Fame

Posted a photo that looked banal. Someone said, “I don’t like this simply because I think anyone with PS could have made it.” Others defended it.

You folks are kind, but the true test of something like this would be to post it (or publish it) under the name of the guy next door and see how it flies (or flops) when nobody knows who made it and is therefore unlikely to dig for hidden gold. I don’t care for Agatha Christie’s stories, but was always impressed that at one point she submitted some new books to publishers under another name, and got them published.

It’s an article of faith with me that many (most) photos by world-famous names are not in fact very good and would never reach the public’s eye if they were copyrighted by you or me. But because of the famous name we look for subtle qualities which we then inevitably find. After all, Gene Smith is to me what I am to my cat; if he thought photo X was worth publishing and I don’t get it, the fault must be mine.