Feb 25 2006
Ryan Gets A Lesson
Ryan Brenizer, a friend of mine, is someone I look up to in photography. Along with Travis Ruse, I’ve learned so much watching their work it really has helped my own ability to take pictures.
On Ryan’s LiveJournal today, I saw a paragraph that I thought really sums up my feelings about many of the wannabes in the photography community:
My entire class is pulling for projects to be “deep.” I’m pulling for “quirky.” My second option, which I may do on the side or instead depending, is the weird mix of ambition and fringe culture that swirls around Jen Dziura, a tale that can touch everything from making it big in the New New New York City to why on Earth a group of people have decided to bring back things like vaudeville and spelling bees. The class’s reaction to this idea was so strongly negative (partially because I was delirious and couldn’t explain it well, and partially because it’s not soul-rending), that it would be hard not to do it as a direct challenge.
Unintentionally, Ryan has hit on the problem most of the photography community (not counting the folks I’ve met in person on flickr) has. Arrogance. I was thinking about what he said, and I realized that most of the people in this city who regularly shoot the city are looking for the next “cry” shot, or the next great statement about society. It seems, though, that many have forgotten what makes photography in New York City the greatest in the world; the ability to shoot little slices of life that make the city unique.
Ryan’s idea of documenting Jen Dziura is utterly genius. A New Yorker, in the year 2006 (5 at the time), doing the equivalent of vaudeville.
Is there anything more unique and interesting? I don’t really think so.
Oh sure there are hundreds upon thousands of “this city can be so cruel” shots that can be taken. Undoubtedly, in his class, there will be 20 projects of people shooting the homeless, and shooting the poor kid playing on a broken-glass-riddled playground, or the 7 year old who has to walk to school in the South Bronx by himself. I have a feeling though, in a class full of those, Ryan’s project will be the one to stand out.
The class’ negative reaction to Ryan’s project pretty much validates what I’ve always thought about alot of people who pick up a camera. Pretentious arrogant fools who think the only way to truly impress people is to show them how utterly miserable and heartbreaking the world is.
Screw ‘em. Give me a cute brunette in a Wonder Woman costume emceeing a spelling bee.
Technorati Tags: ryan brenizer, jennifer dziura, photography
February 25th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
I just discussed this with my son, who took a photography class last summer (college level, to fulfill a “fine arts” requirement) … he said that “quirky” seemed to win out during in-class reviews.
Of course, he was the one who shot a photo essay documenting a Lego-people adventure - across the kitchen, rappelling up the dishwasher, and sliding down a rope into the cat box (no, there wasn’t any buried treasure
February 26th, 2006 at 12:59 am
There’s definitely a certain amount of snobbery going on in this fine city of mine. Ryan’s experience, as far as I’ve experienced, is more the rule than the exception.
It’s a real shame because people should be encouraging each other to participate in the arts, not making them feel inadequate or inferior when they do so. Ryan, as far as I’m concerned, is one of the best photographers I know, and yet he’s always encouraging on my photos even though they’re nowhere near his level.
That’s a true artisan.