"Everyone takes photos; now even phones can. The whole issue of digital is so depressing to me; my process is gone. There were all kinds of unknown things that could come out in a photograph, things you didn't know were there until you saw it; now it's all so flat."
Firstly, digital technology has made photography very popular, it has become accessible to people from all backgrounds. The fact that anyone can buy a cheap camera and make images is fantastic; everyone deserves the right to explore their own creativity without the limitations of expensive (and sometimes confusing) technologies.
Secondly it's sad to see someone become 'depressed' over the so called 'loss' of her process. True there are lots of people using digital but I'm sure that people (myself and several of my friends and I'm certain many more) are still enjoying and experimenting with analogue cameras as the style has become more exclusive and experimental compared to the certain output of digital.
And thirdly, the accusation that digital images are flat is an outrageous comment, and certainly not fact. Digital technology allows us now more than ever to capture tiny details, which may have been lost on film. Also digital editing allows us to enhance the images we create to highlight areas of importance and add mood and character to an image.
I've never particularly liked Nan Goldin's work. I can see its appeal as gritty, 80's documentary but find I have out grown the aesthetic and no longer enjoy her work. If Nan Goldin is so 'depressed' by the future I doubt that she will be creating anymore ground breaking series' and it's sad to see someone whose life has been so consumed by photography find that the thought of change and new talent can have such a negative effect. I find her comments quite selfish and she should stop to think about all the good that photography can do for people now that everyone has the ability to express themselves in which ever form they choose.
The Guardian Poll: Has digital devalued Photography?
I also just found this in an interview with Goldin, which highlights her apparent distaste for photographys popularity- much like a child who doesn't want to share:
ReplyDeleteTop tip: Don't do it. There are way too many photographers. Try to draw or get politically involved in something that matters. And unless you need to make art to stay alive, you shouldn't be making art.
What a load of rubbish, if you want to take a photo-take one, if you want to draw a picture-draw it! Nobody should have their creativity taken from them- it's a right!