Aspects of amateur photography on examples from family collection and problems of depicting non-european cultures by amateur photographers.

Abstract

One of the main objective of my research devoted to amateur photography, was to find a proves for the idea, that amateur photographers are not exactly interested in the outcome of their activity. Analysis of different amateurs’ approaches towards photography revealed, that for most of non professionals, activity of taking pictures itself, is more important than image which they produce with camera. Still, aesthetic value of their snapshots, is not as important for them as emotional at-tachment. Amateurs use their cameras differently from professionals, very often it serves as a prop, which helps to establish the certain image of amateur photographer. Very often, camera is used to underline the importance of certain events like family gatherings. Camera often gives its owner possibility to auto presentation. It indicates, that person is interested in the surrounding reality and is his looking is active. Observation of different amateurs attitudes, helps to establish valid cultural and social norms. In fact, amateur snapshots do not reveal how ob-jects looked like, but rather how people were looking at them and what was more important. Paradoxically, features which make one photograph amateurish, at the same time contribute to its informative value. If we decide to examine photography using Terence Wright’s method of looking through the image, amateur photograph, then amateur pictures turn out to be more faithful. Lack of professional knowledge and training and also lack of interest in aesthetic side of photography makes amateur photography more sincere. Non professionals do not try to manipulate reality, hence more objective informations are included in their snapshots, they provide informations how people were dressing or spending their free time. The analysis of my grandfather’s snapshots which depict reality of Zaire in 60’s allows to establish the social norms valid at a time and also to examine the relations between natives and european ex-pats. Despite the independence of Zaire, photographs reveal that old rules from colonial past seemed to be still valid. Still, analysis should be cautious, because amateur photography is strongly influenced by stereotypes. Long after colonial times, way of depicting non european culture remains the same. Thus in this case, amateur photography is difficult in analysis, but at the same time it re-flects the existing norms. Because my research was focused on analogue photography, it allowed me to write about the in-formations which derived from observation of the private archive. Most of my observations couldn’t be applied to the digital photography, as far as they are not real, material objects. During my research, I observed, that non professionals reveal a lot of informations when it comes to the organising taken photographs. By putting description on reverses or distinguishing one photograph from another, amateur leaves an information about his personal attitude. Thus I came with a conclu-sion conclusion, that analysis of amateur photographs, reveals informations about the society, but also about the individuals.