“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” – C.S. Lewis
Originality, as it’s commonly spoken of in photography (or maybe the arts, in general), often carries with it a kind of arrogance that is hard for me to stomach. Much like opening the fridge and quickly realizing that the bag of chicken that somehow disappeared behind the cranberry juice is no longer edible. Sincerity, as I see it, is a far greater thing to strive for when finding or creating great art (along with a drive for excellence, of course). A healthy belief that nearly everything has been done before can lift a giant burden off the shoulders of many photographers. Instead of wondering “but does this push the envelope?” or fretting “has this been done before?!“, I rather do (or shoot) what I feel I will love. What I believe will look beautiful in a frame on someone’s wall. What I’ll enjoy showing others. What I think my kids will be inspired by when they come of age to enjoy such things. Does it end up looking shockingly original? I don’t know. Has some one else done it before? I’m sure they have. And, to put it bluntly, I really don’t give a damn.
– Bobby Earle on Photography
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Originally posted at davidhoos.com
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