Fingest churchyard on Flickr. I’m not a remotely religious person, but I do find village churches, especially the older ones pretty fascinating places. Parts of this church in Fingest have been around since the 11th Century, and has for most of that time played a central role in the lives of local people. As the UK becomes more secular and less of a Christian state their influence and role in bringing people together is diminishing.  Whilst not supporting religion, the loss of this focal point along with other factors has had an adverse effect on what many might call ‘community spirit’ within these villages.
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Fingest churchyard on Flickr.

I’m not a remotely religious person, but I do find village churches, especially the older ones pretty fascinating places. Parts of this church in Fingest have been around since the 11th Century, and has for most of that time played a central role in the lives of local people. As the UK becomes more secular and less of a Christian state their influence and role in bringing people together is diminishing.  Whilst not supporting religion, the loss of this focal point along with other factors has had an adverse effect on what many might call ‘community spirit’ within these villages.

Holly berries on Flickr. Another from last autumn. Earlier this year I had some photos selected for the Getty Images Flickr Collection, and this image was one of them. It was a lovely little ego boost, but with only 9 images selected I knew I’d be very lucky to make a sale. The best chance of adding more images and hence improving my odds was also taken away when the usual method for submitting images for consideration was closed shortly after. No other photos have been selected by other methods since. Of course one look at the Flickr Collection on Getty tells me I don’t really shoot stock-style images. Getty Images Wants (https://twitter.com/GettyImagesWant) just confirms this further. So I guess this summer I had a choice (and the chance) to try and shoot more stock-worthy photos. Instead I went out and did the exact opposite. Black and white, not particularly stylised, few people, etc. All the things one look at the Flickr collection tells you they don’t want. But I had a great time and I love this summer’s photos more than any others I have taken. So I guess I came to the conclusion (albeit sub-consciously) that I am far happier taking the kind of photos I enjoy, than chasing a few (and it would have been a few) bucks trying to shoot what other people want. One look at the private Getty groups on Flickr and it’s easy to see the irrational panic and paranoia that exists within their members as they chase ‘picks’ (photos selected to the collection). It’s all a bit desperate as egos are inflated and deflated by every decision Getty makes. I wonder whether the joy of photography has died within many of their members, at least until they get the ‘cheque through the post’.
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Holly berries on Flickr.

Another from last autumn.

Earlier this year I had some photos selected for the Getty Images Flickr Collection, and this image was one of them. It was a lovely little ego boost, but with only 9 images selected I knew I’d be very lucky to make a sale. The best chance of adding more images and hence improving my odds was also taken away when the usual method for submitting images for consideration was closed shortly after. No other photos have been selected by other methods since.

Of course one look at the Flickr Collection on Getty tells me I don’t really shoot stock-style images. Getty Images Wants (https://twitter.com/GettyImagesWant) just confirms this further. So I guess this summer I had a choice (and the chance) to try and shoot more stock-worthy photos. Instead I went out and did the exact opposite. Black and white, not particularly stylised, few people, etc. All the things one look at the Flickr collection tells you they don’t want. But I had a great time and I love this summer’s photos more than any others I have taken.

So I guess I came to the conclusion (albeit sub-consciously) that I am far happier taking the kind of photos I enjoy, than chasing a few (and it would have been a few) bucks trying to shoot what other people want. One look at the private Getty groups on Flickr and it’s easy to see the irrational panic and paranoia that exists within their members as they chase ‘picks’ (photos selected to the collection). It’s all a bit desperate as egos are inflated and deflated by every decision Getty makes. I wonder whether the joy of photography has died within many of their members, at least until they get the ‘cheque through the post’.