Death in Anonymity.
Is it ok to be forgotten once we die? Most are. Does our striving to be remembered and create an impact on the world matter? I like to think it does.
For the past decade, I've been writing and making photographs that have been seen by thousands, yet, they will likely be forgotten and become digital clutter once I die. There are very few pictures that have remained known over the past century. I doubt most of those photographers imagined their work outlasting them at the time, yet their historical importance transcended the maker's intention. Recently I've returned to mulling over my motivations for photography. I dont think my photography needs to be popular but it is easy to get caught in the desire for validation. A good compliment lingers and it's a drug that is easy to return to. There is nothing wrong with sharing work, and I think that is a large part of the creative process, however, the medium that work is shared greatly impacts its significance. There's a difference between people viewing work on a screen, in an advertisement, at a cafe, or in a gallery. The context of the viewing experience is equally as important as the final imagery, how the maker is perceived and where the work is seen.
I disdain advertisements and their intrusive nature, which is in large part why I've tried to disengage from social media and platforms that use ads as their profit model. I've thought and written about this before but I'm torn on how or if I should continue and if it is not just feeding an internal addiction to validation and acknowledgment. Over the summer I took a break from sharing my photos online and I'm having a hard time returning when I know I'm subjecting others to advertisements and participating in the profit models I think are lazy and predatory. But where would the work I make go? There are very few people who are known exclusively for their offline work nowadays and I'm not sure I have the time or skills to make that happen.
In summary, I'm continually challenged by which methods I want to share my photography. The challenge becomes self-indulgent once I also acknowledge that most of what I share will be forgotten in such a short time frame. This is why I've considered almost exclusively sharing my work in printed formats. Yes, it might be more expensive, yes it uses physical materials (online storage of media also uses immense amounts of electricity every day), and yes not as many people will know of my work. And I think this is all justifiable and ok if my desire is not only for affirmation but to make work that lasts and means something to others. In the meantime, I'm continuing to create work that might be worthy of print, one day.
Thanks for reading and viewing the photos.
