"Read THIS!" Natalie said suggestively.

As I always do, after posting a new image, I do a little browsing around to look at what other photographers I know here on Flickr are doing. I am often amazed at how generous some of my friends are to give me such illustrious comments. I say this because I am more so amazed at the quality of the work they are doing. Always of very high caliber. Of course some are more experienced than others and have different criteria in the achievement of a successful photograph. But as I look, a sudden cliché phrase comes blurting out of my mouth. “God is in the details.”

I guess what I am saying is that, in my observations, if there is anything I would consider to be the most evident flaw in the photographs I am observing, it is a lack of attention to detail in regards to craftsmanship. Of course this is subjective criticism. What is an important detail to one, is unimportant to another. But we, as photographers have created and evolved a visual language that we use to communicate with. We have also developed an aesthetic that speaks to the viewer as loudly as that language, making him/her respond to the art in a particular way. I know this sounds like I leave no room for originality, but that is not the case. When an artist develops their “voice”, that originality starts to take shape and becomes part of the artistic language that is already in place. Acceptance or rejection from the audience is what will decide if that voice is to continue to be heard and flourish, or be dismissed and temporarily or permanently squashed.

I include the word “temporarily”, because often an expressive style maybe so new and out of left field that audiences need the time to warm up to it. It takes champion photo editors, artistic directors and museum/gallery curators, to recognize the merits of the work and to push it forward until it reaches the mainstream.

These are some thoughts I decided to express here on my stream at this time.

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