Integrity

"We should be careful not to chase short-lived gratification at the expense of long term satisfaction." In this article, I share why integrity is so important for photographers. 

One of my favourite quotes is by William Blake, an 18th-century poet who once wrote...

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way.

This one sentence so eloquently sums up the appeal of photography. Subjectivity.

The commonly used phrase "you can't please all of the people all of the time" was never truer than when applied to photography. You will find that there are people that will love everything that you do. And then there are those that will hate everything that you do. Most people will be somewhere in the middle.

In these times of social media and the dopamine fuelled 'like' culture, many of us make the mistake of producing work to please others. Our images comply with a generally accepted set of ideals rather than with those that we have formulated for ourselves. A mistake that I am as guilty of as the next man.

But what I have found is, that once the initial rush of attention has subsided what we are left with feels hollow and superficial. For those that view our images, particularly on apps like Instagram, they are but a fleeting moment in time. But, to a certain extent, we have to live with them forever.

We should be careful not to chase short-lived gratification at the expense of long term satisfaction.

For me, photography at its very core is an expression of how we see the world. Our choice of subject and how we approach our photography is a fingerprint that is unique to us.

Once we can produce sharp, well exposed and reasonably well-composed photographs consistently, it is important at an almost fundamental level that we concentrate on producing work that is a reflection of ourselves.

This process begins with a hearty dose of self-reflection. And you can do a lot worse than to ask yourself the question "why do I take photographs?" Understanding what motivates our creativity makes it far easier to determine the path we need to follow.

In my opinion, motivation is the overriding factor that defines our vision, whether consciously or otherwise. Those of us with a thirst for adventure are more inclined to convey a feeling of excitement. Others, for whom photography is a form of escapism, are more likely to portray a sense of calm or peacefulness. This is of course a sweeping generalisation but hopefully, you get my point?

With a clearer understanding of our photographic vision, I have found it extremely helpful to form a set of aesthetic principles that align with that vision. Combining simplicity, balance and depth with a subtle, muted colour palette allows me to produce photographs that match my desire to seek out peace and tranquillity.

The clarity that comes with a heightened appreciation for our motivation and vision allows us to be objective when it comes to appraising our own work. If an image aligns with our key principles, then it is a candidate for our portfolio. If it does not, then it should be added to the pile marked "lessons learned".

This ability to take an objective eye to our own work brings with it a certain degree of confidence. If we can honestly say that an image aligns with our vision, then critics be damned!

The key here is honesty. We might be able to fool others but can we ever really fool ourselves? I have lost count of the number of times I have released a photo that was well received and yet I knew, deep down, was a bad image. Bad because it didn't reflect my own beliefs. Each 'like' notification a reminder of my fraudulency.

The biggest threat to our integrity is the need for acceptance. Indeed, external validation is for many a great source of confidence and should not, therefore, be disregarded entirely.

But our biggest failing as a community is our overwhelming tendency to push our vision onto others. We are all inclined to dismiss images that do not align with our ideals and to applaud those that do. What else are we supposed to do when we have no other point of reference?

To quote the great Ansel Adams...

There are two people in every picture, the photographer and the viewer.

I tend to derive a greater sense of pleasure from the work of others when I have some appreciation for the context in which it was created. This is why I argue that when it comes down to it, who took the photo is just as important as the photograph itself.

Away from the constant churn of social media, the images that make up our portfolios should represent our best work. Not those that receive the greatest adulation, but the ones that most clearly match our intent. This is the implied contract between us and those that take interest in what we do.

If I take the time to delve deeper into a photographer's work, beyond their social media streams, I am putting my trust in them. I trust that what they are presenting is the closest representation of their vision that they are capable of.

While seeking out work that affirms our own beliefs is comforting, experiencing the world through the eyes of others can expand our horizons and open us up to new possibilities. As the English dance music duo Groove Armada pointed out...

If everybody looked the same, we'd get tired of looking at each other.

Being in a position to inspire others, regardless of the extent of our reach, comes with great responsibility. And that is why integrity trumps everything.

To that, I will add... The world is not black and white, but a kaleidoscope of grey. It is entirely possible, particularly in the arts, for two people to hold opposing opinions and for neither of them to be wrong.

There is no right or wrong, only truth.

The biggest mistake that we can make is to compromise our truth for the sake of popularity.