on landscape The online magazine for landscape photographers

Killing the Buddha

Expressing Yourself

Guy Tal

Professional photographic artist, author and speaker working primarily in the Western US.

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There is nothing so wrong as accepting a thing merely because men who have done things say it should be so. ~Alfred Stieglitz

Among the perils of the Internet age is that it has become harder than ever to trust the veracity of, and motivations behind, information and advice offered online. Where in the not-too-distant past those offering public advice, information or opinion, had to prove their qualifications to do so and were held to certain ethical standards before given a public platform, today much information is offered by so-called influencers, for which the only required qualification is the ability to gather a following. Certainly, some excellent and conscientious influencers are out there, offering sage advice, thoughtful contemplations and useful information; however given the great diversity of sources, motivations and opinions, it is incumbent upon consumers of such information to exercise prudence and scrutiny, rather than accept anything as given by virtue of an author’s popularity.

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consider whether your time, indeed your life may be better-spent seeking ways of making yourself into a better version of you, rather than a lesser version of someone else, no matter how successful or admirable.
Among the least useful bits of advice popular among photography pundits are those attempting to harness the reputation of now-deceased masters, postulating such things as what their choice of equipment or methods might be regarding products and technologies that did not even exist in their day.



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