Honestly, when I deleted those accounts a year ago it was like a breath of fresh air. That short break from FB helped too. LFI is fine, no likes, no comments even…just post a shot if you feel like it. Anyway, we can concentrate on photography and things slow down to a normal pace, how things should be. Print swapping is a great idea btw.

I like what Sebastian Jacobitz stated. That’s definitely the case on FB. Quantity over quality. You need to feed the beast. I don’t know how people can share so much. When I share something on FB, Insta and even WSP, I think about what photograph I should post. It’s like an editing. I’m not sharing for the sake of sharing. That’s why I’m not vey prolific, but believe me, I shoot a lot and there’s a lot of things I don’t share except on my Blog. That’s what is lacking on FB. People don’t edit anymore their work. You have to feed the beast to get exposure. No matter if what you’re sharing is any good or not.
We can’t slow down people, but I can slow down myself to do things differently. That’s what I’m doing now.
Being away from SM and all this turmoil is very refreshing. I’m also speaking of my photography. It’s like a reset in my mind. I’m no more looking at others pictures. It might seem meaningless but trust me, you look at the street differently with a fresh mind. Well it’s my case. Like a newborn.

This might seem a rant against Social Media from me. It’s true that I kind of lost myself on 500px and Facebook. Somehow, things are different on Instagram, because it’s very impersonal. You just post and that’s all. No interaction. Yours photos speak for you. But I’m thankful to FB for allowing me to keep in touch with some Photographers I really appreciate the work. My work is slowly evolving as I stopped chasing the photographs. Staying away from SM also help me slow things down. Today, it’s been more than a week since I’ve been in Aix for a street session. As I said, too busy… I would be like a drug addict asking for his fix a few weeks ago. But now, I just wait for the next opportunity. No need to rush things. There is no more this urge to go shooting to get some keepers.
I need to print some of my work and get back to this print swapping thing ! 😉 I’ll think of it in 2018. I have a bunch of good intentions for next year !

Wise words and some very interesting quotes indeed Vasco. Particularly from Sebastian Jacobitz and Nick Turpin…food for thought.

Warmest Regards. John

PS: Some very interesting quotes:

Social Media might be one part of why I feel that we are going the full circle week after week. Algorithms force photographers to upload new pictures or posts, almost daily to stay relevant. It isn’t enough to post one outstanding image a month to fulfill the thirst for new content. Clearly, quantity is superior to quality to be successful on those social media platforms. But that shouldn’t mean that we are allowed to deteriorate into mediocrity just to feed the beast. When it comes to photography, quality should always come first.
– Sebastian Jacobitz

“99% of street photography, if not more, is about failure”
– Alex Webb

I was having a dinner with Cartier-Bresson and W. Eugene Smith. They were having a conversation and Bresson said, ‘How many great pictures do you think you take a year?’ And Eugene Smith, trying to sound modest, said ‘About 15.’ And Bresson said, ‘You always exaggerate.’
– David Hurn

“It’s not a good photograph without good composition” – Joseph Koudelka

“Speed is not always a constituent to great work, the process of creation should be given time and thought.” ― E.A. Bucchianeri

Photographers have become a huge target market to be milked.
Does anyone know a photographer who isn’t award winning these days? Its like being published or exhibited or awarded or liked or followed means virtually nothing anymore.
– Nick Turpin

Speak soon. John