So true and so sad.
although there are values other than money, more important than money.
That isn't the way consumer society is built. Your pictures are worth
what people will pay... as long as you NEED to sell them to eat.
Capitalism prays TO the Capital (As in large wads of money) and preys ON
the consumer.
Insurance is the fear-driven idea that you can pay a small amount of
money to a large company (Making billions in profit) so that you can
have the same rights as wealthy people when there's trouble. God spare us.
When you're camera bag falls off your shoulder into the river -
When you fall off the ladder trying to get a high angle shot - wealthy
people buy new gear, get the best medical care. Consumers risk getting
shafted by insurance companies.
Wealthy people make great photographers. They can take the risks. They
can buy Hasselblads with a slew of lenses. They can shoot on 11x14 and
take a month to be where the images are. They don't have to make daily
bread.
Most people struggle to pay off a decent DSLR and the "Decent" galleries
(Who are selling mostly to wealthy patrons of the arts) are not too
interested in "Those types" of images. So it's internet galleries or
underground galleries and coffee shops.
Selling prints for sub $50
But, ya know what? That's art. It always was. And it's why we have to
work for ourselves. For the values in our hearts. Eating regular meals
has never been the "Way" of art.
the formula for success is as old as the hills.
1. Drink and smoke
2. Assemble a good body of work
3. Drink
4. Bequeath the work to someone who cares
5. Drink and smoke
6. See 5
7. Write letters (Paper and pen please) to friends and lovers.
8. Die in some tragic way
9. Wait 20 years
Emily L. Ferguson wrote:
If raising children is so valuable why don't the parents who stay home
and don't work in order to raise them receive the benefits of working?
Y'know, it's really great that so many people here affirm the emotional
value of their imagery and other creative work. And it might be just
wonderful if they could get insurance against the loss of that work on
the basis of its emotional value to them.
But by every measure used in our culture, the only value that counts is
money.
If you give your work away you peg its value at the price you gave it
away for. If you refuse to acknowledge that equation, I hope you never
need a car, a roof over your head, health care, clothing, heat, a
computer, food, education - need I go on?
