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Follow-Up Friday.
June 26th, 2009
Yesterday’s post seemed to resonate with a lot of people! I’m glad it did; it gives me such great hope for the photographic community. It needs to be said that I’m in no way poking professionals with a stick. Never mind that I too do this for a living, many of my friends are working pros who I admire; they are professionals, craftsmen, artists, and some of the kindest people I know. My rant was not about them, simply about a spirit or attitude that we’re prone to. And by that I don’t mean so-called pros either. Exclusivism is as easy to find among amateurs, film purists, or Leicaphiles. It invades our ranks without, ironically, discrimination. There were many insightful comments left yesterday, among them a quote attributed to Stanislavsky: “Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art” which is good advice because if followed it allows us to love the art in others too. Thanks, all of you, for chiming in.
I also wanted to make a comment about my reference to Peter Lik in my post, I Love New York In June. I keep reading it and it sounds to me like a case of sour grapes on my part. I didn’t mean it to be. We can’t all create work that everyone appreciates. Peter’s doesn’t resonate profoundly with me but I respect him for it all the same. What is important to remember is that we all do this for different reasons and in different ways. The fact that Peter Lik has done so as successfully as he has is a tribute to his marketing and business savy. Overly slick or not, he does it very, very well and where he could have settled for mediocrity, he took the high road. It’s a road so, so different from the one I’d have taken, but he’s done well in his business and there are lessons in there for all of us.
Yesterday I completed the bulk of the writing for my next book. It now has an ISBN and a cover and is being added to the mysterious Amazon pre-sales marketing machine as we speak. Once Amazon has it up I’ll be free to announce it in more detail.
My friend, Bruce Percy, who I hesitate to mention is both one of my favourite photographers and not a full-time professional in the stricter senses of the term, has a new website up for his Light on Scotland workshops. There are few photographers I’d go out of my way to do a workshop with, Bruce is one of them. Check out his workshop site HERE and be sure to watch some of his captivating podcasts HERE.
So many of you have inquired about my health. The official diagnosis was pericarditis, a viral inflamation of the membrane around the heart. I’m just fine, taking it easy and making a follow-up appointment with a cardiologist. That you are all so concerned touches me deeply.
My dates for Ethiopia have been confirmed. I leave Vancouver on July 03 and return July 11. I suspect I will be completely without internet during that time, but don’t freak out, we’ve still got next week and if you miss me too much there’s 3 years of backlog and a book to tide you over 
Have a great weekend.
Both my Father and Uncle have had pericarditis in the past 5 years – both have recovered just fine!
But in both cases, the symptoms have been so close to heart attacks, the proper precautions were taken.
I hope your feeling better David and know that we are all thinking about you and your well being!
Cheers!
trevor.
Thanks for the post, and I”m glad you’re feeling better (and following-up to be sure).
Mark
I think that there is a natural frustration when one sees a photographer like Lik whose work, although competent, (IMO) does not reach the level of the hype around it. This seems particularly obvious when you also mention somebody like Bruce Percy, who (IMO) is a far, far more talented landscape photographer, yet he isn’t making millions from numerous galleries around the world.
There is probably an important lesson for all of us in this. Talent alone, even incredible talent, will not be profitable in a vacuum. It takes a combination of photographic aptitude and business acumen. Being great at one will only be be profitable if one is at least good at the other.
PS – I should have taken you to the hospital. My bad.
I’m so glad that your feeling better.
While not as important I’m glad you wrote this as well. For me mostly. I was having a problem (Huge) with Digital photographers and how they would edit images. I’ve slowly begun to see ALL images as someones art and just learn how to enjoy it. It’s been a fun journey.
Again, I really glad your doing well. NOW SLOW THE HECK DOWN.
Glad you’re feeling better. Have fun in Ethiopia.
jack
Jeffrey summed up my thoughts perfectly. I should just let him post before I do and I won’t have to do it anymore.
Also just wanted to add that Bruce is certainly the poster boy for yesterday’s post: he is not a pro, but if he’s not a photographer (as some may define it) I don’t know who would be!
Pericarditis sure is a nasty and frightening experience. I had a dose last year and thought your symptoms sounded familiar. Good luck with the resting up. Looking forward to your next book!
Hi David – found my way here via Scott Bourne’s photofocus blog, and can already feel myself being sucked in by the very thoughtful posts and discussion here. I was also tickled, because just today I was walking past the Banana Republic that’s downstairs from my office on 8th Ave in Manhattan, and was compelled to shoot that very same Sale sign that accompanies this post (I like the yellow cab reflections you captured in yours). Anyway, just saying hi – and a speedy recovery.
Don’t worry too much about being critical of Peter Lik. His photographs were inspirational to me as a photographer, but the way they outright lie to the layman (“we don’t do any post processing…no filters used either…your photo will go up 500% in a few years”) to make a sale is very unethical and it is unfortunate.