Of course not. Mr. Godin points us to a blogger who makes that point damn clear. Music is just like any art, including photography–you aren’t ever going to be anything special if you are like the others. You have to do things that might upset some folks and attract others.
I just don’t get why so many photographers (and other creatives) are so afraid to follow their art. If you wanted to be safe, normal, liked, average, or anything else in the realm of the beige, why the hell did you choose to be an artist?
I ask myself the same question all the time. Usually by friday it becomes a bitch fest with friends over beer.
Why are photographers being safe with their imagery? Everyone loves what they see in Archive yet few in the states dare to push the envelope.
I think the shit is rolling downhill here Leslie and no one is questioning it so then we have more photographers creating oatmeal art. It’s not good but good enough. Perhaps it starts with the agencies client wanting something safe and the creative team at the agency not having the balls to speak up, “Thank you for your ideas Mr. Client. I think the ad would be more effective if…” When it comes to money creatives just tuck their junk between their legs and do what they are told. So now they are just a person handling the production of what the money man wants as opposed to making a great piece of art.
Then by the time it rolls down to the photographers to bid it becomes a factor thats more based on dollars and not whos right for the job its like whos right for the budget.
Factor in publications like PDN who in my opinion does not help at all, usually showing safe work and you got a complete round trip of promoting shit.
Photographers – don’t be scared to talk to the client about what is going to make a strong image, sure you might piss people off but who cares. If we are finding the right clients they will appreciate your artistic vision you will get often find good budgets and good images as a result. If you have a client that does not see the forest for the trees don’t work with them.
Speaking of which I get to fire a client tomorrow, the are too demanding and want me to create garbage and I’m not putting my name on crap. I’ll leave that to the countless photographers that like to polish turds.
Sounds like fun – but then I’m reminded of the PhotoShelter Collection. Bright, out-of-the envelope work like one never sees in print, either ad or edit. And then what happened?
Actually there are hundreds of safe rock stars. Listen to any top 40 radio show. Watch anything on MTV (do they even play music anymore?). The music industry is inundated with people who do exactly what everyone else does, try to look like everyone else, sound like everyone else, and say the same “controversial” things as everyone else.
I agree about trying to be different, but citing rock stars isn’t a very good analogy for it.
Have you thought that those who aren’t following their art have no real vision for what they are doing? In all things there are more imitators than innovators. And sadly, those who really are rock stars get tomatoes thrown at them when they decide to play “Freebird.” I bet Jill Greenberg will agree with me.
…or you could produce the same crap Nashville has been putting out since the 70’s, tease your hair, and make a billion bucks!
I would not say the artists MTV airs as rock stars. There are way more save bands in the music industry but actual rock stars are few.
Real rock stars are doing their thing, doing it well and pissing off many. Think of bands like Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Dio, Ozzy. They came to the scene loud and proud and pissed off a lot of people but they offered no apologies and pissed off many of our parents including mine. They might not had a following right away but they built a fan base and kept touring and promoting consistent.
When these bands started there were plenty of me-too bands, plenty of safe bands that kept the status quo and where are they now?
I can relate the music industry to my work. Two years ago I had a generalist portfolio it was solid work and but safe. My clients hired me to make shots that although I was happy to do it was not artistically satisfying. Eventually I snapped and started my Faces of Ecstasy project. I was fulfilled with creating a project that really was me. I lost some clients but gained many new ones that requested that I “shoot it like your O Faces” and I did gladly and with better pay.
It was scary at first to stick to my vision but it was worth it. Don’t expect all your clients to jump on the band wagon. When you are truly self expressed its time to look for the cheese because it just moved.