“Everybody’s a photographer” – H.H. Bennett,1902

I had the pleasure to visit the H.H. Bennett Studio in Wisconsin Dells recently. H.H. Bennett was one of the pioneering landscape photographers from the 19th century who helped elevate photography into a true art form. His camera equipment and darkroom were mostly handmade and he captured amazing images of the Wisconsin Dells. This plaque in part of the wonderful museum exhibit of his work, darkroom and studio that is still on main street in Wisconsin Dells where it has been for over a century.

The excerpt shown in the above photograph is from a letter he wrote in 1902 that really hit home for me and I’m sure will with any other professional photographer these days. History truly repeats itself.

It’s ironic that a professional photographer almost 110 years ago was lamenting the pressures from the newest technology of the day -The Kodak Brownie camera. Today of course it’s the digital camera. A phrase often exchanged in emails today between professional photographers is, “Everybody’s a photographer” and that same thought was being written in letters by the professionals of the early 20th century.

In a way it’s reassuring to me to read Bennett’s letter, photography as an art form survived the Kodak Brownie, so there is hope. The Bownie was a temporary setback for H.H. Bennett but his work is still being celebrated today over 100 years after his passing. I believe there will always be people out there who recognize the difference between an amateur’s photographs and professional’s body of work who has dedicated their lifetime to perfecting their craft.

Nobody would walk up to Eric Clapton and say, “Wow, what kind of guitar is that?” but the question “What kind of camera do you shoot with?” is asked of a photographer every day. It does get frustrating. There is something about the world of photography that leads people to believe it’s just an expensive camera that magically produces wonderful photographs. Maybe the photo magazines and the camera companies want you to believe that so you will run out and spend more money on camera gear? But I could go out and buy the same guitar that Eric Clapton owns and the noise I would make with it would not be music.

I had a conversation with an insightful gentleman who came into my booth at a recent art show that really raised my spirits after a long day of slow sales. He recited a great quote in reference to this obsession people have with cameras. “Two painters can converse for hours about art and never mention what kind of brushes they use.” He is certainly someone who understands that photography is not about the camera. He obviously is one of the people who sees the difference between an amateur’s photographs and a professional’s. So there is hope!

To learn more about the H.H. Bennett Studio  be sure to visit their web site or the Wikipedia page on Bennett

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