Art and Meaning in Photography

I’ve been looking at some of the photography of Emmanuel Lubezki (Chivo) - renowned Mexican cinematographer, and decided to jot down a topic for this blog. Art and meaning in photography is something I’ve considered writing on for a while, and it’s about time I do it.

Straight to the point - art doesn’t have to mean anything. Art is just art and our interpretation doesn’t have to be that of the artist of anyone else. We can be totally subjective in our interpretation of art - it exists. It may not have been created for anything but the pure pleasure of creating something of beauty, completely devoid of any meaning - not meant to be deciphered or ‘figured out’, but to be enjoyed, to provoke thought, to clam, to excite, to evoke something within a human being.

Let’s just take for example a photo of a sunset, captured by an artist may show us all a different perspective on how something many of us take for granted, can be seen anew. The artist creates something extraordinary out of what may otherwise seem ordinary. The result doesn’t have to an important event, but an even that is made important through its appreciation.

Sometimes I struggle with meaning in photography - I question why. What is the purpose of this work. There is surely pleasure to be derived through the act, but is the result something that can help others? What other purpose can it serve? I consider that being selfish with art diminishes its value. The wondrous landscapes of Guyana, for example, are something to be appreciated, and protected. They are our heritage, the legacy of the first inhabitants of this land - the indigenous people who have been able to live in harmony with it for hundreds of years. In capturing the landscapes I want these elements to be conveyed. I want us to understand the importance of what has been preserved.

But what of other photos - a leaf floating in water, a rock in the sand, dead trees, a boy walking to school, peeling paint… what relevance does that type of art have in our lives? Well I believe it can be considered to be some of the most important art in our lives - it’s the ordinary portrayed in an extraordinary way. How we choose to view such art is a reflection of how we see the world - do we take the time to appreciate the present moment? Do we stop to enjoy that life continues beyond our perspective? Do we take time to enjoy the randomness of flaking paint that creates patterns no human can emulate… or a leaf floating in water - beautifully contrasting the colour of death and decay with the black, liquid reflection beneath, holding it gently for the wind to carry it where it may.

There is perfection in imperfection, and I reckon that the greatest photos are not those that reflect the technological power of a camera, but those that reflect the human element of the photo, i.e. the way the photographer views the world.