For some reason, years ago, we all agreed to spend most of our online time looking at photography on a canvas smaller than a cocktail napkin. It’s awful when you think about it: Thoughtful appreciation is the whole point of looking at photographs. And most of us cannot truly appreciate an image as it’s screaming by on a handheld social media newsfeed. It doesn’t help that my middle-aged eyes are changing.
For some reason, years ago, we all agreed to spend most of our online time looking at photography on a canvas smaller than a cocktail napkin. It’s awful when you think about it: Thoughtful appreciation is the whole point of looking at photographs. And most of us cannot truly appreciate an image as it’s screaming by on a handheld social media newsfeed. It doesn’t help that my middle-aged eyes are changing.
My photographic pursuits started on a mobile phone and migrated into the analog world of darkroom prints. The experience of a photograph is best expressed on a piece of paper of some kind. There may never be a worthy substitute.
If you do not have access to a photographer’s work in print, a photographer’s website viewed on a large screen is a far better experience than any social networking app on mobile phone.
Andy again:
I found myself wondering: Do people still look at photographers’ websites? I look at them all the time. But I may be in the minority.
I do Andy! In fact, in Anybox (here is how I use the app) I’ve got a list labeled “Photographer’s Websites” where I currently have 150 websites stored. Over coffee, especially on cold mornings, I’ll open Anybox on my iPad or Mac and tap on a few random sites to see the latest work. As Andy noted in his post, many don’t update them very often – but I am still inspired by the work I see there.
Instagram is, by far, the worst way to share photographs online. It is a network, not a camera, and is certainly not built to be a good photo viewing experience. It is a tiny billboard floating in an ocean.
