Oriented lines of interest in photography

There are so many subjects and their variations in photography that is, in some way, provoking more confusion or disorientation than a more expected attention. It is hard to be completely closed to the appeal of the incessant image novelties. How can we easily protect ourselves from be overwhelmed by the rich diversity of the life surrounding us? It is almost an impossible mission. But the fact is that too many details will eventually blind the core message of a visual intended expression, artistic or for documentary purpose.

You cannot simply subtract the importance of the techniques of photo taking from our first goal of delivering an impression, an interpretation of a recorded subject moment. Everything is participating into the creative process of a picture. Spontaneity may intervene only at the vest last instant of triggering the shutter release of the camera. A photo project is not a complete improvised creative impulsion. It is the combination of conscient-unconscient process that provoke the action of recording a picture.

With time I have learned the importance to be oriented with more specific subjects and photographic techniques. For sure, it does not prevent us to pursuit other pictorial experiments and further explore different subjects but to be more focused help to get results that are reflecting our anticipation. One particular good picture may be the result of a lucky opportunity but a good, documented photo project that is showing diversity and originality require more dedication and persistence.

Here are some personal examples of recurring photo projects that I still privilege over the years:

The subject of twins (not identical!) *:

Chains of humanity **:

Religious artefacts ***:

Provoking photography ****:

The search for photographic subjects and their different interpretations is a never-ending creative quest. It involves our deep human curiosity to understand the deep nature of our surrounding world. We will continue to evolute not only because we are questioning ourselves about the purpose of our own life, but more important, because we are always tempting to apprehend the nature of this universe which we are a very tiny participating part.

                                                                    

NOTES ON PROJECTS

* The subject of twins is not new. You may refer to the Diane Arbus photo study for example. Often interpreted on an exclusive human perspective, twins are present in every ways into our surrounding universe and are often not so identical in fact!

** Chains of humanity are the behavior signs that may characterize the most our sociality. These chains or bond between people have a deep symbolic value especially during our present time.

*** Religious symbolism has been part of the human history. From a young age, I have been first submerged into the religious social pressure to later be completely abandoned to a merely agnostic society and then replaced today by a melting of extreme positions. It is hard to believe that all this happens in this very short piece of time. The architectural artifacts of the recent past (100 years) are interpellating us about the significance of our human path. But they are now the material testimony of different beliefs that can be questioned themselves but that are still present in our day-today life.
Here in our French-Canadian culture, roman catholic religion was the backbone of a post-rural society that persisted until the 1960-1970 years. After, it vanished almost instantly in profit of a self-egocentric material world. Although we cannot propose to go back in a very restrictive and authoritarian surrounding that have denied the right to be different, there is always a kind of nostalgia based on a fragmented and biased perception of this recent past period.

**** Provocative unprovoked Photography: There is this big controversy about "framed" picture subject that many photographers are producing without stating if they are more staged than spontaneous. We have scandals around the photo illustration world like those from the prestigious and highly notorious National Geographic Society magazine. Is "Retouching" a subject although on the spot or in post-processing represent "the" reality or even an interpretation of it?

If you were an anthropologist, you may know already that the only presence of a new looker in any situation will have a direct influence on it that can be tiny or very large depending on your own measurement scale. With photographer it is further worse, and it is by far not a new phenomenon. So, by stating that trivial fact, do we have the excuse of the other excess meaning completely recast a photographic scene to our own taste? Because you are speaking here of integrity (not far from honesty). In brief, can we allow us to "touch" the subject and alter its aspect and spatial relation?

Pictures are speaking by themselves, but they are also speaking about the ones who have taken them. Many of us can recognized easily staged or simulated photographic situations over the more authentic ones. True that we can make some mistaken judgements but on the average the bids are good enough. And over that pictures that have a sense of authenticity have a further impact than the ones that seem to be a fabrication from their author. To draw the attention of a picture looker, you will ask to get an initial impact but to prolong it, you will need photographic substance mainly a story along the initial subject.

An Olympus/OM "Pro" Hierarchy in Micro Four Third Format

This is a question that some people may ask about the categorization between the different Olympus/OM products into the Micro Four Third format (MFT) mainly because we can easily assimilate this particular line of products as very extend and very diversified. Olympus has a very fine reputation for designing and manufacture high level devices as for more amateur oriented ones.

If you ask to professional photographers, i.e., people that are using their photographic gear intensely and into adverse contextual conditions, you may find that the choice will became more obvious than it seems at first sight simply because most photo gear manufacturers will trace a specific value limit which is reflecting in their selling price scale. Many of these "Pro" so-called equipment are produced in a smaller number with higher manufacturing standards, but for the imaging performances, it can be frustrating to discover that these "Pro" devices are not necessarily surpassing the cheaper and more accessible ones.

If you are looking into the Olympus/OM MFT series, I will qualify very arbitrary the OM-D E-M1X (the "beast") as the only one that is purely a full time professional one. You can consider that the OM-D E-M1 mark II and mark III model versions as excellent semi-professional cameras too. But the OM-D E-M1X is definitively the workhorse of the OM system.

How about the M.Zuiko lens series? Surely nobody will contest the basic Pro zoom lens trio consisting of the M.Zuiko 7-14mm F2.8, the 12-40mm F2.8 and the 40-150mm F2.8 Pro models that are for most photojournalists a fairly competent choice. The M.Zuiko 300mm F4 Pro as "long reach" telephoto can be added for its specialized ability. The other fine Pro trio is certainly the M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2, the 25mm F1.2 and the 17mm F1.2 for their specific image selectivity (shallower deep of field) that will be appreciated in portrait or fashion photography. All these optics are specially designed to withstand the "Pro" criteria of intense photographic tasks (Auto/Manual Clutch focusing system, large maximum aperture, weather resistant, etc.)

Any photographic devices can do fine work on a certain extend. So, the gear choices are purely a personal matter of tastes and needs that I will never argue as for the adoption of a specific manufacturer or even a digital imaging format. But every serious photo equipment manufacturer will offer you a dedicated professional product although they often like to leave a certain blur regarding the real frontier between their amateur and pro series for marketing purposes.

When Olympus introduced the OM-D EM-5 (first version) in 2012, many early adopters have understood the potential for using a MFT camera as a true professional tool (the same reasoning has been observed with the introduction of the Panasonic Lumix GH series for digital videography). Then the Tokyo manufacturer have launched a "pro" oriented model, the OM-D E-M1 (first version) just about one year after, alongside with a new "Pro" lens series confirming their obvious intention to invest into a real pro line of products.

For the major photographic gear manufacturers, their professional flagship models represent a kind of locomotive that are attracting the potential demand to their different offer even the very amateur ones. It is basically a strong marketing asset for the company that cannot be ignored. It demonstrates the serious of their involvement not only to their customer bases but also to their own investors. And you don’t need to be a photographic educated person to fully understand the importance to maintain an higher level into your product line offer.

There is not a lot of photo equipment manufacturers that will be dedicated to a complete professional line of cameras and lenses. Among these few ones, Olympus/OM is certainly one of the most involved in term of diversity, qualities and performances for their products. They have chosen to stay into the Micro Four Third format and have created that way a clear departure from the other manufacturers like Nikon or Canon or Fujifilm that have adopted other digital sensor formats. Olympus/OM Pro lenses are without doubts very renowned optics too.

The so-call professional photographic gear is expensive, we know that for a fact since many decades. That will not change and may be, will be accentuated through time considering the manufacturing cost factors for producing in a smaller scale, very specialized photo devices. As a professional tool, these high selling prices may be easier to justify as for the strong passionate photographers. But for all the other enthusiasms, there is a lot of different products that will fulfill perfectly their needs and preferences.