The Seven Levels of Photography

[PeterDendrinos]

life is too short to give much of a dam what people think. If your work pleases you or your client/intended audience, than you have all you need.

I looked at this as a light hearted bit of BS, and nothing more.

Pete

 

[Early Riser]

Uhh. it was a question. Note the question mark at the end. If it was an accusation there would have either been a period, or an exclamation point. Since you are secure in what you do why let it bother you?

Mark, I see the question mark, however often when you ask a very leading question you are implying something in that question. As an example: "I mean are you really so rude as to put a question that way? There is an implied statement in the way I put that question that I thought you were rude.


As for why does his essay bother me, I just find those type of insulting generalizations to be disrespectful. I may be more sensitive to it being used on photographers because I have many long time friends who are professional photographers who I greatly respect and I find his calling them "whores' to be disrespectful. I also find it even more distasteful is that it's an amateur who is calling all those who make their living as photographers "whores". It's one thing to make fun of the group to which you are a member, it's another thing to ridicule those from another group.

 

[Andy K]

Amateur or professional, the only difference is one earns their living from photography and the other does not but all make photographs and therefore are photographers. So all belong to the same group.
No offence meant Early Riser, but I really think you're being over sensitive here. The item is plainly a piece of light hearted fun. I have seen similar pieces referring to different types of car nut, or cyclist or steam enthusiast or motorcycle restorer... etc. etc.
I am certainly not offended by this in the least.

 

[Early Riser]

Amateur or professional, the only difference is one earns their living from photography and the other does not but all make photographs and therefore are photographers. So all belong to the same group.
No offence meant Early Riser, but I really think you're being over sensitive here. The item is plainly a piece of light hearted fun. I have seen similar pieces referring to different types of car nut, or cyclist or steam enthusiast or motorcycle restorer... etc. etc.
I am certainly not offended by this in the least.

Andy, no offense taken. The difference between amateur and professional can be a big one, and not just referring to money, in the context of an amateur calling professionals a "whore" there clearly is an implied difference in groups. Do you see many pieces referring to car nuts, cyclists, motorcycle restorers as whores?

I have been privileged to learn from, work for and associate with some of the very best professional photographers. People who have made a commitment to photography of time, effort and resources that few can imagine. I'm sorry, but I just think referring to them as "whores' is inappropriate.

 

[jovo]

As for why does his essay bother me, I just find those type of insulting generalizations to be disrespectful. .

Geez, Brian, it's a good thing your not a violist!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have been privileged to learn from, work for and associate with some of the very best professional photographers. People who have made a commitment to photography of time, effort and resources that few can imagine. I'm sorry, but I just think referring to them as "whores' is inappropriate.

And can you imagine the commitment of time, effort and resources that the very best professional whores have made?

 

[Early Riser]

Geez, Brian, it's a good thing your not a violist!

John, I don't get your point, are violinists more subject to generalization?

 

[mark]

Brian, I would answer the question that you asked. As you said to me, you don't know me. The question was nothing but a question. SOme times the cigar is only a cigar, and does not mean anything else. Life is too short to go looking for implied meanings.

 

[Early Riser]

And can you imagine the commitment of time, effort and resources that the very best professional whores have made?

David, please explain the analogy you have made about professional whores in the context of someone like Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Arnold Newman, etc. all who did commercial assignments. Were, are they all whores too? I just wonder what percentage of those who are not offended by having pro photogs called whores are really professional photographers ( those who solely make their living as a photographer).


Why do some people find it hard to understand that someone would find it offensive to call them and people that they highly respect whores? Whatever happened to having respect for others? And from how I was raised, right or wrong, when someone says that you have offended them, you just say, "sorry", you don't denigrate them for being offended.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

John, I don't get your point, are violinists more subject to generalization?

Clearly you don't. He said "violists" not "violinists." Violists are the butt of many jokes, but most of them have a good sense of humor about it.

 

[Early Riser]

Clearly you don't. He said "violists" not "violinists." Violists are the butt of many jokes, but most of them have a good sense of humor about it.

So violists are called "whores" too then?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

So violists are called "whores" too then?

Worse. They are called "violists."

 

[Early Riser]

Cute David. So a violist won't be offended if I call them whore when I see them? So since the word "whore" seems ok to you and so many others, if someone called your wife, or mother or daughter a whore it would be just fine with you then?

 

[gr82bart]

So since the word "whore" seems ok to you and so many others, if someone called your wife, or mother or daughter a whore it would be just fine with you then?

Depends, if they're photographers.

Art.

 

[Early Riser]

Did I just hear a rim shot?

 

[gr82bart]

Did I just hear a rim shot?

Rimming belongs in a different thread.

Art.

 

[Bob F.]

Cute David. So a violist won't be offended if I call them whore when I see them? So since the word "whore" seems ok to you and so many others, if someone called your wife, or mother or daughter a whore it would be just fine with you then?

I'm confused.... who exactly here is calling you, or anyone else, a whore?

Bob.

 

[Early Riser]

Rimming belongs in a different thread.

Art.

I was afraid that there was a possibility that someone would take it in that direction, however I had hopes that this was a classier crowd. I should have just done the phonetic "ba-dum-bum".


Bob, the whore reference is in a commentary about the "7 levels of photographers" that some guy wrote. In it he refers to professional photographers as "whores".

 

[gr82bart]

I was afraid that there was a possibility that someone would take it in that direction, however I had hopes that this was a classier crowd.

Hey! Should I be offended?

Art.

 

[Early Riser]

Should I be offended?

Art.

I think we'd need to start another thread to find that out. Let me check my calender and we can set aside more time to waste.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

What is the difference between a violist and a prostitute?

1. A prostitute knows more than two positions.
2. Prostitutes have a better sense of rhythm.
3. Prostitutes have a useful purpose.

What is the similarity between a violist and a prostitute?

Both are paid to fake climaxes.

 

[Bob F.]

<snip>
Bob, the whore reference is in a commentary about the "7 levels of photographers" that some guy wrote. In it he refers to professional photographers as "whores".

Um, I just went and read it: he doesn't. The "w" word does not appear in the section on "Professional" and vise versa. Possibly it used to and he changed it after all the negative feedback. The worst he has to say now is: "Professionals do not create art for a living; they create images for commerce." which suggests a somewhat limited view of professional photography, but no worse.

I do agree though that it does not appear to have been written as humour: it reads more like someone airing their somewhat limited personal ideology...


Cheers, Bob.

 

[Early Riser]

Um, I just went and read it: he doesn't. The "w" word does not appear in the section on "Professional" and vise versa. Possibly it used to and he changed it after all the negative feedback. The worst he has to say now is: "Professionals do not create art for a living; they create images for commerce." which suggests a somewhat limited view of professional photography, but no worse.

I do agree though that it does not appear to have been written as humour: it reads more like someone airing their somewhat limited personal ideology...


Cheers, Bob.

Bob, under the whore section he wrote," A whore is an artist who sells his soul by accepting money or drugs for his art" well that takes care of every artist/photographer who has ever made any money for their work. An artist/photographer who sells his work for his livlihood is a professional artist.

I agree with you Bob about it sounding like someone airing their personal ideology. You have to understand that their are some people out there who resent those who can make a living with a camera, a brush etc. And the only way they have to ridicule people who are capable at making a living in an area in which they are not, is to say that they sold out or that they are whoring themselves. And for those in the arts, especially the gallery scene, it is a common insult.

 

[joeyk49]

STOP IT, PLLLLEASE!!!!!

My sides are aching!!!

 

[reellis67]

Pete (page 3) got the measure of this one.