We're Not Done, Yet

I have often heard or read people make claims that "it's all been done" in photography, and "there's nothing new under the sun". I've always felt that this is patently false. I finally wrote a lengthy refutation to the belief that it's all been done. So, now let me share it with you.

It refutes this idea in five parts. Retrospectively, I should have written it in a slightly different order; I should have made the fourth part the second part; it would probably best be read in the order: Part 1, Part 4, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5.

Infinite Possibilities, Part 1
http://naturography.blogspot.com/200...es-part-1.html
This part discusses a technology argument that it hasn't all been done, and also touches on a separate technology argument.

Infinite Possibilities, Part 4
http://naturography.blogspot.com/200...es-part-4.html
This part discusses an argument pertaining to the difficult, the dangerous, the expensive, the uncomfortable, and the otherwise inconvenient or troublesome.

Infinite Possibilities, Part 2
http://naturography.blogspot.com/200...es-part-2.html
This part discusses an argument pertaining to the unexplored.

Infinite Possibilities, Part 3
http://naturography.blogspot.com/200...es-part-3.html
This part discusses two related arguments, one pertaining to the ephemeral, and one addressing the ever-changing.

Infinite Possibilities, Part 5
http://naturography.blogspot.com/200...es-part-5.html
This part discusses arguments pertaining to the combinatorial, the juxtapositional, and the meaningful.

It's a lengthy read, but – I think – a worthwhile one. I hope you enjoy it and get something from it.

Cheers.

Did any of you read this series?

Your links are broken, Mike. The first segment now starts here:

http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/10/infinite-possibilities-part-1.html

I've not read each segment in detail but have skimmed most of them. I'm unfortunately short on time at the moment, and will be offline for the coming week, so I can only offer brief feedback at this time. But if you want my off-the-cuff reactions, they're as follows.

- The claim against which your lengthy thesis is directed ("Everything's been photographed") is a dullard's brainstorm that's intellectually unworthy of such arduous rebuttal. I've never heard anyone make such an assertion but if I do I will simply smile slightly, nod, and move away.

- That aside, you seem to have framed your arguments within very narrow sights; nature photography.

- Your thesis need some heavy editing. It's a stream-of-consciousness work that wanders and weaves in and out of coherency.

That's my honest initial impression, Mike.

...................

Mike....I dont have the time to read through this right now but maybe later this week i can. Dont expect my input if any to be nearly as insightful as Ken or Asher but as always it will be very honest...

So i'll get back to you on this....... =) ......Erik

Dullard's brainstorm!

Ken Tanaka said:

is directed ("Everything's been photographed") is a dullard's brainstorm that's intellectually unworthy of such arduous rebuttal. I've never heard anyone make such an assertion but if I do I will simply smile slightly, nod, and move away.

Click to expand...

Ken,

I wish the dullard's brainstorms would have a similar effect on everyone. However, the nature of simplistic beliefs is that they appear self-evident. Unfortunately, many or most folk are not averse to following simple ideas that seem true. Worse, they seem to possess neither the tools nor interest for checking the validity of significant ideas they simply accept from others.

Still, when the links are fixed, I'll read the rest of Mike's thesis and try to see what this is about!

Asher

Mike Spinak said:

Did any of you read this series?

Click to expand...

I am an RSS subscriber to Naturography. I read them as they showed up.

I'm not sure what happened with the links. Try here:

Part 1: http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/10/infinite-possibilities-part-1.html

Part 4: http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/11/infinite-possibilities-part-4.html

Part 2: http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/10/infinite-possibilities-part-2.html

Part 3: http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/11/infinite-possibilities-part-3.html

Part 5: http://naturography.blogspot.com/2009/11/infinite-possibilities-part-5.html

Cheers.