WHY DEVELOPING VISION AND STYLE?

As the commissioning editor, responsible for devising DV&S, I wanted to create a book that prompted a debate, which got photographers thinking and talking about critical aspects of their work – something which would help us all explore and further develop our ideas.

The fun thing about being a commissioning editor is one gets to play with ideas. However, in my parallel role as editor, I have to face the consequences. In this case, I rather wish I had chosen a simpler, less challenging topic for discussion. My concern (soon to be giving way to sleepless nights as deadlines loom!?) is that the subject is quite challenging (too alienating?) to inspire people more used to expressing themselves through images. I hope I am mistaken, that people will take up the challenge and put pen to paper, to answer some of the questions in HOW TO ENTER DV&S (posted 16 February 2007). Otherwise 160 pages is a lot to fill…

The commissioning editor (and photographer) in me clearly felt the world of landscape photography needed a challenge, a jolt – its cage rattled. Looking around at the (same?) kind of landscape pictures that are being produced (especially my own) I really do believe that we need a DV&S type-book to help us get to the root of what we are doing, that explores how we see (vision?) and the way in which we depict that vision (style?), before we are ready to explore what to do with it, such as why landscape?' (Incidentally, I"m thinking about 'WHY LANDSCAPE?' as a title for the third book in the series.)

Now, if you're still unsure about taking part, and you'd rather wait till DV&S comes out, to simply 'listen' to the debate, that's absolutely fine (although, personally, I believe the best books are conversations of one sort or another, in which authors and readers take part). But, spare a thought for the authors. Even successful and highly respected photographers like Charlie, Joe and David, who one would think are 100% clear about their vision and assured about their style, have concerns just the same as the rest of us. They feel equally challenged by DV&S, both as authors and as photographers, but experience has repeatedly shown them the benefits of rising to a challenge and engaging in debate. They know their photography will see the benefits of taking part. So, too, does the commissioning editor, now that I have persuaded him to take part! I hope you'll be inspired as well, and join in the lively conversation that is DV&S.