'We Are Happy Just As We Are'

Videos of pete discussing his work can be seen here: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pete-davis-photography/videos

 Some of Pete's exhibition catalogues and books available here: https://petedavisphotography.bigcartel.com

 I attended a great talk a couple of weeks ago by a photographer who had made some compelling work in many of the world's deprived communities. His photographs were powerful and sympathetic and he had obviously taken great pains to make himself a part of these communities and truly understood their social conditions. Compelling stuff.

Budapest, Hungary, 2022

Sadly, many of the audience were members of British camera clubs and were distinctly unimpressed. One guy sitting in front of me muttered and mumbled all the way through the illustrated talk and just stared at the floor shuffling his feet. Pig ignorant. However, as another member of this club had stated previously, "we are happy just as we are". Clearly, this includes being utterly disrespectful towards truly talented photographers.

At the end of his talk, questions were invited and a hand shot up from the audience. I winced, anticipating what was coming, having been through it many times myself in the days when I agreed to talk to camera club type audiences. I have learned my lesson and refuse such invitations now. Given the range of deprived societies, countries and environments this photographer had documented over many years, the questions could have been an exciting journey to understanding his work and motivations. Sadly, my worst fears were realised. First question from the audience? "What is your favourite lens?" My heart sank even though I was expecting it and I saw the speaker visibly deflate. He had poured his heart and soul out for an hour and this must have been a slap in the face and an insult to his work. Never mind, it's just as they said "we are happy just as we are". 

Vidin, Bulgaria, 2022

The main reason for the grumpy guy who muttered disrespectfully all through the talk being there at all, transpired later. He was only around to be a part of the 'parade of the pot hunters' collecting an assortment of vases, plates and tankards for totally irrelevant and spurious 'categories' of prints. Also of course, to have his photograph taken with a 'celebrity' thespian knight of the realm. Not the least bit interested in great photography but no matter, as they said, "we are happy just as we are". 

Kalosca, Hungary, 2022

Missing from the camera club crowd were, of course, women and young people. 50% of the students I teach at present are female, some years it's more. Also, some of the most vibrant and relevant photography around at present comes from young people. They are in tune with current social issues that dominate their lives and produce exciting work documenting this. No sign of this demographic in the audience, however to be fair, I did spot one woman. A fairly typical British camera club crowd then, totally unrepresentative of contemporary photography's demographic. More akin to a Freemason's lodge meeting. Not to worry though "we are happy just as we are". 

If it wasn't so sad it would be funny. I can only hope that the featured photographer / speaker wasn't too put off. I have seen that sort of disrespectful behaviour in camera clubs sadly way too many times now. They are peculiar to UK camera clubs, I don't experience those attitudes from other organisations in other countries. But as they say "we are happy just as we are". Outrageous. 

The deliberate 'dumbing down' of photographic knowledge, theory and practice by British camera clubs is a national disgrace and has been for generations. Their bleating excuse is always 'but we are just amateurs'. This is no excuse. The real reason is that those who organise them and particularly those who set themselves up as 'judges' have little or no knowledge themselves. They are then afraid for others to know too much and so the 'dumbing down' continues. Shameful. However, it's ok of course because, "they are happy just as they are". 

Photography is not a sport

 It seems that I have rattled the cages of the British camera club fraternity yet again. You dare not make any criticism of their mostly ludicrous activities without incurring their wrath. It's a sure sign of their insecurity when they attack those for whom photography and photographic education is a serious way of life and living.

Working on location in north Wales, April 2023

Turning it into a sport with sad 'trophy hunting' as the only measure of achievement or success, is an insult to all who take it seriously and strive to make good, relevant work and put it into the public domain. Even worse, is that their attitudes and ideas serve to exclude a substantial section of the contemporary photographic demographic - young people and women. Just look around the typical British (not European or American where I have experience) camera club to see evidence of this, they are composed mostly of grumpy old men drooling over cameras, not good photography. 

Their 'sporting' competitions for pointless trophies are 'refereed' by individuals whose collective knowledge of contemporary photography can be written on the point of a pin. This does nothing to further the quality or relevance of what they produce, it's 'photography by numbers' and just ticking boxes to satisfy ignorant 'judges'.

Crafnant, Conwy, 53° 7’ 29” N. - 3° 53’ 3” W. Looking west. From the series - 'The Ends of the Roads'

In the real world of photography it's heartening to see how young photographers (with a good gender balance) are producing exciting relevant work and finding innovative ways to put this out into the world. They should be nurtured and encouraged, not put off by outdated ideas and practices by those who refuse to accept that what they espouse. You have to wonder what they are afraid of when they make comments such as - "we are happy just as we are". That they are content to dumb down the theory and practice of photography and by so doing exclude a substantial section of the contemporary photography demographic is nothing but shameful. 

 

Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, 52° 18’ 0” N. - 4° 9’ 54” W. Looking south west. From the series - 'The Ends of the Roads'

It's difficult to know how to break these entrenched ideas. Clearly those who run British clubs are afraid of change as it exposes their own lack of knowledge and understanding. They don't want to feel intimidated by another generation making far better work than themselves and engaging with fresh and exciting ideas and Photographic concepts. 

Cwm Penmachno, Gwynedd,   53° 0’ 32” N. - 3° 51’ 46” W. Looking east. From the series - 'The Ends of the Roads'

There are, however, many positive things happening in the real world of photography. New galleries and photography festivals abound. New ways of publishing work make getting exciting  projects out much easier and ultimately more accessible to a wider audience. The young photographers are embracing all this, despite the best efforts of camera clubs to stifle it. 

Meanwhile, the camera clubs bumble along in their outdated ways, giving out trophies for nonsensical 'categories' of photograph, pandering to so-called 'judges' who no nothing and are deliberately dumbing down knowledge.