The Spark
At the last Phototalk305 session hosted at Yo Space, I presented a handful of images from a recent shoot I had done with a female model. I was asked a question that by the group organizer, that I’ve thought to myself before: how does the “male gaze” show up in photography today, and how do we address it?
I didn’t have a planned response, but since it’s something I’ve thought about myself, I was able to address it well enough and it sparked a dialog among the attendees beyond me. It reminded me that conversation itself is an art form. When done right, it reveals new corners of thought you didn’t know existed.
That one impromptu question set something in motion. I’ve started outlining a new series of panel discussions; spaces to explore complex topics like this with nuance and openness. Starting, fittingly, with that first one: Reframing the Gaze.
The creative world thrives on dialogue, not dogma. These conversations aren’t about being right, they’re about being curious. And curiosity, I’m realizing, might be the most radical form of respect we have left.