oh and there are people from poorer backgrounds who are photogs.

[Naturalist]

I wondered for a while if there were people doing it from poorer backgrounds.

Absolutely! Some people join the Navy to see photograph the exotic places, and with hopes of buying gear cheaper in Japan directly.

Others shoot models on a Trade For Prints deal so that the model gets prints and the photographer gets a release.

Unless you are working as a photographer for some huge publisher (e.g. Sport's Illustrated) then you are strapped with a small budget and have to start small and work your way up - just like many others have done before.

Personally, I appreciate all fine art more from someone that has walked the walk and is not some ecentric ego trip.

[BillMarks]

Hello,

I've always had a great interest photography as an art form, and very much wanted to take a deeper interest. However I felt I could never "get into it" as such due to the high cost of equipment and my experiences meeting Photography and other Visual Arts students at university.

Sounds like you convinced yourself to stop trying. Pitty.