Recently, photography has been quite the topic of discussion. From Lorenzo's portrait parties, to Ryan Rogers' photoshop wizardry to even ideas of supplementing our empty pockets by selling stock photos to istock.com, to so and so's "oh my god what the hell is she wearing?" picture on Facebook, photography has been in the air.
After all, it is quite an accessible art form. The actual motions simply involve pointing and shooting. However, there is something within a photographer that is unique though- their scaling gradients of observation. The eye to see the most extraordinary to the minute. Successful photographers have enough vision of an image to capture something that isn't materialized- like relationships, emotions, personalities and time.
In its ability to capture moments, photography has the ability to stop time. Is that photograph, then, a fetish, an object defined by its irrational reverence, obsessive devotion? As a viewer, we take part in this interaction in order to form ideas. In such an emotional exchange, then yes, photography is a fetish. After all it is something loved (emotionally engaging) for a moment or a lifetime.
Since we are a generation that has been characterized by internet social networks photos, I wonder that in this time in my mid-twenties, when we are striving for accomplishment and yet feeling like our opportunities are shrinking, why we're so obsessed with capturing these fleeting moments of glamour, fun and depth, when we ourselves are the bottomless all you can eat source of all of those things.
It just feels good.
