This is one of those blogs that definitely belongs in some category called “Weird Thoughts That Somehow Occupy My Mind”. Last week, I had the opportunity and privilege of seeing an Asian-American-themed movie called American Fusion at the studio where it was produced, courtesy of the producer, Jason Inouye. When asked about making artistic compromises to be able to land funding, Jason said something really interesting. He said that he sees himself more as an entertainer than an artist… which has lead to my big question. What makes an artist?

Even back in my college days, I had trouble calling myself an “artist” - something about having the audacity to say that I somehow know how to create better than someone else was rather repulsive. Da Vinci, even, didn’t call himself an artist. He called himself a scientist. Hmm…

And then I was watching the interview with Derek Webb, and he said that the artists job is to present the world as they see it, and not filter out stuff that doesn’t seem “fit” for art. Full self-expression. I like that.

So bringing that idea into wedding photography, I almost think that being an artist isn’t so much a statement of who I am, but rather the journey I choose. While there are so many connotations, institutions, and unspoken understandings of what photography of a wedding should look like, I choose to present my clients with as honest a world-view as I possibly can. I don’t know so much if that makes my work art, as it does say that I’m constantly striving for self-expression in my work.

In the end, there really is no happy solution to the question at hand. And I choose to keep it that way. If life is about the journey, the right questions make the experience richer.

………….

Ah, and just for kicks, here are a few pictures of Jason I snapped during our “Ask The Producer” session.

I know all the arts are tied together. I’m especially aware because of how much I draw influence from film and music. The connection that I find fascinating right now is the relationship between painting and photography. Photography pretty much came into the world in the early-1800’s and began to replace paintings as the source of portraits and landscapes in the next couple of decades. The world of painting became about painting things that could not be photographed, such as mythology and biblical scenes. Then came a group of rebellious painters who started to paint the vibrancy of colors and reverberations they evoke upon the viewer. They painted scenes as pure color, intent on understanding how color is interpreted by the eyes. Much of this movement towards the power of color was spurned on by the desire to do what photographs could not do - create impressions of subjects and scenes through color instead of lines and a mistaken sense of realism. These revolutionaries were to be categorized in the the label of Impressionists, but each of the prominent artists made strides into a different arena of expression that had never been attempted or achieved before.

This was a work that was particularly reviled by the art community of the time.

Claude Monet, Poppy Fields, 1873, Musée D’Orsay

Today, our photography of vividly intense color owes much to those stragglers who didn’t know the “rules” well enough to even present their work in galleries. I just love how the different arts push each other to express that part which another medium is seemingly unable to do in the same way.

I’m pretty anti-Valentine’s Day (a made up holiday for consumers to spend money), but cards like this make it pretty fun:

Have a great day, y’all.

The good news: I just found the new We Are Scientists music video on YouTube (from their upcoming album Brain Thrust Mastery, releasing March 17, 2008 in the UK).

I think the girl in this video is the girl who plays Cerie in 30 Rock?

The sad news: the songs on this upcoming album are the last ones with Michael Tapper on the drums (for now).

Since I know W.A.S. is such a huge phenomenon here in the states, I know everybody is really sad about this, like I am. Actually, I went to college with Tapper and got to perform covers of artists such as Weezer, Wheatus, and the Pixies with him for this variety event we used to do. He is quite a talent, and he will be missed… even if it’s by nobody but me.

I’m going to take the liberty to share some of their other music videos from their previous album (With Love And Squalor).

“Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt”

“The Great Escape”

Good luck to you, Tapper. It was nice run.

I finally got around to going through my pictures from our trip to Kauai back in October of 2006. (If you’ve never been, you should go… especially with someone special. =)