LensWork - Photography and the Creative Process

Here's a Thought… #2727 with Brooks Jensen

Unknown RAW Files

A fairly common experience I have when I return from an extensive and productive trip are captures of which I have no memory. That might be explainable here in the volumetric digital age. However, I had the same experience in my film days. Where do these mysterious images come from? What should I do with them? I really hope this is a creativity conundrum and not a medical condition!

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Here's a Thought… #2726 with Brooks Jensen

Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Artwork?

Does anyone need artwork to survive? I suspect not. On the other hand, I struggle to imagine a life without art. Why is artwork so important? An even greater mystery is why making artwork is so important. If photography was for some unknown reason suddenly denied to me, I'd take up pen and ink drawing, or haiku writing, or composing really awful classical symphonies. Or buy a kazoo. Something, anything. I wonder why? What is so valuable about having art in our life?

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Here's a Thought… #2725 with Brooks Jensen

One by One, We Are Losing Our Masters

We just lost another of our great photographic teachers/masters. Jay Maisel passed away on August 20??. Carl Chiarena, Jay Dusard, Ray Carofano and Jon Fishback are LensWork alumni to add to 7 list of recent losses. With each passing, we mourn their loss, celebrate their life, and treasure their artwork. I was recently asked what I most treasure from my time as the publisher of LensWork. Easy answer: the people, the conversations, the laughs, the stories, the fellow travelers who have filled my life with their vibrance and spirit. We miss them all.

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Here's a Thought… #2724 with Brooks Jensen

Audience Indifference

A painful truth is that no one cares about my artwork. Don't feel smug; no one cares about your work either. Such thoughts could be thoroughly depressing. On the other hand, believing in universal audience indifference has the power to infuse each compliment, sale, exhibition, Internet visitor, invitation, or publication with a magical feeling filled with genuine gratitude. I can only speak for myself, but I know I'd rather feel gratitude than bitterness.

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Here's a Thought… #2723 with Brooks Jensen

Books and Digital Publications

The first half of the20th century was the era of original prints. It appears that the first half of the 21st century is the era of the Internet. My photographic maturity came in the last half of the 20th century. One of the consequences of that serendipity is that my appreciation of photography is largely based on books. Perhaps this is why I am a proponent of multiple-image projects that rely on layout-intensive publication rather than the single-image showcase of framed prints on the wall or Instagram.

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