Why no one cares about your Photography - Sean Tucker

[Golem]

Golem, defiantly outside the box thinking. Very clever shots.

Thanks. I like that word "defiantly".

The subject matter is not unusual but for me a subject is essentially an armature on which I shape or sculpt my photograph. The "sculpture" may be about the nominal subject, or not. If its about both the obvious subject and also about something more, then Im especially pleased.

OTOH, lack of any particularly obvious subject is not a problem, or at least not by my way of thinking. (example attached)
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[Grandpa Ron]

We all have our unique choices; it would be a boring world if we did not.

My fun camera is a 1909 view cameras. I get lot of comment when I am taking photos at the park.

 

[Dikkie]

I found this video very, very helpful. Certainly the insight at the end.

I totally relate to other artists about the frustration concerning social media. There's a couple of other interesting topics here regarding this, some of them started by the OP.
I think social media has done a lot damage in the way society consumes and reacts on content.

The fact that a lot of people start following you who aren't actually interested, but who do so because they hope you will follow them back, or people who just scroll through and lurk, or occasionally like without reading.
The fact that an algorithm ensures that your photo is only shown to a limited number of people (a small contingent), and that contingent grows each time as the algorithm becomes satisfied (when there is engagement).
This ensures that your content is not shown to everyone who follows you, and certainly not the target group you want to reach.
Suppose you have 1000 followers, and your photo is only shown to the first 100 when you post, but you actually want to reach those 5 people who are hidden in the last contingents, then you will never reach them.
You will then get a number of likes, mostly from people who are not interested and are half-watching. But you are actually more satisfied with fewer likes if you know that it is given by people who are genuinely interested.


Has anyone read this book "Quiet" by Susan Cain, where Sean Tucker is talking about? It seems he gives away the entire plot, or summarizes it, but is it advisable to read the book anyway for more inspiring things? Because it does seem interesting.
I also see that Sean Tucker himself has an interesting philosophical book, I'm going to check it out.

 

[Dikkie]

Another thing I would like to talk about is a conversation I recently had with a colleague.
There are 2 groups of creative people. Those who want to show their work to the world, and the others who don't feel the need to.


The first group does it because they enjoy appreciation, feedback or interation, or they have an unstoppable urge to share it.
Quoting Christopher McCandless: “Happiness is only real, when shared.”

The second group never shows or bring out their work out. For some reason they don't feel the need to, or are happy with themselves as is.


I am -alas- in the first group, and I know a bunch of people from the second group and I try to understand them. Maybe you also know some, observed them and tried figuring out the why's and how's....

In the first group, it is true that you get a dopamine shot every time you get applause or feedback or like.
That makes you want to show off with something again and again. Not only because you made a new series of art, or not because you're the narcissist in need for attention, but because the Social Media apps are made to get you addicted to dopamine.

Dopamine not only ensures that there are gambling/drug/sex/shopping addicts and such, but also that you become addicted to habits that you never before saw as harmful, or saw as normal everyday behavior.
Our brains become wired to always want to get feedback/interaction/likes and therefore have an urge to want to create content and put it online.
There are already several books about this, which I would like to read when I have more time.


The second group somehow does not need that.
I know a couple of wonderful musicians who play daily in their room, but never felt the need to register or record it, or put it online somewhere, or play for an audience in a live setting. No, they're happy just to play for their own.
I know some sports people who just run already all their lives, for themselves and their health, and don't tell others. And then there are the Strava-people who need to show off their stats and tell everyone each week how much they ran, just to tell how good they are. (That's the same group 2 vs group 1.)

Imagine that The Beatles or The Rolling Stones had a mindset like people from the second group, and they only played for theirselves in their rehearsal space and never recorded anything and never played it outside their rehearsal space, for an audience.
Nobody would ever know what they made. Nobody would ever get inspired by them.

Why do some artists come out of their personal space and show it to the outside world? Because they need a podium? Because they need attention? Because they enjoy someone else enjoys? Because other reasons?

I'm currently doing a sort of digital detox this month, with apps like Instagram. An app I'm using for 10 years now, very continuously. I sometimes took a detox break before (on holidays), but this time it's different, for other reasons, and I'm getting more philosophical about it. My brains also tells me I'm a bit addicted, yes, there there, I admit.

I was commuting to work this week and saw a wonderful sunrise. My habit is to get my phone and instantly capture the moment.
But now I thought... well... why would I take this picture if I'm not going to share it with anyone? Or should I wait until next month and post it after my detox? That's ridiculous.
So why would I take a picture... (ok yes I could show it at work to my coworkers, or at home to my family), but I'm not planning to spread it on socials.
It is like a tree that falls down in a forest and there's no one to hear it... ok there's the sound, but sames goes for: there's this picture, and you don't have the audience to see it.
And as the OP's topic goes: why no one cares about your photography: Why would I capture that sunrise, to show it to people who don't care? Because as explained in the video in the first post: not much people care.
It's a very existential question to me.
Why would we do what we do.
I finally didn't take that picture. I also thought: what's the reason why I was here? To not take that picture?

After my detox I'd love to become more like the ones in the second group, enjoying myself, the process of creating... authenticity... but at the end I'd sit there with my creations... and if I put it online to show, it feels like I'm the attention whore just doing that for likes?

 

[Golem]

Another thing I would like to talk about is a conversation I recently had with a colleague.
There are 2 groups of creative people. Those who want to show their work to the world, and the others who don't feel the need to.


The first group does it because they enjoy appreciation, feedback or interation, or they have an unstoppable urge to share it.
Quoting Christopher McCandless: “Happiness is only real, when shared.”

The second group never shows or bring out their work out. For some reason they don't feel the need to, or are happy with themselves as is.


I am -alas- in the first group, and I know a bunch of people from the second group and I try to understand them. Maybe you also know some, observed them and tried figuring out the why's and how's....

In the first group, it is true that you get a dopamine shot every time you get applause or feedback or like.
That makes you want to show off with something again and again. Not only because you made a new series of art, or not because you're the narcissist in need for attention, but because the Social Media apps are made to get you addicted to dopamine.

Dopamine not only ensures that there are gambling/drug/sex/shopping addicts and such, but also that you become addicted to habits that you never before saw as harmful, or saw as normal everyday behavior.
Our brains become wired to always want to get feedback/interaction/likes and therefore have an urge to want to create content and put it online.
There are already several books about this, which I would like to read when I have more time.


The second group somehow does not need that.
I know a couple of wonderful musicians who play daily in their room, but never felt the need to register or record it, or put it online somewhere, or play for an audience in a live setting. No, they're happy just to play for their own.
I know some sports people who just run already all their lives, for themselves and their health, and don't tell others. And then there are the Strava-people who need to show off their stats and tell everyone each week how much they ran, just to tell how good they are. (That's the same group 2 vs group 1.)

Imagine that The Beatles or The Rolling Stones had a mindset like people from the second group, and they only played for theirselves in their rehearsal space and never recorded anything and never played it outside their rehearsal space, for an audience.
Nobody would ever know what they made. Nobody would ever get inspired by them.

Why do some artists come out of their personal space and show it to the outside world? Because they need a podium? Because they need attention? Because they enjoy someone else enjoys? Because other reasons?

I'm currently doing a sort of digital detox this month, with apps like Instagram. An app I'm using for 10 years now, very continuously. I sometimes took a detox break before (on holidays), but this time it's different, for other reasons, and I'm getting more philosophical about it. My brains also tells me I'm a bit addicted, yes, there there, I admit.

I was commuting to work this week and saw a wonderful sunrise. My habit is to get my phone and instantly capture the moment.
But now I thought... well... why would I take this picture if I'm not going to share it with anyone? Or should I wait until next month and post it after my detox? That's ridiculous.
So why would I take a picture... (ok yes I could show it at work to my coworkers, or at home to my family), but I'm not planning to spread it on socials.
It is like a tree that falls down in a forest and there's no one to hear it... ok there's the sound, but sames goes for: there's this picture, and you don't have the audience to see it.
And as the OP's topic goes: why no one cares about your photography: Why would I capture that sunrise, to show it to people who don't care? Because as explained in the video in the first post: not much people care.
It's a very existential question to me.
Why would we do what we do.
I finally didn't take that picture. I also thought: what's the reason why I was here? To not take that picture?

After my detox I'd love to become more like the ones in the second group, enjoying myself, the process of creating... authenticity... but at the end I'd sit there with my creations... and if I put it online to show, it feels like I'm the attention whore just doing that for likes?

Because its such a perfect analogy and somewhat summarizes your post, Im zeroing in on the old riddle about the sound of the tree. In its proper form, the riddles asks whether the falling tree makes any noise if theres no one around to hear it.

Its a trick question, and the word "noise" is the key. Yes there will be sound cuz air will be moved and so, by definition, theres sound. But noise is a matter of perception. Some sounds are noise, some are music, etc etc all of which are matters of perception.

My own image making, like anyone and everyone elses, is analogous to sound. But without eyeballs on it, theres neither noise nor music (etc). Natcherly theres my own eyeballs and for me thaz top priority. But I have a sorta twisted urge to be helpful. I thrive on negative feedback. I like to know that I irritate or even enrage those whose visual appetite is analogous to "elevator music" or "soft rock" (etc).

But !!!! I dont present my images for the sake of the viewers that I irritate. Im just using them as a metric, as a guage of success. My work is presented for the few who might "get it" and might show me their work in response. Irritating or even enraging the soft rock viewer is just my way of confirming for myself that Im not selling out or drifting off track.

My "twisted urge to be helpful" ? I make waves. Its a "twofer". Just a small bit of fraternity in it for anyone else similar to myself, but mainly Im helpfully giving the negative critics a target for their outrage. Im giving them some fun and healthy "exercise" without even leaving their couch.

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[Grandpa Ron]

There is a third group; those who look at everything and think; Great, Good, Okay or Crap photo. They rarely comment because they know that "Art is in the eye of the beholder." One person may think a photo is a thing of beauty and joy to behold, while the next person may think it is a piece of junk and the waste of a good frame. My mom always said if you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all. That is sound advice, since most comment are simply opinions.

 

[Golem]

There is a third group; those who look at everything and think; Great, Good, Okay or Crap photo. They rarely comment because they know that "Art is in the eye of the beholder." One person may think a photo is a thing of beauty and joy to behold, while the next person may think it is a piece of junk and the waste of a good frame. My mom always said if you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all. That is sound advice, since most comment are simply opinions.

Sorry. Cant see them as yet another group. I see them as solid members of the elevator music viewers group.

 

[Dikkie]

Because its such a perfect analogy and somewhat summarizes your post, Im zeroing in on the old riddle about the sound of the tree. In its proper form, the riddles asks whether the falling tree makes any noise if theres no one around to hear it.

My work is presented for the few who might "get it" and might show me their work in response.

Your work shows very heavy emotions. I like the pixelated style, reminds me of old retro games too.
You shouldn't make excuses or feel ashamed about these photos, it's a very unique style, needs appreciation!

Yes, that riddle about the sound of the tree is something I talk about with others too.
It's also about finding the audience that needs or wants to hear this sound.
Sometimes you don't find the audience and then you think: "why am I showing this... if no one bothers at all".
The only reason is because you just have fun doing it, and that reason should be enough: having fun in your hobby.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

It is easy to be esoteric and extremely unique, I do it all the time with a host of hobbies.

I have also learned that it is foolish to expect anyone else to give two hoots about my clever creations. It is true that comments like; that's unique, cute, interesting, clever concept, make you feel good. However, most individuals wonder why you would want to do that. Once in a while you do find kindred spirt.

I spent a lot of time taking pinhole photographs, both digital and with a resurrected view camera. I made lens tubes and pinhole plates shooting f 250 and f 360 soft focus artwork. I showed my wife, and she said, "Their out of focus". I showed the camera club, and most were surprised that the pinhole method produced more that fuzzy blobs.

My point is, I put a lot of time, patients, work and soul tweaking out the best pinhole photos I could. But "art is art" and I knew from the start, my artistic goals, would be playing to a very small audience. Yet in the end, as already mentioned, it is fun. That is the only justification I need.
Good Luck and keep chugging along.

 

[Don Fischer]

I think there's maybe only one correct judge in competitions and that the people viewing. Judges will be motivated by their own likes and dislikes. Problem being no one can determine what perfect really is. And more, what one person finds defective another finds great! It's a head game. I am not a professional and dog ever expect to be. I take photo's of things I like, the person to make happy is me. O know every bit as much about perfection as anybody else. There are of course those photo's that capture most eyes but I'm not sure that what does it will be the same with everyone!

I don't do street photography, just doesn't interest me pretty much at all. I like very old building's and bird dog photo's, other's opinion's will vary. Oh, really like waterfall also. Just not all of them.

This is my Snicker early on in training.

Now I can say what's not to like? I see a dog doing what it was bred to do. Someone else see's a dog period! Doesn't have any interest in what or why the dog is doing it! There fore miss's the whole point of the photo.

The Finnigan ranch from mid 1800's and early1900's. Sooner of later mother earth recall's every body and every thing, just a matter of time. If only old building's could talk. What stories they could tell! This one, like most, have lived what you can only be told fifth hand!



Most people it seems can find at least some little thing about old buildings and then again some find nothing worth while. Just an old building that should crash and go away. Just depends on who you are.

Got this old waterfall on a back road in N. California years ago Pretty bad photo of the proto but the photo itself is one of my favorites. Something about good photo's in most everybody's mind; they must bring out an emotion in the viewer. No emotion, no interest!



How's this for emotion. Dad a Pro dog trainer and handler coming in off a field trial brace with his son and the dog he was handling. A moment the kid will not remember but Mom and Dad will never forget!

 

[Dikkie]

A TED talk about this topic:

 

[Golem]

A TED talk about this topic:

Zeroing in on his "paying attention" vs "receiving attention", Im tempted to claim that many of my "odd" images are a means of sharing something I am "paying attention" to in my own way. So when I share that, Im not looking for someone(s) to PAY attention to me personally. Im really looking for someone(s) to pay attention to what the image(s) offer. I do NOT offer a nearly first hand experience for a viewer to pay attention to whatever I payed attention to. My offering is an editted take on that.

The editting is my way of paying further attention to whatever I had initially payed attention to. I can only share the result of my process. I cant share my original experience.