How do we calculate the value of photography ?
The “Value” question is a real can of worms , especially as I have deliberately not given the question any context !
We value photographs everyday , subconsciously , some photographs inspire us to read articles , buy products or reflect on friends and family . Social media users “Like” , share or ignore pictures on a industrial scale all the time , interestingly the criteria of the various responses is never really clear and therefore any idea of photographic coherence of “Good” , “Bad” or “Indifferent” is difficult to establish ?
If a unknown , ambiguous criteria measure makes value difficult to establish, the question becomes even more difficult if age is added to the conundrum , as time appears to effect the perceived and real value of pictures too !
Sadly even this criteria is not consistent as “Old” photographs are not necessarily deemed to be of greater value than “New” photographs , one thing is certain and that is that age effects the value of photography at both ends of the scale ?
News pictures are used quickly in order to maintain their value as news , conversely pictures that have survived the decades become valued as social history documents , not necessarily because they are “Good” photographs !
So far we have only discussed pictures that already exist but as photographers we make “Photo-Value” judgments on every shoot and re-value these in-camera value decisions later during the edit , one mans error can be another persons deliberate technique ?
We all possess a individual set of photographic values that are communicated through our “Successful” photographs , these values may be deliberate premeditated “Rules” or a set of ethics or a subconscious ethos , one way or another as photographers we feel a need to develop or follow a set of values linked to our work , aims and personal identities !
Trying to establish value within personal photography is a very interesting exercise , understanding how you get to your final value should be a education in itself , interestingly the photography discussed here could be the activity of making pictures and not the photographic content , quality or the images / prints themselves ?
Perhaps the real value of photography to you and me should be measured by the mental and physical health benefits it creates, a photographic lifestyle enables us to forge links between people , everyday lives and the communities we live in . Photography has certainly enhanced the quality of my life !
Under capitalism a forest has no value until you cut it down ? ( Think about that )
The quote above inspired this blog, it brought home to me how one persons perception of value is often missed by others and vice versa , most of us see trees not profit in our woodlands , I assume ?
This realisation begs the question , is financial value the best measure of photography, forests , tyres or anything else ?
Giving work away for free is a definitive way of establishing a price if not a value !
Knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing is a modern contagion …
Value yourself and the important things , especially during these challenging times .
Stay safe…
Part Worn Tyres Sign , 2020
David Barrett shot the pandemic crisis during 2020, The Testing Times project can be seen by clicking above .
The State Of Britain series is complete, it explores everyday life during the Brexit era and gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations and post-truth uncertainty .....
Check out the new UK Street Shop on this site to buy Prints, Walks & More …
He is based in the South West of England .