The Adventure of Photography: 9. Amateur Photography (1998)

Summary

This 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

00:00

📸 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.

05:04

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 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.

10:04

🌍 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.

15:17

🎥 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.

20:23

📷 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.

25:30

❤️ 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.

Keywords

💡Amateur Photographer

An amateur photographer is someone who takes photos for enjoyment rather than as a profession. The video emphasizes that amateurs are driven by a love for photography rather than financial gain, and can still achieve artistic excellence. Examples include taking family photos or capturing street scenes, as mentioned in the script.

💡Photography as Art

The concept of photography as art highlights the idea that photography goes beyond documentation—it is a creative and expressive process. The video suggests that whether amateur or professional, individuals use photography to capture meaningful moments and evoke emotions, transforming everyday scenes into artistic images.

💡Memory Preservation

Photography serves as a tool for preserving memories, allowing individuals to revisit moments from the past. In the video, the role of family photos in safeguarding memories and reinforcing a sense of belonging is discussed, showing how photos offer an emotional connection to one’s history.

💡Emotional Response

The video suggests that photos do more than record events; they also trigger emotional responses. This is evident when the narrator discusses how family photos not only recall the events but also invoke the feelings associated with those moments, emphasizing the deep connection between photography and emotion.

💡Social Process

Photography as a social process refers to how photos play a role in social dynamics and interactions. The video discusses how amateur photographers use photography to document experiences, share memories, and connect with others, highlighting the way photos reinforce social bonds and contribute to collective memory.

💡Spontaneity vs. Staging

The concept of spontaneity versus staging in photography is discussed in the context of how some photos appear staged but are actually candid. The video highlights that great photos can come from moments of spontaneity, reflecting the photographer's ability to capture the beauty of unplanned, real-life moments.

💡Evolution of Photography

The video explores the evolution of photography, particularly how the rise of accessible, easy-to-use cameras has democratized the art form. Amateurs now have tools to create high-quality images, and photography has become an integral part of everyday life, influencing both personal expression and historical documentation.

💡Family Photography

Family photography is described as a key area where amateur photographers experiment. It involves capturing important family events like weddings, baptisms, or children’s milestones. The video emphasizes that these images hold significant emotional and historical value, serving as a way to preserve and pass down family history.

💡Cultural Documentation

Cultural documentation refers to how photography is used to capture different cultures and traditions, particularly when amateurs travel. The video mentions how amateur photographers turn into 'roving reporters' when they document foreign countries and unfamiliar cultural practices, adding to the collective visual understanding of the world.

💡Right Place, Right Time

This concept refers to the idea that sometimes amateur photographers can capture important events simply by being in the right place at the right time. The video discusses instances where amateurs have taken significant photos of accidents or disasters, which were later used in press and media, showing the impact of being present during critical moments.

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]