Photography is a strange thing. Almost everyone listens to music, but very few people actually make it. Almost everyone enjoys a painting in a museum, but how many people do you know who own a set of paintbrushes? And yet, almost everyone takes pictures, usually on a daily basis. So, in a world where images flow at a dizzying rate, what actually makes a photographer? This insightful video essay tackles the question.
Coming to you from Tatiana Hopper, this interesting video essay discusses what makes a photographer. As cameras become more and more ubiquitous, the delineation of a photographer has become more and more difficult. When it becomes difficult to define the photographer by their use of equipment or even their production of images, it seems prudent to turn away from tangible definitions and toward those of intent. Just like buying a set of paintbrushes does not necessarily make me a painter, having a camera does not automatically make one a photographer, even if they are regularly making images. Whereas the camera is a tool to create a record of things — family events, trips, etc. — for a photographer, the camera is a means by which to enact creative intent. It's an interesting distinction that is worth taking a minute to think about. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Hopper.
