Much ‘fine art’ is brilliant — but a bit boring

When I look at the work of many professional photographers, I see creative masterpieces. The technical excellence and visual artistry is mesmerising. They have every piece of equipment needed to address all situations.

However, they can also somehow feel rather remote and cold. The scenes have become so far removed from everyday experience that they only inspire the head, not engage the heart. The photographer is so immersed in making ‘fine art’ that they lose their sense of freedom, mischief, and playfulness.

I have faced some challenging times in the past few years. A walk with a camera is my meditation, and how I keep myself grounded. I have taken to sharing my everyday passage through the world on social media, and it has gained a large following. Because my art is located in the ordinary and the accessible, and comes with a story, it seems to resonate with people at a different level.

One in every 100 of my pictures might also qualify as ‘fine art’, but that’s a side effect, not the purpose.

‘Fun art’ is my antidote to ‘fine art’

I have a simple philosophy when it comes to creating photographic artwork.

My goal isn’t to impress other photographers and get their approval. Nor is it to create something that is marketable to the public. Whilst I value mastery, I don’t even feel a need to to excel at the craft of making images.

My only objective is to have fun. Nothing else matters.

I don’t worry about whether what I produce pleases anyone. It doesn’t need to be technically perfect. It doesn’t have to have a consistent look or feel. It doesn’t need to fit any style or pattern I have established. It doesn’t need to take lots of effort to produce, even.

What you see is the result of that simple philosophy. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so making pictures is meant to be fun — and nothing more.

Keep it light, simple, and quick

I have one camera, with a fixed lens, and a small tripod that fits in a pocket.

I never have to suffer for the weight of my equipment, or worry whether it will get stolen, or decide what lens to buy next.

The idea of heaving a big tripod around makes me laugh, even if I happen to own one — that I never use. I have never dropped a lens because I don’t have any to drop.

I might spend a few minutes editing each image. No pixel peeping, no agonising over obscure settings in software filters, no dodging and burning through multiple layers.

And definitely no complexity when it comes to lighting. One small wireless flash in hand, and I am done.

Find the beauty wherever you already are, and photograph it! Your constraints are your creative inspiration.

That’s ‘funtography’.