The Best Photographers are Troublemakers

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Thought this was a cool article I received in the feedbag today.

I would say individuals with artistic inspirations would most likely not a "conformist." You are good when you can create a new standard and everyone is following it.

very much agreed with the material.

damn, I was sure it was my inexperience, and that as I got better I would have a shot at becoming a semi pro or at least a contributing stringer or maybe even enter my stuff in a juried art gallery. Now I know that I have to suffer more angst and displeasure with the world. I have to live my life like I am being tormented by bugs, or at least like I am from France. I would have wasted my time trying to get a better hand on exposure. Thanks.

Interesting article but I think I would replace the word "troublemaker" with "non-conformist."

The line that separates brilliance and insanity is often quite blurred, to the point that you cannot have one without the other.

I love this. Thanks for sharing.

Nothing says 'troublemaker' like "which lens for Disney?"

I think the article basically reiterates the old canard that an artist must suffer for his/her art. That may be the case for a good number of the geniuses who have contributed to the collective art of our world, but I don't think it is a necessary attribute. I do believe photographers (and artists) see things differently from most people, and as such, they react to the world (reality) from a different perspective. Because of this, they are often misunderstood, but that doesn't make them troublemakers. It does make them nonconformist as a previous poster has suggested. On the other hand, photographers such as paparrazi (perhaps mere picture-takers) seem to often be troublemakers, but that has little to do with their creative, artistic abilities and more a function of their lens size and stamina.

So I would have been a better photography 10 yrs ago when I was a teenager? hmm.. interesting!

I feel that as I have come into my mid-late 20s I have mellowed out quite a bit and am willing to compromise things to avoid confrontation. I suppose this makes my marriage and other relationships easier (and I am happily married.) At work I just say "yes" and do my work, and nobody bothers me that way. In the process of getting older I feel I've lost creativity- I haven't played guitar in over 2yrs (after my last attempt at taking lessons). Maybe some day I wake up filled with angst and take some good pictures. lol

Dave

DStanic wrote in post #9755374
So I would have been a better photography 10 yrs ago when I was a teenager? hmm.. interesting!

I feel that as I have come into my mid-late 20s I have mellowed out quite a bit and am willing to compromise things to avoid confrontation. I suppose this makes my marriage and other relationships easier (and I am happily married.) At work I just say "yes" and do my work, and nobody bothers me that way. In the process of getting older I feel I've lost creativity- I haven't played guitar in over 2yrs (after my last attempt at taking lessons). Maybe some day I wake up filled with angst and take some good pictures. lol

Dave

There is a difference between being rebellious for the sake of doing it versus real insight that may challenge the status quo or our normal perspectives.... I would call the former a fake artist. The latter is the real thing...the real deal.

I am sorry to disagree, but I really see no correlation between imagination and conformity. In fact, I think it is a stereotype that can only cause discrimination against photographers that are conformists.
I am a free thinking, beard wearing, grateful dead stickered old hippie in a line of work that is dominated by conservative, hard line conformist types (tool design and manufacture). Luckily my skills overshadow the fact that I am the only guy in my department with a Frank Zappa CD loaded up in my truck.
The idea that a photographer will be more artistic if they are 'outside looking in' is laughable to me. But the idea that a photographers skills will be overlooked by some because they dress like a mormon missionary or seem happy is not one I can agree with at all.
Judge me by my skills, please.

birdfromboat wrote in post #9755948
I am sorry to disagree, but I really see no correlation between imagination and conformity. In fact, I think it is a stereotype that can only cause discrimination against photographers that are conformists.
I am a free thinking, beard wearing, grateful dead stickered old hippie in a line of work that is dominated by conservative, hard line conformist types (tool design and manufacture). Luckily my skills overshadow the fact that I am the only guy in my department with a Frank Zappa CD loaded up in my truck.
The idea that a photographer will be more artistic if they are 'outside looking in' is laughable to me. But the idea that a photographers skills will be overlooked by some because they dress like a mormon missionary or seem happy is not one I can agree with at all.
Judge me by my skills, please.

We are talking about artistic expression. The real artist. It is one thing that you shoot for a living versus someone's works that have a museum exhibition dedicated to them. We are talking beyond skills. We are talking about the artist's ability to look beyond our normal perspectives and to bring out a greater meaning or expression that makes us to really think about ourselves and our time. Do you really think a cover of a major commercial magazine can do that??? Ask yourself this question. When is the last time one of your photos change lives??? Or to change the world???

agree to most of it
all professional artists are troublemakers (i'd say "as...les", for their families in first hand

Ok, alot of artists are out on the fringe, but that doesn't make them better unless the person that sees their art and knows they are a fringe dweller likes their art better because of it. Some people just like their mechanics to be Italian, their waiters to be aspiring actors and their interior designers to be flamboyant and if at all possible living an alternative lifestyle. Those are the people that also want their artists to have one foot dangling off the edge. I think it is a stereotype and I would hate to be considered to be less of an artist if I was found out to be a stable mortgage paying father of four that changes his oil regularly and -gasp- records the mileage.

Anyone that wears a tinfoil hat or even an invisible tinfoil hat so they can be perceived as a better photographer is just feeding the stereotype. I say: "embrace your inner normality and accept the fact that you can be an artist and wear matching socks, even in the same day".