Artist Profile: Photography is about the journey, not the destination
It seems I’ve been on this photographic journey most of my life. As a kid, my parents had an old Anscoflex camera (which I still have) that they would occasionally use to take family photos. We would wait to send the film off to get photos, which meant you might see Christmas photos just prior to Easter. When I was around 15, I received a Polaroid camera for Christmas and my perspective on photography changed forever. The near-immediate results from a photo caused me to start thinking about things like subject, composition, light, and background – even though I didn’t even know what those things were at the time.
After high school, I joined the Navy and went to the U.S. Naval Schools of Photography, where I learned all the basics of photography at the time – using various cameras, processing film and printing photos. Upon graduation, I was stationed at an intelligence center, dealing mainly in aerial and satellite imagery. We were encouraged to shoot photos on our free time, and great mentors helped me develop new techniques and creative skills.
Later, as I began work as a civilian photographer for the Army, a transformational change in photography was occurring, the gradual move from film to digital. Images were processed on a computer, and photographs were produced on a printer. Gone were the film, chemicals, darkrooms and additional paraphernalia previously required. To say this changed everything is an understatement.
The most significant aspect of this change was it brought the art of photography to everyone. You could now easily shoot, process and print photos yourself. Think about it; we all now carry a camera with us in our pocket wherever we go. Despite the seemingly endless selfies and photos of food people are eating posted on Facebook, I still think that’s a good thing. More creativity is better than less.
Part of the creative process is asking yourself, “Why do I take photos?” I view photography as a sort of time machine. The ancient philosopher Heraclitus said no man can step in the same river twice. Similarly, every image you take is a slice of time that will never happen again. Pretty heavy stuff when you think about it. In a more practical sense, I’m the guy at family gatherings who always makes everyone get up and take a group photo. Because next year, that aunt, that cousin, that parent may not be there. Take the photo.
I enjoy capturing that little piece of time, but photography also provides a creative outlet and pushes me to learn new things. Over the years I’ve taken photos of pretty much everything imaginable. My favorite subjects, however, are landscapes and wildlife, and for me, it’s really a holistic exercise. The preparation, venturing into nature, exploring, and hiking to a location are just as meaningful as actually snapping the shutter; everything’s interconnected.
I discovered something even more significant 12 years ago. I had lost my wife, and the solace I found in long hikes and photography became a very effective form of grief therapy for me. Maybe it was a form of escapism, but shooting photos freed my mind to only think of the photo I was taking. I still use hiking as a time for prayer and meditation, and along with photography, it remains an important tool for stress relief from the sometimes hectic pace of life. In that sense, photography can be a very personal thing.
But before I become too metaphysical, make no mistake, I always strive to take the best image I can, technically and artistically. At the end of the day, photography is an art form, and art always moves forward. In order to improve as a photographer, always seek new challenges and ways to learn. I belong to a wonderful camera club (Sunny 16) here in Bowling Green, that’s filled with so many creative and super talented people, just being around them inspires and challenges you grow.
It’s been said that life isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey, and the same can be said for the art of photography. And happily, my photographic journey continues.
-by George Gootee
