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I have been making photo images since I
was age twelve and never seriously considered whether any money
could be gained from my intense interest in cameras and darkroom processing
so I suppose now, at age seventy one, I can only accept that I must have
been occupied with photography for other reasons. For me, as
for many millions in society, there was and
is Therapy in Art ! ! Painting ! !
Engraving ! ! Photography ! ! etc., etc.,not because it had
been suggested by the medical profession as an antidote to my
experiences as a child of the second world war ( which it had not )
but because my father was a sign writer who taught me about perspective and
drawing at age four, and my mother who was a dressmaker showing
me how to accomplish tricky tasks using my hands and my grandfather who
explained to me what a Box Brownie was for.
Funny money investments for those who are in a rich echelon of society
may derive a similar life brightening thrill from making profits from playing on
the willingly gullible whims of the well off. Let them do their
funny money juggling if that's what gives them a kick. Art , today, is one
area where crazy money values are created by entrepreneurs,
historians and accomplished journalists. I venture to say that it's
a far better game than starting wars to make profit from weapons
maufacturing, killing human beings and the rebuilding of
architechture which has been smashed. I am sorry to think
that this evil will continue on the planet for many years to come
. We will need more therapy.
I realize that this is a very simplistic view
of things but its the only one which I can adopt which does not leave me
dismayed when so many artists seem to be unable to achieve a decent
living from their art. On the other hand their Art has a
greater value in its role as a therapy not only for themselves but for
many special patrons including the majority of the population ,
much as sport does in a different way, than money.
I am not in the funny money league and do not wish
to be but neither do I wish to be exploited by that faction who
use the techniques of shill as an everyday tool of their
profession.
Getting out of your face, now. I will wear a
different hat, tomorrow. I dont really know what the hell I've
been going on about. Apologies to anyone who has taken offence.
Happy dreams. John- Photographist- London -
UK.
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