Photography & Philosophy
Why do we take photographs? Why do we share photographs? Why do we choose the subjects we do to shoot? And what impact does our photography actually have, if any? These are questions that have plagued me on my photography journey since it began. I have often wondered why I take and why I share photos? What interests me so much about nature and photography that it consumes all of my mental energy outside of family and work life and I feel the need to share it with others? Is this simply me expressing my passionate feelings for nature and our environment; or perhaps, am I unconsciously, egotistically and narcissistically attracted or addicted to the dopamine hits I receive from the positive feedback I get from others when I share my work? And is this true for all creatives, or artists? Does the gratification truly come from within? From a sense of personal accomplishment and fulfillment; or perhaps, are there more external forces at play? Do I create original and personal work? Or am I (or ‘we’, as creatives) simply attempting to merely ‘please the masses’ with work that we think others will like, based on the ‘likes’ or praises received from others or social media trends or feedback?
I have done much reading on concepts regarding the interplay between human motivation, creativity and psychology which has only confused me even further regarding this mental and existential dilemma of photography and creative expression in my own life. I often begin to question my choice of ‘photography’ as a hobby, and as a practice in general while on long grueling hikes. After getting up at the crack of crazy, driving for 3 hours through the night, making a grueling hike up a mountain in bear infested terrain only to shoot a brief window of time as the sun rises over the mountains, often coming away completely empty handed. A lot of questions arise in these moments of discomfort; Why do I do this? What is this accomplishing? Who really cares? What’s the point of it all? Do I do this because I actually like it? Or because I know others will enjoy the result? Are my efforts in rooted in passion or in vanity? And, does this even matter, or affect the creative process?
After much mental back and forth, debating these concepts in my mind; I almost always arrive at the fact that it dosen’t actually matter in the end, why we take the photos we do, as art is subjective and very personal. If people enjoy my photography, hey, that’s awesome, but if I enjoy my own photography, this is what really matters. Creation for the sake of creation breeds greatness when it comes to art in my belief. In summary, adopting the right philosophical attitude towards art and creation, I feel, can lean to better work; Harnessing a deeply personal and honest creative vison can sharpen one’s ‘eye’ with respect to not only photography but art in general.
-Written By: Mike McCumber
