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Michael Grace-Martin

~ Photography, Art & Life

Michael Grace-Martin

Category Archives: Commentary

Street Photography = Living Archeology + Aesthetics

15 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by mgm in Commentary

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street photography

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I find #Streetphotography to be a fascinating way to study life visually. It’s like doing living archeology w/ a sense of aesthetics.

— Michael Grace-Martin (@mgmsbrain) June 15, 2015



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Photograph Fetishism

30 Tuesday Sep 2014

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fetish, photograph, photography

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I’ve gone back to enjoying photos for what is pictured vs the photo being the object of appreciation. I’m *so* tired of photo fetishism.

— Michael Grace-Martin (@mgmsbrain) September 30, 2014



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The Photos I Take versus All The Rest

05 Friday Sep 2014

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photography, the web

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@mgmsbrain subjective experience of web-accessible #photography

— Michael Grace-Martin (@mgmsbrain) September 5, 2014



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Photography Inefficient Way to Make Money

18 Monday Aug 2014

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earning, income, photography

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So, it turns out that doing photography isn’t a very efficient way to make money. Are you all surprised?!…:p

No, there are lots of people who own cameras–both professionals and non-professionals–and a good number who put up an Internet “sign” saying they’ll do photography for money. Also, there are lots of people taking photos with all kinds of cameras (including phone cameras) and posting them to Instagram, Tumblr, Flickr, and many other websites such that there’s absolutely no shortage of photos available for all the world to see and purchase.

When the supply of some product or service goes up, prices usually go down…*unless* there’s a corresponding increase in demand. It’s just a guess, but even though I think demand may have actually gone up, I don’t think it’s kept up with supply when it comes to photography products or services. This is why prices have tended to go down (except, perhaps, for photographs made in the past by famous photographers because the supply of those is somewhat fixed) and why it’s very difficult for anyone–even current famous photographers–to make much money *from* photography.

I think anyone who is interested in making photographs should make photographs. Why not? But people interested in a career in photography *really* should explore all other possible options before seriously considering it as a source of income.

To make enough money from photography alone, you have to put in many, many hours of work–both physically (when shooting–e.g., 12-hour weddings) and seated at a computer for hours on end processing thousands of images. You’ll also have to deal with equipment issues, customer support, vendors, transportation, and so on.

What I’m trying to tell you is that photography as a business is a lot of work like *any* business. You’re not going to get away from doing lots of work because you’ve turned your hobby that you enjoy so much (photography) into your source of income. In fact, that’s a good way to kill your enjoyment of photography. And the clincher? It’s going to be very difficult to make a good income from it, despite all the work you’re putting into it. Photography doesn’t pay well, especially compared to other jobs or careers available to (college) educated people.

My advice: pursue something that pays well so you don’t have to kill yourself making a good income, and then do photography on the side to keep it a fun and special artistic activity you do to bring joy into your life.



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On Seeking Artistic Validation

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by mgm in Commentary, Writing

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art, validation

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Only seek validation of your personal artistic endeavors if it’s okay for you to get little or none. Otherwise, don’t seek it.

If validation comes along anyway, let it come. But don’t get drunk on its offerings. It may turn around and leave.

If validation never comes (during your lifetime), your artistic endeavors are none the worse. They were there for you and you gained energy from their presence. That is enough.

–MGM



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Art as Special Occasion

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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art, photography, special

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Most of my life, I’ve associated Art with special occasions (e.g., going to MOMA). Thinking about or creating it daily would be out of whack–i.e., making it less special.

–MGM



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Photography Primarily Communication

19 Thursday Jun 2014

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art, communication, goal, photography, purpose

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For some reason, I find it more satisfying to think of photography as a means for trying to communicate something versus as a way to ‘make art‘.

–MGM



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

About Hobbies..

02 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by mgm in Commentary, Writing

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hobbies

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If a hobby starts taking up most of your time, it is no longer a hobby. And unless you’re financially independent, it’d better starting paying for more than itself.



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Photography as a Journey with Willing Passengers

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by mgm in Commentary, Writing

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journey, photography

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For me, photography is primarily an *exploration*. And I keep wanting to believe others might like to accompany me on this (my) journey.

–mgm



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

The Factors that ‘Move’ Someone to Purchase a Photo

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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buying, photography, purchasing

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I was thinking about the various factors that cause someone to want to purchase a photo (either as a print or a digital image). As a producer of photos, I thought it might be useful to try to list the various factors.

So here is my list of the factors that ‘move’ someone to purchase a photo:

1) it’s of them or a loved one
2) it’s of a place or thing that is personally meaningful to them
3) it inspires or in some way makes them feel good
4) it nicely fits or would be a good addition to their decor
5) it’s a good investment (expected to appreciate in value)
6) it supports (financially/emotionally) the maker of the photo
7) it’s to be used in the design of a product or marketing collateral
8) it’s to be used in a portfolio (to sell one’s services or expertise related to the photographed subject)

That’s my list so far. If you’ve got anything to add, please make suggestions in the comment section below!



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

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MGM’s Twitter Feed

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Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

@cbouzy I'm moving my Twitter account over to Spoutible. Already started an account at spoutible.com/mgracemar 😀

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8:32 pm · April 7, 2023
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Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

I think I'm just going to move over to Spoutible because I like how they're doing things over there. Check it out and maybe follow me there at spoutible.com/mgracemar

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10:26 pm · April 6, 2023
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Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Saratoga Racetrack (Aug 2019) #streetphoto #streetphotography #colorphotography #eventphotography #candidphotography #saratogany #saratogaracetrack #photography pic.twitter.com/rNRYx2T23F

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6:20 pm · January 25, 2023
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Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Seat at the Table (2011) #portraitphotography #portrait #portraiture #female #woman #throwbackthursday #throwback #bnwportrait #bnw #bnwphoto #photography pic.twitter.com/CIMurIxGGb

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9:56 pm · January 17, 2023
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Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Grassroots Festival (July 2022) #street #streetphotography #photography #eventphotography #candidphotography #people #grassrootsfestival #trumansburg #streetshot #fashionstyle pic.twitter.com/xd2rsmO3bu

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9:55 pm · January 17, 2023
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