The Other's Glance

© Susan Bilbao

What do we take pictures for? Or whom do we photograph for? Which is the searching, if any? How significant is the acknowledge of others? How much do we attach to our product/piece of work? Is there a real difference among fine arts, social, documentary, fashion or comercial photography? Photographies are everywhere. How many new images get created each day? For what reason?

I guess there exist as many answers as questions could be made. Is it really important to get the answers? Is it really important or necessary to even make the questions? I suppose that, for many, there’s no significance in wondering anything at all at the moment of taking a picture, but also, I suppose that, for many others, it is indeed significant and a need.

I myself do wonder, I try to find out my own reasons, my searchings and aims. Most of the times, the answers happen to be so very related to my particular world and searchings that it doesn’t probably make any difference in the result, that is to say, in the final image and what such image means to others. Actually, the audience often see something different, make different conclusions, sense different feelings, thoughts, summon different places, different experiences…. And, each of these differences, in my viewpoint, enrich the image, fill it with emotions, meanings, intentions, experiences and nuances it didn’t contain at the moment I clicked, or better, they were not visible till someone, other than myself, pointed them out.

Thus, photography is not just what the photographer – or the photographic, graphic or image team – does with it, but also what the public, the observers decide it is.

Then, is this a fact that affects the photographer? Is it good that it does? Would I take that picture I’m facing if someone else, apart from myself, was going to see it? Or wouldn’t I? At which point do I think about the audience, about that judge, or, at least, that opinionated entity? Before? At the moment I’m planning a photographic project, developing an idea, maybe looking for sponsors, colaborations, or any kind of help? During the shoot itself? At the stage of selection, edition, post-production, etc…? Just before presenting it, sending it, uploading it, posting it online,….? I guess that, in this case, there is also a great number of answers for the questions above, maybe as many as photographers and circumstances.

I have to admit that, sometimes, more than I wish, I have abandoned pictures or photographic projects in the too-much-in-advance thought about the reaction of others: prospective clients, editors, colleagues, family, friends, or anyone who could give an opinión. Excessive attachtment to anything one creates, material or not, may be a hard limit for their own creativity since it prevents one from sharing, and thus, improving. Not only because giving makes one feel better, but also because what one gets back is much bigger, helps improving, growing. The quality of what is given and received will only be perfected through practise.

In 1:1 Photo Magazine we try to make the work we consider worth watching visible, we are into projects, not so much into who developed them, though, no need to mention, each autor is credited and acknowledged shortly within the magazine. Likely, we have wrongly rejected more than once, even more than twice, also, we have probably published projects in the past which, maybe, we wouldn’t publish now… I’m not talking about regret here, what I try to say is that, each momento is what it is, and each observer, so often seen like a judge, has their own reasons, experience and intention. But they are neither unerring nor permanent.

Too many times, the rejection or aceptance of others influence us in such a way that we stop believing in ourselves, or we think we are what we are not. As I already said, from this place, which is mine as well as my colleagues’ – 1:1 Photo Magazine -, I encourage to sharing: I learn from what I share, and, overall, I learn from what you all share, from your projects, your dreams, energy, beauty, meaning, intention…. Sharing is good. Let’s share then.