Your Viewer Doesn’t Care About Your Process f/70

The Stop Down Photography Podcast

In art forms like music, live performance, or motion pictures, the artist can take the audience on a bit of a journey. It could be a few seconds to a few minutes or longer. And at the pivotal moment, there is the crescendo. These art forms can build an audience to a climax. The process of building up the tension or anticipation or surprise is knowable to the audience.

A musical example is the song Swingtown by The Steve Miller Band. The first 45 seconds of the song is a build-up of instruments. Each one lays down a simple rhythm or beat. In an of themselves, the individual riff or melody is peppy and upbeat but is not elaborate or flashy. Yet once all of the drums, guitars, pianos, and vocals come together, you’re hearing a wall of sound. And the process, the build-up, is part of the experience.

Photography is a different type of art form. The process by which a photograph is made is unknown to the viewer - and by and large, the viewers don’t care about the process. They take in the photo in a single “visual gulp” and pass judgment on the sum total of the work. Of course, we photographers pursuing an artistic lifestyle are interested in the process. We are the exception.

Does that mean the artistic process is not important? No, of course not. It is very important - to us and to fellow photographers. However, to viewers, your process will be largely hidden. That is both OK and very good to know because it reminds us that when we produce our work, we need to know it’s the final image that matters most. That is what our viewers will see.

The Oregon Coast Workshop Update

Workshop page

The Oregon Coast workshop I am co-hosting with Derrick Story has sold out. Yes, wow, that was fast. If you were not able to get a space in this workshop, please let me know. At a minimum, I will make sure you are on the waitlist for the workshop. Things do happen in the months leading to a workshop and there may be a cancellation. Also, I am considering opening a second workshop, also in November, likely the week of November 15th, 2021. If you are interested, please reach out through the contact form on scottdavenportphoto.com.

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