Lawrence Photographic

   

 

 The Darker Side of Photography!


Last Updated 23rd March 2014

There is a darker side to photography in the 21st century and it could affect you or your children, especially if they are just starting out. The world has come a long way from the days when a young person who is taking up the hobby of photography walks into a local store for advice and spends their hard earned savings on a camera. Today the dark side exists, a dark side that every photographer should be aware of and especially those who regard photography as a hobby. The dark side can draw you in very quickly and it usually commences when you are seeking information and perhaps advice on purchasing a new camera - sadly it starts on a home computer.

Many people call themselves photographers and for the professional who is earning money from the profession the term 'photographer' is correct,
even if their work is of a poor standard. However the person who is a hobbyist may call themselves a photographer but may be far removed from that analysis. The hobbyist may start out with good intentions of becoming a photographer but is led away into a different direction, even an established photographer can be led down that same dark path. Invariably a photographer's quest for information on cameras and lenses leads them to the internet and inevitably they end up visiting review sites and photographic equipment (gear) forums to decide on what gear to purchase.

A gear forum or a review site with an inner gear forum or comments section and often with direct links to suppliers is a 'honey trap' which is designed ONLY to draw in potential customers, to promote the sale of photographic products and to receive advertising revenue including click/link commissions from suppliers.
It is primarily a social website and encourages discussion and debate on cameras and lenses. It may appear to be a good source of information and in fairness, some are excellent. However, a photographer's interaction in gear forum discussions and even the comments section can lead, in a large number of cases, to a deep desire to be recognised within the forum social group. This interaction can lead to the photographer actually sacrificing their true direction and forward development in their photography to follow the social side and interests of the forum. Staying indoors, to post and pass comments can become addictive and can lead to anxiety and even depression, especially if there is an inner circle of 'good buddies' that you are somehow excluded from joining.

Is the 'Purism in Photography' lost when you become distracted by gear and photographic forums; is it wise to devote so much time to reading up about cameras and lenses and to participate in endless discussions on Facebook and Twitter regarding gear? How many photographers become distracted and even lose direction and development through continually changing their camera system in their pursuit of 'acceptance' amongst forum members? Is the elaborate post processing by dodging, burning and layering of your chosen image for forum submission worth the time and effort for that one day of fame or even regurgitated in black and white for a further submission? Recognition of your photography and your skills as a photographer can prove a fickle pursuit and dilute the 'purism' of the vocation. This infatuation with forum posts often reaches it's most rampant form with the announcement of new cameras or lenses and there is invariably a rush by some members to pre-order a new camera or lens and to write a mini-review regarding it's use thereof. A photographer will reach the darkest level in a gear forum when they suffer from 'gear acquisition syndrome' (GAS) and in the advanced stages, will purchase a new camera or lens simply to remain one of the herd. A (GAS) sufferer will even jump forums and purchase a new camera akin to the new forum, simply to become recognised within a new social group and quite often pass remarks about how bad the previous forum group were in their debates and their analysis of the camera equipment they used.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is a very serious condition where a photographer habitually becomes 'hooked' on purchasing new photographic camera and lens equipment. It should not be confused with a person who has genuinely used a camera for a number of years and is seeking to purchase a new camera with the latest technology. The GAS sufferer receives no sympathy from the members of the gear forums or the owners of those businesses who are in the business of drawing people to their websites. The business reviews on gear are designed to appeal, to encourage discussion, debate and to maintain an interest within social forums that suck in the potential purchaser of the next new camera or lens for their sponsors. Every review site with a comments section is doing exactly the same thing! It's a bit like drawing a mug to the gambling table, handing out free chips and then sitting back and watching him become a gambling addict who eventually loses (spends) a lot of money. The GAS sufferer is no different, he thinks that he gets social standing and the gear forum and the business reviews encourage him to purchase more gear! If you pay close attention to some gear forums, you will discover an army of moderators standing by to shutdown and remove or lock any post on a camera or lens that may offend a manufacturer or a supplier or sway the buying decision of a potential purchaser.

A GAS sufferer is not just any regular poster on a gear forum, a GAS sufferer is purchasing cameras and lenses on a regular basis. They may be selling them on and purchasing more but nevertheless there is a serious problem. GAS sufferers are not dissimilar to gamers, drug addicts, gamblers, alcoholics, Facebook and Twitter addicts and dare I say even bloggers who write for no financial or fathomable reason other than to interact within a social 'cyberspace' group and draw in subscribers on the internet. Each faces the stark reality that their addiction brings them no solace, no real recognition and to a certain extent consumes their time, effort and their life as well as adding financial stress.

Photography blogging, especially regarding 'gear'  is perhaps the greatest threat to improving and establishing your skills as a photographer.
It can start out innocently enough with a comment or a small review on a camera or lens and quickly become a 'full blown' addiction. The blogger's perception is that they are creating a social 'cyberspace' group and their subscribers on the internet are genuinely interested in following their site. The need to blog becomes overwhelming and if there is no vocation or financial reward driving it forward, the motivation is invariably one of seeking recognition. In old age, especially a person who is infirm and unable to leave the house then blogging is understandable but in a young person who is fit and healthy it is a waste! The photographer becomes a blogger and photography takes a backseat.

You very rarely read or hear
about a professional photographer that suffers from habitual posting, gear acquisition syndrome or blogging as they are far to busy making money and living their life. If they do interact in a post or a comment it could be because there is a financial hook somewhere and usually they are either promoting their website or acting on behalf of a third party who kickbacks a percentage to them! A professional blogger (including video reviewers) is usually working for a camera manufacturer, a supplier or as an individual they have their own website which is designed to draw in punters, to plea for donations to support their review work and to receive advertising revenue including click/links to suppliers with a commission per click.

So to conclude and for peace of mind, when you are considering purchasing a new camera, lens or perhaps after a few years upgrading your old one, read the internet reviews and browse the posts in the gear forums but interact only if you can avoid the darker side!

"I'm joking, although it is true, anyway have a good one"