Saturday, March 17, 2012

Being judgmental about a business I know nothing about.... I hate that.

But here I'm going to do it anyway.

Linda and I were visiting Sunriver awhile back, and dropped in on a co-op art gallery.

I don't get the economics of galleries -- plenty of stuff I'd buy at much lower prices. Nothing I'd buy at the marked prices. Now, I understand that art must be paid for. There is probably justifiable reasons for such prices. Maybe I'm cheap for not wanting to pay them.

But, really?

I've been looking for years for a painting or photograph that I simply MUST have, but it hasn't happened yet. (I have a blank spot in my study that I'm just waiting to fill.) The thing I was noticing about most of these gallery photographs is that they are manipulated, photoshopped and altered to a ridiculous extent. Landscapes, and especially animal pictures are just a little too cute.

Now I know that the appearance of the photo depends on all kinds of factors, natural and unnatural, but there seems to me a level of interference in these photo's that turns me off. Mostly it's to make them prettier or more exotic.

I've kind of wanted a photo of the central Oregon mountain skyline. I wouldn't mind if they squeezed the mountains slightly closer, but basically I'm looking for a fresh, untouched silhouette.

Though, when I think about it, it's kind of weird that I want a picture inside the house that is a duplicate of what I could see walking outside....

For the price of some of these gallery pictures, I could buy myself a nice camera, take tons of pictures until I get one I like, and print it up myself!

Of course, I know it isn't that simple. But with digital cameras --- it almost IS that simple.

10 comments:

Duncan McGeary said...

So -- pricing.

Same thing could be said about my store -- it's full of stuff and wouldn't it sell better if it was cheaper?

Well, no. And if it did, to what purpose?

So I'm assuming that galleries are under the same pressures.

Duncan McGeary said...

I grew up on the end of Roanoke, and we had a big picture window facing the Cascades, with Mt.Bachelor and the Three Sisters.

So, if I was to try to capture an image, I could drive to the end of the deadend street and snap away...

Duncan McGeary said...

I think that's what I'm trying to recapture...

H. Bruce Miller said...

"The thing I was noticing about most of these gallery photographs is that they are manipulated, photoshopped and altered to a ridiculous extent. ... [T]here seems to me a level of interference in these photo's that turns me off."

As a photographer I agree that Lightroom and Photoshop have enabled photographers to manipulate images to a ridiculous degree, and I hate that. But the best photographers have the skill and taste to do it without making the image look fake (unless they want it to look fake).

"Though, when I think about it, it's kind of weird that I want a picture inside the house that is a duplicate of what I could see walking outside..."

Would you possibly have any interest in beautiful landscapes from other parts of the world, or is Central Oregon the limit of your horizons?

H. Bruce Miller said...

Most galleries are selling most of their stuff on consignment. So it's really the artist who sets the price, not the gallery.

Anonymous said...

"For the price of some of these gallery pictures, I could buy myself a nice camera, take tons of pictures until I get one I like, and print it up myself!

Of course, I know it isn't that simple. But with digital cameras --- it almost IS that simple."

If you have a truck, roof rack, dog and tools does that make you roofer, painter or construction worker?

If you own a power mower does that make you a gardener?

If you can use a word processor and spell check does that make you a writer?

Anyone can paint, mow, write and take digital images.

As a writer I'm sure you would agree that it's not what you can do but how your do it and the creative talent behind the pen / keyboard.

No?

Duncan McGeary said...

The artist in me totally agrees with you. But the artist in me thinks I can take a good picture.

This seems to be an open question to me.

I'm sure, at the professional level, there is a vast difference between amateur and pro.

But at a "Nice Picture" level I suspect technology has made it possible for an artistically inclined amateur to come up with something decent.

I know that both Linda and I have taken some "interesting" pictures -- whether they're good enough to produce and put on a way and look at every day?

I'm sure there must be much discussion among the pro's....

Duncan McGeary said...

Without even looking, I'm guessing there is an anti-touchup, anti photoshop movement out there.

Or anti digital.

Duncan McGeary said...

I guess I'm kinda saying, if you want to sell your photo's and you've obviously manipulated the images, well -- anyone can do that.

I'd respect a "natural" picture more, I think.

Anonymous said...

"I'd respect a "natural" picture more, I think."

YES, me thinks too

"Without even looking, I'm guessing there is an anti-touchup, anti photoshop movement out there."

YES but not large among the casual photo buyer, if there is one in Central Oregon.

"The artist in me totally agrees with you. But the artist in me thinks I can take a good picture."

But "good" typically doesn't sell well in craft or galleries. Regardless of the price.

"The artist in me totally agrees with you. But the artist in me thinks I can take a good picture."

Start with an upload on your next blog post!