Some Random Rambling and Photos by Wouter Willemse
It’s near impossible these days to read any technology related site without getting swamped in stories on ChatGPT. Or tech-oriented forums, comment sections and so on. As users are exploring the abilities of this technology, more and more use cases emerge.
So today, on a Dutch technology site, somebody wondered whether it signaled the end for the ‘graphics industry’ – mostly meant as graphics designers.
It’s been more than a bit silent on this site. All my fault. Busy with other stuff, short holiday, a backlog on photos to cull, edit and process. Actually, I’m trying to go through that backlog first a bit, to be able to add to the album on this site, and to have some visuals to liven up postings here.
So with all that… real updates will have to wait for the next year.
Have a great start to 2023, and hopefully it’ll bring a year that improves on everything that 2022 ended up being.
Last week via a posting on their instagram channel, Magnum Photos shared a series of photos made by Martin Parr. They came from his work on tourism. That post came very timely for me. I’m just back from a holiday, and witnessed the tourist in full action again. After the long period of travel bans, work from home and so on, seeing this animal again in the wild was nice.
Rereading previous posts, this blog seems a bit too vitriolic, angry at the world and putting itself (a.k.a. myself) in a moral superior position of sorts. Which is all wrong and pretty undesired.
Why all this anger, and what can anyone take from it? Is it all just me blowing off steam, or could there be a bit more to it?
Most of the recent posts are about making photos. The craft of creating a compelling image is a fascinating subject, as it touches both a technical side, pure craft, and a creative, imaginative side, which tends more towards the black arts of art.
There is also the side of being a viewer. Watch a photo, look at it carefully. Let your imagination, rational thoughts run with it. Find a superficiality or depth. Try to understand its maker and the message (if any).
Today, May 4th, in the Netherlands, it is memorial day; a moment to remember in silence the high price paid for the freedom we enjoy today. Tomorrow, on Liberation Day, we celebrate this freedom. And we’re really lucky to live in one of the most free countries in the world.