raging debate: is stock photography an art form or a scavenger hunt?

[Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg]

here's what ChatGPT says:

 

Stock photography can be considered both an art form and a scavenger hunt, depending on how it is approached and utilized. Here's why:

1. Art Form: Stock photography can involve creative and artistic elements. Skilled photographers carefully compose and capture images with a specific aesthetic, composition, and mood in mind. They use their technical expertise, artistic vision, and creative skills to produce visually appealing and compelling photographs. In this sense, stock photography can be viewed as a form of art, as it involves the creation and expression of visual content.

2. Scavenger Hunt: On the other hand, stock photography can also be seen as a scavenger hunt in the sense that photographers often search for specific subjects, scenes, or concepts to capture and add to their collection. They may need to actively seek out certain environments, objects, or models to fulfill the demands of potential buyers or the stock agencies they work with. This aspect of stock photography can be akin to a scavenger hunt, where photographers go on a quest to find and capture specific images that meet the market demand.

Ultimately, the perception of stock photography as either an art form or a scavenger hunt may vary depending on the intentions and perspectives of the individuals involved. Some photographers may primarily approach it as an artistic pursuit, while others may focus more on meeting commercial needs & treat it as business venture.

[wiskerke]

You know what Saul Leiter used to say: I don't have a philosophy; I have a camera.

 

wim

[John Morrison]

3 hours ago, Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg said:

here's what ChatGPT says:

 

Stock photography can be considered both an art form and a scavenger hunt, depending on how it is approached and utilized. Here's why:

1. Art Form: Stock photography can involve creative and artistic elements. Skilled photographers carefully compose and capture images with a specific aesthetic, composition, and mood in mind. They use their technical expertise, artistic vision, and creative skills to produce visually appealing and compelling photographs. In this sense, stock photography can be viewed as a form of art, as it involves the creation and expression of visual content.

2. Scavenger Hunt: On the other hand, stock photography can also be seen as a scavenger hunt in the sense that photographers often search for specific subjects, scenes, or concepts to capture and add to their collection. They may need to actively seek out certain environments, objects, or models to fulfill the demands of potential buyers or the stock agencies they work with. This aspect of stock photography can be akin to a scavenger hunt, where photographers go on a quest to find and capture specific images that meet the market demand.

Ultimately, the perception of stock photography as either an art form or a scavenger hunt may vary depending on the intentions and perspectives of the individuals involved. Some photographers may primarily approach it as an artistic pursuit, while others may focus more on meeting commercial needs & treat it as business venture.

 

Jeff... is it time for your afternoon nap?

[geogphotos]

I feel that it is more like a fishing trip. 

[zxzoomy]

2 hours ago, wiskerke said:

You know what Saul Leiter used to say: I don't have a philosophy; I have a camera.

 

wim

Life was not always easy; we understand: "Indeed, the photography industry was not always kind to him. In the early 1980s, Leiter found it more and more difficult to find work. He fell into debt, and had to sell-off the studio he had always used on Fifth Avenue. It sparked a withdrawal from public life, and for much of the rest of his days, he lived and worked in a reclusive, solitary fashion."

[wiskerke]

1 minute ago, zxzoomy said:

Life was not always easy; we understand: "Indeed, the photography industry was not always kind to him. In the early 1980s, Leiter found it more and more difficult to find work. He fell into debt, and had to sell-off the studio he had always used on Fifth Avenue. It sparked a withdrawal from public life, and for much of the rest of his days, he lived and worked in a reclusive, solitary fashion."

But would a philosophy have helped?

He was a friend of W. Eugene Smith, who certainly had a philosophy, so my guess is that Leiter in the end was not without one either. But I like his quote.

A bit like our motto in art school: You're not going to hang the process on the wall. Only the image.

 

wim

[Michael Ventura]

Both

[Doc]

1 hour ago, Michael Ventura said:

Both

+1 Michael. Definitely!

 

Kumar

[Jeffrey Isaac Greenberg]

1 hour ago, John Morrison said:

is it time for your afternoon nap?

John Morrison is a stock photographer who is annoyed by AI intrusions. Tell 3 jokes about John Morrison:

ChatGPT:
1. Why did John Morrison become a stock photographer? Because he wanted to prove that even robots could find his work generic and unoriginal!

2. John Morrison was so fed up with AI stealing his thunder that he decided to challenge them to a photography competition. Unfortunately, he lost when the AI remarked, "Your shots are so outdated, they should be sold in a vintage store!"

3.Did you hear about the time John Morrison tried to outsmart AI? He created a collection of photos featuring his pet cat in various poses. But the AI was unimpressed, saying, "Nice try, but I've seen better cat pictures on the internet... 100,000 times!"

[Inchiquin]

On 10/05/2023 at 16:36, Michael Ventura said:

Both

 

In equal measure.

 

Alan