The Adventure of Photography: 9. Amateur Photography (1998)
Summary
TLDRThis transcript explores the evolving world of amateur photography, highlighting how the rise of accessible cameras has blurred the lines between amateur and professional photographers. It delves into the emotional and artistic motivations behind taking photos, from capturing personal memories to expressing creativity. The discussion covers how amateurs experiment with subjects like family, culture, and beauty, and how some unexpectedly become renowned for their work. The video emphasizes that photography is not just a skill, but a passion driven by love and the desire to preserve fleeting moments.
Takeaways
- 📸 Amateur photographers take pictures for their own enjoyment, not as a profession.
- 📷 The ease of using cameras has sharpened our eye for good photos and integrated photography into everyday life.
- 🖼️ Photography is a tool for both recording events and creating art, appealing to all social classes.
- 🌍 Festivals and exhibitions allow amateurs to meet professionals, sharing passion and improving their skills.
- 🎞️ Family photos play a key role in preserving memories and reinforcing a sense of belonging.
- 💡 Amateur photographers experiment with subjects close to home, often focusing on their families.
- 💥 Amateurs can sometimes capture critical moments in history, especially when they're in the right place at the right time.
- 🏆 International photography competitions provide opportunities for amateurs to gain recognition.
- 🎨 Photography, for some, is not just about technique but also an emotional connection to moments and memories.
- ❤️ Amateur photographers often pursue photography out of love for the art, focusing on life, family, and personal experiences.
Q & A
What does the term 'amateur photographer' refer to?
-An amateur photographer is someone who takes photographs for personal enjoyment rather than as a professional career. They may be motivated by recording events or creating art, and their work can often be of high quality despite not being their main profession.
How has the widespread use of cameras impacted photography?
-The widespread use of cameras has made photography a part of everyday life, sharpening the general public's eye for good photos and allowing people from all social classes to engage in the art form without requiring professional training or equipment.
What role do love festivals and exhibitions play in amateur photography?
-Love festivals and exhibitions provide a platform for amateurs to meet professionals, share their passion for photography, and understand the art better. They offer opportunities for amateurs to learn from professionals and to showcase their work.
Why is family often the favorite subject for amateur photographers?
-Family is a favorite subject for amateur photographers because they offer a readily available and consenting group of models. Photographs of family members and events help to document and reinforce a sense of belonging and shared history.
How do photographs serve as a means of preserving memories?
-Photographs act as a tangible record of moments in time, allowing individuals to revisit past events and emotions. They serve as proof of experiences and can evoke strong emotional responses, making them an essential tool for memory preservation.
What is the significance of photography in capturing cultural experiences during travel?
-Photography allows travelers to document and share their experiences of different cultures, acting as a personal record and a means of communication with others. It enables individuals to capture the essence of a place and moment, which can be revisited later.
How do amateur photographers contribute to historical documentation?
-Amateur photographers can contribute significantly to historical documentation by capturing unexpected events or moments that professionals might miss. Their photographs can provide unique perspectives and become valuable historical records.
What is the importance of originality in amateur photography competitions?
-In amateur photography competitions, originality is often valued more than formal aesthetic criteria. Competitions encourage photographers to express their unique visions and ideas, which can lead to innovative and creative works.
How can amateur photographs be used in professional contexts?
-Amateur photographs can be used in professional contexts such as advertising campaigns when they capture a unique or powerful moment. The quality and content of the photo can be as important as its origin, leading to opportunities for amateurs to have their work recognized and utilized by professionals.
What motivates individuals to take up photography as a hobby?
-Individuals are motivated to take up photography as a hobby for various reasons, including the desire to capture memories, express creativity, document cultural experiences, or simply enjoy the process of creating images. The love for the art and the personal satisfaction derived from it are key motivators.
How does photography as a hobby differ from photography as a profession?
-Photography as a hobby is often driven by personal enjoyment and passion, without the pressures of commercial demands or client expectations. In contrast, professional photography typically involves meeting client needs, working to deadlines, and possibly specializing in specific genres or styles.
Outlines
📸 Amateur Photography: A Passion for Capturing Moments
This paragraph explores the essence of amateur photography, noting that while it is not a profession, it brings joy and creativity to those who practice it. It highlights how photography has become accessible to everyone and how even non-professionals can capture exceptional moments. Amateurs often showcase their work at festivals and exhibitions, where they meet professionals and discuss techniques. The motivation to take pictures comes from a desire to capture artistic or meaningful moments, not from the type of equipment used, emphasizing that the passion behind the lens is more important than the tools.
👨👩👧👦 Family Photos: Preserving Memories Across Generations
This paragraph delves into the role of family photography in capturing important life events, such as weddings and baptisms, while also serving as a form of social documentation. Family albums contain a wealth of historical and emotional value, offering glimpses into the past and reinforcing a sense of belonging. Photography helps preserve memories and protect loved ones from being forgotten. The family photo is both an artistic and collective expression of shared experiences and memories that are passed down through generations.
🌍 Travel Photography: Capturing Cultures and New Experiences
The paragraph discusses how travel and foreign cultures inspire amateur photographers to document their experiences. Photography allows people to revisit places they’ve been to, capturing fleeting moments of beauty and emotion. The paragraph highlights the personal connection photographers develop with their subjects, often blending their passion with their daily lives. Photography is also described as a way of feeling alive, offering moments of reflection on the soul through visual storytelling. The challenge of balancing professional and personal photography aspirations is emphasized, along with the joy of sharing one’s work with the world.
🎥 Iconic Moments in Everyday Life
This section tells the story of amateur photographers like Zig Jack, who began capturing moments at a young age. His passion for photography is depicted as a joyful pursuit, capturing ordinary yet meaningful moments of life, such as street scenes and childhood memories. The narrative emphasizes the wonder and thrill of photography, as well as the anticipation of capturing the perfect shot at the right time. Jack’s experiences represent the amateur photographer's journey to find beauty and meaning in everyday moments, driven by a sense of personal fulfillment and creative exploration.
📷 Historical and Personal Reflections Through the Lens
This paragraph highlights the personal and historical significance of photography, focusing on how individuals like Jaqueline used their camera to document not only famous photographers but also the lives of people they encountered. It reflects on how photography has evolved over time and how it can serve as both a historical record and a personal reflection of one’s experiences. Photography here is seen as a means of storytelling, where each image conveys emotions, memories, and moments of joy, struggle, or triumph.
❤️ Photography as an Expression of Love and Life
The final paragraph reflects on the deeper meaning of photography for amateurs. It highlights that amateur photographers are driven by pure passion, love for the craft, and a desire to document life’s moments, rather than seeking fame or fortune. Amateurs often achieve brilliance in their work, whether by accident or through genuine talent. Photography is portrayed as a powerful tool for expressing and preserving the beauty of life and relationships, ultimately serving as a celebration of existence itself.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Amateur Photographer
💡Photography as Art
💡Memory Preservation
💡Emotional Response
💡Social Process
💡Spontaneity vs. Staging
💡Evolution of Photography
💡Family Photography
💡Cultural Documentation
💡Right Place, Right Time
Highlights
Amateur photographers take photos for personal enjoyment without pursuing it professionally.
The accessibility of cameras has improved people's ability to capture good photos.
Photography has become an integral part of everyday life across all social classes.
Photographs can serve both artistic and documentary purposes, capturing memories from vacations and family events.
Amateur photographers often show remarkable talent, sometimes rivaling professionals.
Festivals and exhibitions help amateurs learn from professionals, sharing passion and experience.
A family photo reinforces a sense of belonging and preserves memories for future generations.
Photography is seen as a way to protect loved ones from death and disappearance by preserving memories.
Amateur photographers often capture important moments by being in the right place at the right time, sometimes even for press-worthy events.
Amateur photography thrives during travel, as people explore new cultures and document their experiences.
For some, photography becomes a passion so strong that they would consider leaving other professions to pursue it.
Competitions and photo magazines encourage the evolution of amateur photography by providing platforms for exposure.
Some amateur photographers, despite lacking professional equipment, create powerful images that receive recognition from major publications.
Photography not only records events but also elicits emotional responses, preserving both the moment and its associated feelings.
Many amateurs develop a unique style by photographing what they are passionate about, often focusing on their own lives and surroundings.
Transcripts
[Music] if we take photographs for our own enjoyment without making a profession of it
then we're amateur photographers the widespread use of cameras and their ease of use have helped
to sharpen our eye for good photos photography is now a part of our everyday life and affects
all social classes whether the motivation is to record an event or to create art we
come back from vacation with films full of dreams and the surprising thing is among
the mass of anonymous photographers there are some very talented [Music] [Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
people the word amateur comes from Love festivals and exhibitions help us to understand photography
better amateurs can meet professionals and share their passion regardless of whether they take
photos by accident or by vocation whether they're interested in the taking of the pictures or the
result everyone presses the button not knowing whether they're blindly following
a trend or whether they're striving to create an artistic image [Music]
this looks looks as if it's staged but it's not at all I saw them there in the street and that's it
really when you go to shows you should try to find out why one picture jumps out at
you more than the others and attempt to come up with something in the same vein
[Music] there's a lot of um competition out there there's a lot of people trying to be photographers
and I think um you shouldn't worry about that you should just take your own world and work on it and
and take it from there and and keep um enjoying it you know but I would just not get so intimidated
or worried about um you know what the right film The Right camera is it an ncon is it a Canon it's
not about that it's what's coming from inside that matters so I would just say if you feel it you
should try it and don't worry about if you fail at first or or you can't quite find your way you
will right from the start of Photography there were Keen amateurs who made use of
the deera type they no doubt were drawn to the technique because this
albeat fragile result allow them to keep an immediate trace of people and things
without having to spend a fortune on painters who couldn't in any case stop
time the amateur photographer's favorite subject for experimentation is his or her
own family what a mind of consenting models a source of available relatives the very history
of a family is conveyed through images of the high points which reinforce a sense of belonging
photography is probably the best way of protecting our loved ones from death and
disappearance different people have different capacities for storing
memories but no one can record everything however Pho is inescapable it's there it's
proof it's the image of your roots which lets you delve into your memories [Music]
many people like to look at family photos of people they've never known
because this constitutes something of a family
memory it lets them make contact with where they come from a photo will recall
the event but it will also induce the accompanying emotional responses
[Music]
there are weddings baptisms a child's first steps his first smile but all
that's part of the collective conscious a family photo is the photo that everyone
takes but that you know a look at but if You observe family albums if you analyze
them carefully it's incredible the amount of information they contain and that's how
they become an extraordinary means of information which is of great historic
value amateurs can use photography to catalyze the memory to search for the unusual for beauty
as an artistic process and above all as a social process they make a place their own
and can airm I was there off of the trip is a Whistle Stop tour and no one can take it
all in when they get back they can study the places they visited at their [Music]
[Music]
Leisure the very nature of a photo is that it lets you record a moment in a very brief fragment
of time that flashes by and for many people coming back to this moment a certain kind of
light a flash in time is like getting close to your soul something which makes you feel you're
alive premature photography is particularly rampant in foreign countries when people
discover different cultures and turn into instant roving [Music] reporters
Dr by trade photographer by Passion it's not always easy to reconcile one's life
and one's dreams it's not easy for me to show people my photos because I don't think they're
extraordinary I have to ask other people for their opinion before I dare to show [Music]
I do a lot of portraits and Illustrated reports for which I photograph people and
it's the contact with people that I like I have it in my job and it's the same in
photography are all Masters but I think that nowadays I get the biggest thrill from looking at
ad's photos I'd be prepared to do just photography if it were possible for me
to have a job in photography I think I would stop medicine yes I'm pretty sure
I would as you're about to see amateurs are often very good excellent even in fact they
can be inspired with genius at times the International Photo magazine competition
proves it over the years it has become the most popular event with photo fans all over the world
we sent almost 40,000 photos a year it's so easy now you just
press a button it sharpens so on all you need is a good idea
[Music]
we're the only magazine that takes contributions from anyone we have
no restrictions often competitions say for to graph flowers send pictures of animals we say
send whatever you like there are prizes to be one of course but what people really want is
to appear in the magazine the editorial team select the photos more for their originality
than any formal aesthetic criteria competitors often follow the trends that are popular with
such and such a magazine if the main theme has been nudes most amateurs send in photos of nudes
[Music]
we can tell if our readers are copying the magazine there are always copyists
who try to imitate nton or aidon whatever what we're interested in is encouraging
amateur photography to evolve in fact if you look at our early issues from
nearly 16 years ago you can see that the standard wasn't as high as it is
now thanks to photo magazine amateur photography really has moved forward
[Music] when the issue appears we get calls from all over the world from people who want
to buy the rights to the photos a lot of advertising agencies are surprised by the
quality of the photos and sometimes want to use them for their advertising campaigns there was
one very striking example where Life Magazine contacted us to do a double page spread [Music]
an amateur photographer can find himself in the right place at the right time
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
amateur photographers sometimes happen to be the biggest press photographers for a
day by witnessing some important event often a tragic one [Music]
the people who are here are here because if they have a camera they're already amateur
photographers when you have a camera it's because you want to take photos especially
if you witness some big accident or an earthquake a bomb attack or a killing and you have some idea
about photography you get your camera out and you start shooting some photos for years now
a lot has been said about amateur photographers who know that if they do something good it can be
sold the Press agencies have no qualms about using amateur photos hot news
stories are more important than the quality of the photos cameras have improved so much
they're nothing like they used to be amateur photos are like those of the
professionals when there's an accident a killing
or a bomb attack we always ask if anyone has taken any pictures
usually one or two people have done
so despite the omnipresence of professional photographers all over the world there's
always some unexpected event that only an amateur photographer in the right place at
the right time can photograph and his or her photos will be the ones that get published
[Music]
DJ de la maora was a job Seeker he was on a work experience program learning about photography he
was given a camera and told to take pictures on the theme Mar the town of soccer he spent
three months looking for powerful photos but to no avail then he remembered his childhood in the
projects in the northern suburbs of Marseilles and went off to photograph the street soccer matches
libero the French national Daily Newspaper even published his photos this amateur who
took his pictures with a disposable camera hasn't found a job yet but he's set on becoming a press
photographer when iapu began to take photos she was an enthusiastic amateur a keen dabbler Duo
said of her when she takes her Leica that has seen so much out of her bag it's the
sign that the fund's about to start and faces begin to relax all this kindness that emanates
from her ensures that she will harvest a good crop of Pleasant [Music] photos
this true lover of Photography started to take photographs of the photographic world
she snapped the top photographers who became her friends over the course of time [Music]
she went to all the photo previews to capture on film all those who are usually behind the [Music]
camera ja
[Music] Zig Jack arig was given his first camera at the age of 8 from then on he photographed
all the marvelous details of everyday life and his photos retain all the freshness of [Music]
childhood I invented my ey trap for playing and also for everything else in other words words
for nature that I loved so much for the smell of the air for all these things that mean so much to
me I would blink three times turn around once and I thought I could catch everything around
me until I wanted to see what I caught and there was nothing
there Paris March 19th 10 the air is drunk with warm fragrances and my big old camera
feels heavier than usual on my arm I try not to get my feet caught in it I'm tired
but dizzy with pleasure at the idea of adding two or three new photographs to
my collection pedestrians Horsemen and fine carriages go down the Avenue this is where I
sit on an iron stool and watch and wait I set up my camera adjust the focus to 4 or 5 m and
become quite good at estimating the distance the hard thing is to photograph her at the right time
with her foot out this woman I'm waiting for who's all dolled up looking very fashionable
very eccentric very ridiculous and very pretty she stands out from afar among the people out
walking she comes nearer I feel shy I'm shaking a little 20 M 10 8 6 the shutter of my heavy camera
makes so much noise that the lady jumps almost as much as I [Music] [Applause] do this is my
first really famous photo someone told my father that Gabriel vam was going to do some glider tests
he took off with the wind and flew for about 20 M which seemed extraordinary then and I used to
dream at night that I would take off those were the days before Aviation when everyone dreamed of
flying dear lartigue movement speed racing cars are all concerned with the
beauty of the moment Carefree games life has utter [Music]
Joy I used to SK C all the photos I took when I came home before I developed them and I knew
so exactly what I'd photographed that you can recognize them you could tell which came out
right and which hadn't laig put his texts and drawings in albums all through his life
his photos are a Chronicle of the well-off artistic social classes his own background
I've always had modest Ambitions to be free to be in the countryside to be by the seaside to be Stu
naked in the sun to be in love to be content to be happy to know intelligent people to read fine
books you see I'm enthusiastic about a thousand things ever since I was a boy
photography has been my ey trap that lets the truth through if I wanted to
artifice I do painting I wouldn't take photos in fact that's what I do I do
paintings you never have enough talent and you always want to do
better and you never manage all that you want to
achieve to be free and happy and content I've
always refused to have an art dealer I prefer to do without one [Music]
renal you've already written that one down and she's called Vicky o
but I've got a whole page of Vicky OJ I don't agree I think you should
write it down so we know who it is Vicky udj okay for once I'll do it
Renee inspired him BB married him and floret his dear wife who shared a long Carefree life with
him I'd shown my photos to a lot of photographers in France
who glanced at them without really looking at
them until one day when I was in New York some people got all enthusiastic
about them from 1902 to 1962 no one had been interested in my photos [Music]
photos are one of the three things that I
love photos are one of my three favorite ways of
trying to capture the wonders of life and these three are writing
painting and photography
there are lots of times in my life when I can't remember whether I kept a diary or took photos or
painted but I was having fun playing sports and all that it depends on what period of my life
I was in I regret all the things I didn't do for example being World Boxing Champion
being Einstein being a great Saint going to the Moon oh list is endless there's just not enough
time many painters have done photography Dua was an enthusiastic photographer he used the photos
as a model in his search for the right movement attitude the fleeting [Music]
gesture having photographed his children and done
a picture book of his family Emil Zula photographed Paris during the World Fair
[Music]
is a young art student she uses Photography in her search for an identity her favorite studio is the
photo booth in the subway she uses various objects to animate her body in this limited
space the idea of photographing myself in a photo booth came about quite simply
when I needed a passport photo in these new booths you can see yourself like in
a mirror and I saw that I could control my own image and that idea appealed to
me so I went along with a backdrop to see what that would look like to check out
the lighting and see what I could do with this machine and how far I could take it
[Music]
SRE is both the model and the photographer since she chooses her own frame colors and
Lighting [Music] I'm not sure what my position Vis photography actually is photography is there
to record the event that occurs in the booth to me in some ways the event is more important than the
result when I tell you I went into a photo booth you don't actually know whether I did or not you
can see the photo but I could be lying I could say I did this but I actually did it on a computer but
once I've told you I went into a photo booth your imagination kicks in and you create a
film of it in your mind of me going to the photo booth and every photo booth picture is an image
from the same film that's what I like about it people often say I'm narcissistic maybe I am so
what it's important to um not be intimidated try to find something that you feel something
about in terms of a subject and then eventually hopefully you'll develop
your own style something that makes sense to you the word amateur comes from love the
purest love which asks for nothing in return the amateur does not seek money or celebrity
if he tries to imitate the Masters if he takes care of his technique it's because
he's asking photography to convey life his life and that of his kith and kin the amateur can be
ridiculous but he can also by accident or by a sudden revelation of talent achieve excellence
[Music] [Applause] [Music] oh
[Music] [Applause] [Music]
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