I have to confess that I'm feeling less and less connected to the rapid evolution of photography. You can see it, I think, in my purchasing habits when I buy older cameras designed in 2012 and use them in the same way that my old photo-heroes used their rangefinder cameras in the 1950s and 1960s. My selection of favorite lenses is also boringly traditional and echoes what better photographers have preached for decades. I'm attached to the iconic old focal lengths of 35, 50 and 90. Trained by my parents' subscriptions to Life Magazine, National Geographic and Look Magazine. I am a product of my own history and the era in which I grew up, and during which I started working as a photographer.
In the arc of my career I've mastered everything from shooting still life photos with an 8x10 inch view camera and color transparency film to shooting 4K digital video on small, sleek digital cameras. But to me, now, nothing is as attractive or alluring as the older digital rangefinder cameras and lenses that could have come straight out of 1965.
I'm slowly winnowing down my client list and re-directing myself toward more and more fun, self-assigned projects. And here's the issue for a blogger doing work for himself; it's less prone to fit into norms and structures of mainstream photography. I can frame a photo the way I like to but bristle when I post it and get feedback that it doesn't work because I didn't consider the rule of thirds, or impart into the image a full range of tones, or that the noise in the file is too obvious. Or the subject matter is boring. The reality is that I've never posted to the blog with the intent that the photographs represent some sort of online portfolio and I've never really looked for feedback of my work. Having a representative gallery of images was never the intention for this blog.
While I impulsively pre-ordered a Leica SL3 last week I doubt very much that I'll follow through and buy one. I already have too many choices to make every time I go out the door. While the price isn't an impediment what's stopping me is the fact that, over the last year or so, none of the new additions and features to new cameras do much to excite me. Cameras are already so good that it would take something truly spectacular to move the needle from "oh that's pretty cool" to "Oh Dear God I must have that NOW!"
It's always enlightening to have a long history with a practice. One can look back at work done over decades and see what was and wasn't important to your own art. The work that truly made you happy and satisfied. The work I did for myself in 1980 - 2000 is still very satisfying for me to look at. Not because the cameras and film were so great but because of my enthusiasm for the subjects. For the "look" and for the entree photography provided for social observation and cultural literacy.
It's inevitable that one becomes jaded by experience and age. Lost is the newness of things.
As I look across the blogging and personal video landscape what I'm finding everywhere is repetition, repetition, repetition. Since camera introductions have slowed down and the progress of camera and lens technology has become less and less important content producers/creators have stumbled about to find things to fill the space (and time) with. I can't imagine that my descriptions of walking through the streets of a car-centric, middle class city are so riveting and fascinating that they fill a need for my readers. I can't imagine what people are thinking when fellow photo bloggers veer into posts about mid-brow, mid-century home architecture or tube amplifiers. I can't share the enthusiasm over videos of younger people with cameras roaming around urban landscapes pontificating about the perfect street shooter lens while sneaking zone-focused shots of inherently banal subjects. I guess that's when you know it's time to move on and mark the end of an era.
And by saying that I'm not implying that these are not the "golden years" for someone else. Kids just now discovering the magic of photography have their own point of view about what is relevant and what is cool. It might not be shared universally but it's good for them. It all has value for them.
I have never had the intention to steer the blog into being a geriatric entertainment channel. I don't want to write about high blood pressure, compression socks, senior discounts, the benefits of Metamucil, or how we used to do things in the good old days. I'm not interested in how to "slow down gracefully." I'm already tired of writing about my hobbies (swimming. more swimming. food that's not "health guru approved" and so on).
I think I wiggled under the lowest bar my younger and more interesting self might have set for me when I started to write about the installation of a new floor in our living room. I can't imagine for a moment that anyone thought that was the least bit compelling of a subject.
And then there are the comments. Most of them are fine. A lot of them are wonderful and insightful. But so many are about some favorite camera from the 1970s that you love and which is not even on my radar. Nor does it need to be on my radar. I'm resistant to every comment that tries to shame me into traveling more. I'm not the world's greatest or most fervent traveler but I have been to over a dozen countries and many of those countries I have visited more than a few times. So much we've done that isn't in the vitae. Have you been to Russia? How about the Dominican Republic? Turkey? Jordan? Or even Mexico City (as opposed to the tourist towns on the Mexican coasts...)? And, oh my gosh, I spent most of the 1980s through the early 2000s traveling from one corporate event location to another. From one advertising location to another. Including some annual report jobs that kept me on the road for weeks at a time. All over the world. I'll travel for my own pleasure and on my own schedule now...
My least favorite comments have always been the ones that insist I be nicer. That I overlook dumb content elsewhere. That I cut every content "creator" more slack. But why? There's never a good reason to shy away from delivering deserved criticism. My readers do it to me all the time. Not ad hominem attacks. Just honest critiques written out plainly and without pulling punches.
I've tried to walk away from blogging before but something always pulled me back in. I do love the practice of writing but I think there must be some more effective venues in which to do so. While we can't all be a John Sanford (and here's where a more mercenary/desparate blogger would add an affiliate link to his latest book...) I can do a decent job of writing like Kirk.
Blogs are dying off and the ones that remain are ripe for the contagion of generative A.I. Sooner than you expect you'll inadvertently be reading the musings of a computer program as you savor that morning cup of coffee. And you might never suspect it... We'll all be living in the matrix.
Just a few thoughts on a Monday morning. I'm not angry, sad, disgusted, frustrated or otherwise emotionally stressed. To be frank I've become bored and by extension the writing is getting boring. Long in the tooth. Time, I think to try something else and to leave the photo space to writers who need to generate income from their writing work. And the audiences who will support them.
Writing out loud. Mostly just for me. Feedback not necessary.
30 comments:
You might enjoy this movie, even if it kind of goes overboard with the simplicity thing... called Perfect Days, and the main character carries an Olympus Stylus for the occasional lunch break photo.
https://youtu.be/HTgWYojq-z8?si=mjDiWVQLkIqERpie
Kirk - In my opinion it is time for you to hang it up, retire from writing your blog. Take Care. Ron
Kirk, I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed it while it lasted. As long as you have enjoyed it. If it starts to become a chore, thank you ever so much and may something else be your inspiration. I’ll certainly miss it. Best from Munich, Joachim
You should continue doing this for your health. At your age, and with your physical fitness level, you really have to expect to live another 30 years or so. What are you going to do, grow zinnias? If pressed, I'd say you don't need to do more photos of buildings or mannequins (unless you want to) but you have developed two excellent skills: photography and writing. BUT. (There's always a but.) What you really don't write about much is photography itself. There's an ocean of it out there, and you're one of the few people around who can comment on it intelligently and also write about it well. You apparently browse the web occasionally, looking at Youtube photo videos, and this last one you recommended, the guy working out of Hanoi, was really interesting. And in some ways, amazing. (The guy took one camera and one lens? Did I get that right?) I'd find it very interesting if you did commentary on this kind of stuff. The guy's photos came out fine, but what would you have done differently? Would you have risked going with approval from the government? If you keep a few jobs a year, it'd be nice to hear about them -- I really liked the posts you did on the grape harvest. And it'd be nice to hear about what happens when you travel -- I much liked the posts on your visits to Montreal, and I'd be more than happy to drag your ass all over the Santa Fe area, and I think there are lots of things here that you'd find interesting and perhaps even compelling. Probably a lot of your fans out there would be happy to make the same offer. There's a lot of good stuff to photograph and also to write about even if you're not doing the actual photography. And it'll keep you from binge-watching 1990s romcoms while stuffing your face with Cheez-Its until your brain jams up.
Speaking of Santa Fe and blog recommendations, I recently enjoyed this episode about Santa Fe (https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/roman-mars-describes-santa-fe-as-it-is/) by Roman Mars at 99% Invisible. That blog is mostly about the design of everyday things. I enjoy it but then I like photographs of everyday things too.
He digs into the history of why things are the way they are, not sure if he has ever done an episode about cameras. I enjoy photographs of everyday things partly because I don't really understand why a photograph of something can be more interesting than the thing itself. This applies to paintings too for that matter, think Still Lifes.
Ron White.. Your vote has been tabulated.
John Krumm, Thanks for the suggestion. It's a movie I've been wanting to see. I'm going to see it tonight. Love Wim Wenders's work!
I completely agree with JC, you'd make a really good curator of what photography you find either compelling or repulsive on the internet.
Or you could focus your writing to just two topics: Swimming and coffee... kidding! ;-)
Well you could always generate reviews of cameras you have never touched, like someone else we know. Clearly some people just don't know when their time is up.
Do what gets you pumped up. Taking out the garbage is a drag but you have to do it. Writing this blog is not something you have to do and if it has become a drag don't do it.
I enjoy your writing Kirk however I would only be thinking of myself if I implored you to keep going.
If this is the end, so be it. I've enjoyed the ride.
Eric
Mr. Kirk.
I fully understand what you're saying and how you're feeling. Personally, I just like to read what you write.
I've been reading your blog for 15 years and have mostly enjoyed your posts. As one commercial photographer to another, I consider you the consummate commercial photographer.
I've made a few suggestions in the past which were politely rejected, so I won't make any. Do what you want to do. (Sorry, that's a suggestion too.)
If and when you decide to hang it up I'll miss you.
I believe that you had discussed how “friction” that you experienced was a factor in your enjoyment of various kinds of equipment. I wonder if the same thing doesn’t apply to other experiences, as well. It is understandable that after years of writing the blog, there is something that you may miss–a feeling that you got in the past–lacking now. While the strict meaning of the word relates to surfaces interacting or sliding over one another, I think there is a kind of cognitive friction/feedback and this somehow keeps our interest and attention.
I suppose that, if the friction that captures interest and energizes is no longer present, it may be time to consider trading– not equipment–your investment of energy into other activities. Speaking from my own (recent) experience and from the advice I received from an old personal friend when I decided to retire from decades of professional activity that was, I suppose, my identity, “You’ll grow into it.” Meantime, I will continue to read the blog for as long as you care to share your thoughts on it.
I've enjoyed every minute of your writing, including your novel.
As my mother used to say, “Suit yourself, nobody else will.” While I hope you’ll continue on topics that interest you, if you don’t, I wish you enjoyment in whatever else you choose to pursue.
I was not a professional photographer, just someone who enjoys photography. I learned a lot from you and received wonderful insights into the professional life of working pro.
Thanks for your insights They have helped me.
Wishing health and happiness to you and all those you love.
re welch
I do hope you will continue writing. If you don't want to, I cannot blame you. You have been more than generous to us (and me in particular) and all I can say is thank you.
As for your writing being "boring", I can only say is that I am always amazed at those articles where you analyze and philosophize about both the art and technology of photography. I always find something new and interesting in them.
I will miss my morning cup of Kirk.
If you feel like it is time to hang it up, or to cut back the pace, I will miss your writing but can understand your situation.
For what it's worth, I find you most interesting when you write about photography, either commercial or personal. And almost equally interesting when you write about life, even including swimming and possibly even flooring. At least for me, writings about gear are much less interesting.
I rather like the suggestion from JC above. And from time to time you mention having lunch or coffee with another photographer, artist, or advertising person, but you rarely fill us in on the conversation -- are there insights you might share on the art or the business? I could certainly see you once or twice a month doing an interview/conversation and reporting it.
Whatever you do, know that I have much enjoyed your writing for many years now and hope to keep seeing it, even if less often.
Kirk, I am newly retired but I don't want to read a "geriatric entertainment channel" (great phrase) any more than you want to write one. I have ben doing more photography since I've retired, and I like to read--long to read--interesting and intelligent written pieces that show me different approaches, things I didn't know, etc. I like the suggestion above that you could post only when you feel you have something to say about photography. Anyway, it has been a pleasure reading your blog, and thank you.
Kirk, I’ve been inspired by The VSL for many years. Next month I’ll be 93 years old and still find a read of The VSL an enjoyable part of my morning ritual.
Over the years I was influenced to acquire cameras and lenses that were best suited for photography of the Arizona desert. First, I used Nikon SLR cameras and lenses and later Nikon mirrorless cameras. I followed the example of VSL and began adapting M lenses, but to my Nikon cameras. I learned many helpful techniques from The VSL that helped me improve the quality of my photographs.
I can no longer walk the walk taking AZ desert landscape photos. But I could only take so many pictures of cactus and sunrises anyway, so I accepted it was time to move on.
Now I’m content to rely on the wonderful photo trips that The VSL provides. I loved the trips to and around Austin and Montreal and anywhere else that The VSL takes us.
As long as you’re able and interested to keep supplying The VSL with your wonderful pictures and stories, I’ll continue to look forward to reading The VSL website first thing every morning.
Bob Autrey Mesa, AZ
In the past, when this point has been reached, I’ve always argued against hanging it up. Not now. It feels like you’ve reached the point where that’s the appropriate choice.
Just the blog, though. Not writing. True, we can’t all be John Sandford. But JC is already John Sandford. What the world really could use is more Kirk Tuck in the persona of Henry White. The Lisbon Portfolio was a ripping good read, a highly inventive, creative exercise. So it didn’t vault to the top of the NYTimes best seller list. Neither did John Grisham’s A Time To Kill - until it was retroactively discovered by readers of The Firm, the book that blew the roof off the paperback publishing world of the time and set the groundwork for his hugely successful career as a writer.
When I was ten years old, my fifth grade teacher, Thelma Brown, took me aside and said, “Whatever else you do, you must write.”.
I’ve steadfastly resisted that advice for seventy-three years.
Don’t replate my stubborn mistake.
You may also keep it simple and flexible: why not post when you feel like it? There is no obligation anyway, and no necessity.
As it is not a source of income, no need to treet it like a job.
Kirk, thank you for sharing your journey through life, I've enjoyed your insights and experiential advice. Writing is like photography, you need to keep doing it to stay good at it. I think you probably benefit from it as much as we have. I'm now in my 80s and a current technical writing project is taking me longer than such projects used to. Which leads to the sort of introspection you seem to be experiencing: in my case, has increasing age meant I have lost capability, or capacity? (spoiler: both) It may be time for a new chapter in your life, but your blog is something I look for every day.
My photography has suffered for an unanticipated reason: most of my subjects have disappeared. My major interest is photographing little animals (mostly <1mm to 3mm) and I thought I could justify the Olympus 90mm macro*. Until I looked for subjects, as I particularly wanted to repeat some I had previously done on slide film. They've gone, yet my garden is a pesticide-free area. If you want a fright, read some of the books on the world-wide disappearance of insects especially (e.g. "The insect crisis: The fall of the tiny empires that run the world" by Oliver Milman, Atlantic Books, 2022. [* and for the equipment buffs, even at 5x magnification these things don't fill a m4/3 frame, full-frame would be a waste of sensor area]
On a very low minor restrained and small level, I find that as I age as a photographer I'm getting somewhat acceptable and downright satisfactory at providing insight and feedback to others. Just helped a volunteer friend a couple weeks ago with feedback for their team on a video for a promotional/fundraising event. Some advice and impressions, solicited and un-, are routinely dispensed to a couple of photographers at an age where they are still in the thick of doing Photography For Money.
I'm no oracle. But I have seen things. And some things in this business remain universal, and I'm not talking about rules and thirds. Intensity, intent, impact, emotion, feeling, information, graphic composition,editing (culling), storytelling, etc. Those all can be discussed with someone in the process of creating without ever discussing lines/mm or dynamic range.
With your agency experience and years in photography of all stripe, perhaps it's time to talk a little more of creativity, creation, and (gasp) art, if that is part of what we do. Some guest interviews perhaps? Talking about creativity, vision, process? Some of the better YouTube content includes people experienced in the music world talking with others deep in the music world. About process, intent, creativity. And not so much about gauge of guitar string. Though there is plenty of that out there.
I still sting at my expulsion from photojournalism, as thousands country-wide still do. I felt I had a lot left in me, and had the experience, providing me a platform of something to give, or perhaps give back. And I still feel that I have something to give. Just, the audience is morphing. And shrinking.
I've seen some people, who I was introduced to as a fledgling photo student so many years ago at Syracuse, continue on as creatives. Always surprising. Still surprising even though they've mostly dropped off the commercial conveyor belt. But they continue to create.
If you go, thanks for the memories and perspectives and clear eyed observations fluidly presented. But as I myself begin to step off the conveyor belt (slowing it down this year), I can't help but feel there is a new direction for me, and my photography. And though it may be "smaller", hopefully it's all worth sharing. Hopefully I find it.
We're privileged to not have to impose hard end points on working, nor talking about it, because of what we do.
Kirk in my opinion :-), it's time for you to do whatever you want including blogging or not blogging, whenever you want with whatever gear you want. i love your words and photos and your novel! happy to have encountered your photos and words on the internet! someday we might even meet :-) now that i have fixed my email.
DISCLAIMER: the previous comment by me was supposed enclosed with fun fake tags, namely:
<broken record>
Kirk in my opinion :-), it's time for you to do whatever you want including blogging or not blogging, whenever you want with whatever gear you want. i love your words and photos and your novel! happy to have encountered your photos and words on the internet! someday we might even meet :-) now that i have fixed my email.
</broken record>
I have made this comment now 4 times I will shut up now and stop with the meta go Kirk go.comments :-)
Hi Kirk, first time commenter here. I had wanted to comment on previous posts but didn't get to it yet. Here goes.
I encountered your blog more than a decade ago, when I was just starting out in photography. I had been immediately drawn to your style of writing and the topics you discuss which were coming from an angle that I could not find anywhere else in the online photography community.
As a fresh enthusiast I started with a humble Sony A200 kit, and you were using the full frame A900 or A850 with some great minolta glass. I probably discovered your blog through someone in the Dyxum forum referring to you, as that was another source I visited often at the time.
At a certain moment I had bought a new laptop and unfortunately lost sight of your blog. I had not brought over my browser favorites on the new laptop, as these thing happen.
What I mentioned above about your content being unique is still true today in my opinion, and this might actually be even more relevant now when so many others in the online photo community seem to rinse and repeat the same stuff. As you mentioned, it's all repetition, repetition, repetition these days. When a new product comes out all the Youtube content creators release basically the same video at the exact same time saying the same things. It's so orchestrated that it's becoming almost absurd now, like a scene of The Truman Show. The videos on the SL3 release were another example of that.
So these types of videos grow rather tiresome. In addition I try to find some less gear-centric content. While there is some out there (like James Popsys that you mentioned in a recent post, or the Art of Photography reviewing photo books), these seem to be rather the exception than the rule. This made me think about your blog, as it was exactly your type of content that I wanted find again.
After a lot of digging I found a link to one of your posts on my old external hard drive. This was some months ago. For your reference it was your post titled "moving through space and time" from January 29th 2013. Luckily I had saved that link as I knew I'd like to revisit it. There has been a gap of more than 10 years where I had missed your blog, and I was thrilled to discover it was still alive. In addition I was frankly amazed when I saw the rate by which you post. I've in the meanwhile moved on to an S5 and I was happy to notice you are shooting with L-mount as well now among other mounts.
I most often read your blog on the train on the way to work. It's a nice photography getaway from the daily grind. Personally I find written content like yours is sometimes more practical than watching videos, for example when internet speed is not optimal or when you do not have headphones. You mentioned your readers getting older, that may be true but for example I'm 33. I was probably around 20 when I first discovered your blog.
All this just to say there are readers out there that enjoy your writing and will miss it when it stops. Of course you should do whatever you want, be it stopping or continuing, depending how you feel about it. I still have some 10 years worth of blog your posts that I can go read up on, so I might just try that. I was also happy to discover just now that you have in fact written some books. Otherwise it would have been a suggestion.
Best of luck with your blog and other endeavors.
Greetings from Belgium,
PVE
PVE, ❤️ Thank you.
John Krumm, B. and I watched "A Perfect Day" last night. It was wonderful. Such a beautifully filmed, acted and edited movie. We loved it. Thanks again!
I enjoy reading whatever you choose to write about, whether that's photography, swimming, new floors, whatever. While it was photography that brought me here, it's you and your writing that I stayed for.
I don't see writing occasionally about other topics as a failure, and a reason to stop blogging. It shows that, unsurprisingly, you have other interests, thoughts about other topics, and enjoy writing about them and sharing them.
Of course, if it becomes a chore and you stop enjoying the blogging, then take a break, or stop! Your house, your rules. But so long as you continue writing about whatever interests you, I'll be reading.
I hate to see you go, but at 72 I understand. I myself long for the good old days, only to realize they'll never happen again. I've collected to much photo gear over the years trying to buy my way back to a younger me. A younger me would not have approved of what I've become. As a younger person I ate, slept, and dreamed photography, but it wasn't meant to be, a least not for me. Don't misunderstand I've had my 15 minutes more than most, but never achieved your level, although I wish I could have, but it was meant to be.
All of us have to move on, I think. I look at my photos from days gone by, only to realize it wasn't just the photography, it was the people. They're gone now, but I have images to remember them by, for good or bad.
There is nothing new that I'd care to buy, it wouldn't do any good as there's no reason. I have more than enough to complete the journey.
My son's on his way to Portugal for the film festival that he and his crew were invited too, to match their skills against the international community. It's their world now. I offered to go with them only to have my son reply " Thanks Dad, but it's ok, it's just me and my friends on this trip. We'll only be there 7 days. We can plan a photography trip to Paris or go camping when I get back." Ya, that was hard to take, but as I said it's their world now, and I hope they do a better job than what we've done. I tried to install in my son a quote from Mark Twain "A person should live their life in such a manner, that when the undertake comes for them even he feels sorrowful."
I going on a walk, and coffee with the Leica Rep on Friday to have a chance to use the SL3. I'm only going for the company not the camera. I have no use for a new camera.
As for movies, Lonesome Dove, this movie was like my best friend and myself. It ended the same way. Little Big Man, Dances with Wolves, Last roll of Kodachrome, are just a few.
Good Luck Thank you for the Happy Times
Roger
Nikon Df F3 4 rolls of film and 24mm 35mm 85mm and a full tank of fuel for the 1985 300D Benz
I learned how to make pour-over coffee from you! For that alone I am truly grateful. Write whatever you want. I'll read it.
Don, Sitting at my desk, drinking a pour-over, Columbian Supremo medium roast coffee and your post put a big smile on my face. Thanks! And...good morning!!!
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