It is not in the name
Rui Gasparinho ( nop51076@mail.telepac.pt)
Sun, 12 January 1997 2:30 PM
I just came back from hibernation. I have not yet finished reading those =
three years of postings to the list, but almost.
I have been following with great interest the discussion about a name =
for what we do.
It is normal for me, here in Portugal where "alternative photography" is =
practically unknown, to have to explain what it is and why it is called =
alternative.
Alternative to what?
The question was raised again three days ago, at a new course and school =
where I am teaching.
My normal answer is that in fact this is a wrong label, and that there =
is no such a thing as "alternative photography".
There are photographically constructed images, and several processes to =
make them.
When a manufacturer recomends a certain developer for a film, and we use =
something else, would that qualify also as alternative photography?
I think it would.
As far as I am concerned there are commercial and non commercial =
photographic processes, and even here the distinction is not very clear.
I agree with those that expressed the opinion that the different =
processes should be addressed by their names.=20
What I do is photography, and not an alternative to photography.=20
If anything, and I do not like the idea either, we could be called =
photographic artisans instead of just photographers.
Carlos Gasparinho
----------