Please, Do Not Ask Me to Comment on or Critique Your Work

The Art Critic

As a photographer with around 30 years of experience behind me, I make it my practice NOT to critique other “Human” forms of expression captured in Imagery, Music, Painting etc.

You are in your own way unique in the way in which you capture the moment that you have decided to encapsulate. It is that moment of “Commitment” that says “This is my view of reality, this is ‘Me.'” Now if the “This is me” is not content with the outcome of that “Commitment” to capture that picture at that moment in time, because the outcome did not satisfy what you really imagined what the outcome could have been, that is a technical issue. It could imply your understanding of the importance of Post Production is underestimated. It could be that you have not been honest with yourself and hesitated, not allowing yourself the intimacy required to capture “That” photo. It could be a certain handicap in basic rules of balance between light and dark or the “Yin Yang” principal. That being, the understanding of what Balance means to you. Post Prod is very much a part of the final image being realized.

My images are what they are, because the final outcome was desired. That does not mean that there is no room for experimentation. It means that in my planning process I always allow that the “Accident” element be a vital part of that process. I am always trying to push the envelope and surprise myself with something new. Perhaps it has more to do with my own perception of myself and getting bored too easily, or to a greater degree, a lack of confidence in myself. I am working on that issue every day and is a work in progress. Technique in my opinion should only be considered as a response to a specific desired outcome and not the means to the end.

Prior to building the house, you need to first do a briefing of what those requirements are. Do a conceptual plan and follow up with working drawings. That could be considered the story board. Construction of the house could be considered the technical tools, i.e. lighting framing, realization of the “theme-subject” and the post production to the final outcome the “House” built, photo concretized or the print.

If you feel that your goal has not been accomplished, find the tools that will assist in realizing that outcome. Sometimes as a result of a lack of vocabulary, we do not even realize what tools exist and worse than that, we lack the vocabulary to even know that certain questions exist. You must garner a vocabulary to enlighten yourself to the possibilities. In doing so, you will learn how to be discerning and your outcome will be even richer in my opinion.

It is a known fact that those people with a large vocabulary, lead a richer and more fulfilling life than those who have a limited one.

Experiment, make mistakes, catalogue those mistakes and make them your own style. Enjoy the experience and share that experience with others so they may benefit by your insight.

About Benjamin Kanarek
Fashion and Beauty Photographer. Some of the magazines I have shot for include: VOGUE (China, Portugal, Brazil, Italia, Paris and South America & Mexico editions), RG VOGUE Brazil, Harper’s BAZAAR (China, en Español & Latin America, Hong Kong, Italy editions), L’Officiel Paris, ELLE (Spain, Portugal and Greece editions), Madame Figaro (France), Cosmopolitan (France and Italy editions), Glamour (France), Votre Beauté, Jardin des Modes, Dépêche Mode, New York Daily News, Fashion District News, New York Times Magazine, W (British edition), WWD, Fashion Magazine (Canada), Flare (Canada), Oyster, Tank, WestEast…