A photograph is

A photograph is a collection of 1’s and 0’s on a hard drive somewhere.
A photograph is a memory of something that has happened and will never happen again.
A photograph is the result of some person pressing a button.
A photograph is the only realistic expression of life.
A photograph is a lie.
A photograph is the ultimate truth.
A photograph is a vision that a person had and decided to share.
A photograph is a look into the mind of another person.
A photograph is just another way of recording an event.
A photograph is truth only to its creator.
A photograph is the evolution of art.
A photograph is a waste of time.
A photograph is …

Where is the value in photography? Why do we continue to shoot photos? What makes a photo “bad?” What makes a photo “good” or “valuable?” Is it having a photo free of technical flaws? Is it following every rule of composition? Is it perfect lighting? Is it shooting photos of something that’s really important? Is it creating strong emotions and provoking deep thought about the universe? Is it being able to see every person’s face clearly in the group shot? Is it breaking all the rules but still coming out with a photo that somebody likes?

I can go on forever shooting photos. When have I actually accomplished something? Is it all for nothing, or is there some bit of value somewhere? What about when I capture an epic landscape that inspires millions of people to conserve that environment, or I shoot a photo of a man with his family that turns out to be the last photo of that man before he dies? Do I succeed every time I make a photograph that makes someone smile, or am I constantly trying to achieve the perfection I know I’ll never reach?

Last People

I’ve been working on a new project lately. Probably the biggest single photography project I’ve attempted, ever. The crazy thing is, it’s an idea that’s run through my head that I’ve been actively working on without running on to the next idea that comes along, for a month now! In my book, that’s a really long time to stick with a single idea. It may be working so well because it’s such a cool idea.

The concept is the story of the last people on earth after a global apocalypse. I’ll tell the story of the last surviving humans through a series of photos. Now, that’s about the only part of this project that hasn’t changed to some degree since I originally thought of this project. Ask me on any two separate days to describe this project to you, and you’ll get two different answers.

The photos will focus mainly on the people. I want to show their emotions, their thoughts, their memories, what is and was important to them. I want to tell the story of each individual character, and somehow tie it all together in a bigger overarching story of the apocalypse and the last bits of humanity. Maybe this project will connect with somebody, maybe we’ll stop and think a bit about our own mortality. Or maybe it’ll be something to point and laugh at, I have no idea. But it’s underway. Eta is a while. Don’t expect a lot of previews. But it’ll get done, and it’ll be interesting.