Dean Alari: 2010

Thought I'd give you a preview of some of the shots I've been taking recently. More to come. I actually thought I'd take some time to just share a few opinions of mine about photography. Recently I was interviewed by a fellow student about what photography means to me. Anyone who knows me will agree that I'm a very opinionated person so I really enjoyed answering their questions. So I'd thought I'd share some of my responses with you. Enjoy!

1). How would you define yourself as a 'photographer'? As opposed to someone who just owns a camera and/or likes to print out hipstamatic stuff out from their iPhone. I guess in other words, What does it mean to truly 'be' a photographer?

Photography as an art is certainly tricky. It is unlike all other forms in that just about anyone can take a good photograph and has access to a camera. This makes it all the more difficult to distinguish artistic photography from imitators and amateurs. A painter for instance wouldn't run into this problem. For someone to say they were a painter and yet have no quality paintings to show would be a little ridiculous. In this day and age it really is true that everyone is a "photographer." Everyone has access to a camera and has the ability to snap a picture, but again this doesn't mean everyone can be considered a photographer. For myself, i have several criteria for what defines a photographer. First of all, its been said many times that the camera does NOT make the photographer and i strongly believe in this. I've seen high paying professionals display photos from their iPhones that are awesome and i've seen numerous people with expensive dSLR cameras take really horrible images. An expensive camera does not make someone a photographer and that's a mistake people often make. The difference is in the vision behind the photograph. Photographers go out and take intentional images and they create and capture with the intention of making art. For other people its just a fad like not wearing shoes or going hot-tubbing when your in college. Its something you do to look cool, to be trendy. You can distinguish the real photographer from the imitator by the simple fact that the passion for photography lasts, for the imitator it tends to die over time. Another important thing that is typical of genuine photographers is that they work hard at their craft. Facebookers and the average joe with a camera don't put very much effort into taking pictures. I run into this mentality a lot, that taking pictures or making art in general is easy. As an art major i often hear my friends with more "serious majors" complaining that i have it easy, as if my art major doesn't require me to do anything. This is false. I pour just as much time into my art as they pour into their essays, lab assignments, or whatever. The same thing goes for photography. If you don't do the homework, if you don't study up on your craft, you're aren't gonna be a very good photographer. I honestly believe this is why the general public can't distinguish a good photo from a bad one. They just aren't exposed to quality images like they would be if they studied the work of professionals and past photographers. To summarize, i define a photographer as someone who takes any camera (crappy or expensive) and creates intentional art and who works hard and passionately at it.

2) Elaborate on your passion for photography. What is your drive to go out on a random night when you really have a ton of other work to do, but then take up your camera and go out on epic photo adventures?

Honestly I love photography because it's fun. It really is. It's a lot of work but its fun. I love spending hours and hours taking photos just to get that one great image that i can be proud of and show people who are genuinely amazed and can appreciate the work i've done. Plus, i consider my photography to be work in itself, which is why it's easy to substitute it for other work i might need to do. Photography is just more important to me because its what i want to do in life. Plus, It just seems wrong to me not to seize every opportunity to be shooting.

3). What is your greatest challenge right now as a photographer? Greatest reward?

My greatest challenge as a photographer is always getting my work recognized. Being a portrait photographer it's important for me to get my images seen in order to attract potential clients and to get jobs. This is often a difficult things to do because we're all busy people and like I said ordinary people just don't sit around all day looking at pictures like I often do. However, getting my work recognized is the greatest reward for me. It feels great when someone whom I've never met comes up to me and says "Hey I saw your website and I loved the photos!" It's even better when they like my images and want to hire me. Can't get much better than that right? It's nice to think that artists are motivated by their sheer delight for their art, but let's face it recognition is awesome. It's what keeps me sane and allows me keep shooting, because people like what I do.

4) Where did you gain your technical skills/when did you first pick up a camera and realize you wanted to know more?

I've never taken a formal photography class, but to say I'm self taught would be false. I'd like to think that I've learned from some of the best photographers in the business, how you say? By observing and studying their images and their approach to taking pictures. I've probably looked at hundreds of websites of professionals; I've read their blogs gleaning all their tips and suggestions. This approach has really paid off I feel. Plus I ask questions. If there is something I want to know, I ask. Also, I try to keep in conversation with the photographers I know, because we all have something to learn and we all have something to teach. Finally, i'm a reader so I read photography books, i read my camera manual, and I read articles all of which help me understand how to properly use my camera and how to create better images.

5) Talk a little bit about the differences of mass photography vs. what you strive for? Commercial demand vs. artistry? Generation of extreme narcissism vs capturing a different perspective?

Well i feel that mass photography can be defined by the tourist mentality. When you travel places you take pics of yourself in front of a monument to show you were there. That's it. That's as far as the thinking goes. No thought to composition or an interesting image. You just want to show you were there. That's how the masses view photography. A photo just shows what you've done, who you were with, or where you've been. It's just to document small pieces of your life. I try to document life but in a visually interesting way. As far as commercial demand vs. artistry, i don't think they have to be in opposition at all. If we'd actually pay attention to the world around us we'd notice that there is art in everything. From the clothes we wear to the ads on tv. How many times do you watch a movie and walk away only remembering the story and plotline? We forget the artistic side to it. From the poster designs to the videography, all of it is art. That being said some of my favorite photographers are commercial photographers. Commercial demand doesn't hinder art, rather i actually think it encourages art and brings a competitive drive to better oneself.

6) Any ideas on the value of film over digital? What medium do you prefer to work with? Do you find yourself leaning towards film because digital is so prevalent right now?

I honestly believe that anyone who's had the pleasure of using film would agree that it is just really fun to work with. It gives you so many unexpected and interesting results. Its just a breath of fresh air from digital photography. That being said it's just too expensive. I would love to shoot film but it's just not realistic when you don't have much money, so i stick with digital.