Huge numbers of photographers today are experiencing Vision and telling “their stories”. They do so in very individual and many varied ways. Perhaps this is the way out of “it’s been done before”, telling a personal story, something that reveals our selves. Our own individuality is what makes our photography different.
The common ground for all, is our instinct for survival. On becoming aware of this, a freedom is gained, enabling celebration in work and life.
There is no better way for me to tell my story, than by recording my life.
When photographic process is directed towards seeing, when it assists in the opening up of seeing, the expansion of seeing into “Vision” may be more important than the photograph. When seeing is the aim, then the watching of “nature revealed” (Weston), the glimpsing of “spirit” through surfaces (Stieglitz), or the sensing of archetype (Jung), makes itself available to millions of camera bearers. The raising of seeing to the heights of Vision seems to be a possible way out of the “it’s-been-done-before” impasse, because as individuals in each generation experience Vision the cliches of Vision remain viable. It is not a matter of history or art, but the here and now experience of both.
(Minor White – Introduction, Photography in America, 1974)
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