Some thoughts about exposure, originally uploaded by Thorsten Becker.
As a photographer I am constantly dealing with one very important element: light and more specifically exposure. Exposure refers to the amount of light reaching the film or sensor in the camera. An ideal exposure will ensure an evenly lit and well contrasted picture. The colors will appear crisp, the subject(s) well established. Exposure is controlled by the sensitivity of the film/sensor (defined as ISO), the shutter speed and the aperture. But this isn't going to be a lesson in photography but rather is leading over to some thoughts I've recently had about exposure in general and on the Internet specifically.
It's interesting to note that aside from photography the term 'exposure' has a rather negative connotation. Merriam-Webster defines it as:
1: the fact or condition of being exposed: as a: the condition of being presented to view or made known {a politician seeks a lot of exposure} b: the condition of being unprotected especially from severe weather {died of exposure} c: the condition of being subject to some effect or influence {risk exposure to the flu} d: the condition of being at risk of financial loss {minimizes your exposure to market fluctuations} ; also : an amount at risk
Coming back to photography exposing my equipment to harsh weather conditions means risking damage. I need to protect it. Beyond that exposing myself to harmful radiation would have detrimental health effects; I'd need to protect myself. But of course exposure to the elements can and shouldn't be totally avoided. Rain and wind can make for some very interesting pictures. And certainly sunshine enjoyed responsibly will have positive effects. But it all comes down to the right amount, just like in photography. Too much exposure will lead to washed out images lacking detail. Sometimes just specific areas of an image are overexposed which is referred to as “blown-out highlight”. In nature photography, especially shooting against the sun, you can end up with a completely white sky - a burnt-out sky. A great shot can be totally ruined by bad exposure.
In order to make progress we need exposure, we need to expose ourselves and our work to others if we desire to grow. This applies specifically to artists and creative types. The Internet is a great place to gain exposure and present one's work but it should only be one part of a multi-faceted exposure strategy. It is easy to spend a great amount of time online to the point of getting distracted from the original intention of using it as a promotional tool. I've seen quite a few people over the years completely abandoning their projects, giving up on their ideas and disappearing to be never heard of again. The reason? Despite the hundreds of offerings these days for independent artists of all sorts many of these sites don't actually draw a lot of customers. Artists often end up selling to each other – like kids running a lemonade stand selling to each other, passing the same buck. As a result a lot of time is invested in getting feedback and reviews and recommendations. In order to increase exposure a desperate obsession to join as many groups and sites as possible can take hold. This in turn can quickly lead to harmful exposure to negative and discouraging influences and from there to overexposure/burn-out. The initial excitement evaporates and a creative dry spell can set in further hampering progress or, due to influence, the creative output can become dull and lifeless, lacking detail and personality. Balance is needed so that your creative endeavors receive the right amount of attention form the right mix of sources.
If you find that you are spending increasingly more time online than working on actual projects you are overexposing yourself to the Internet. Try to refocus your strategy and energy so that you can achieve your own ideal exposure across different venues so that your work will appear in the right light highlighting it's true beauty.
One additional thought: Limiting your exposure online will also prevent you from incessantly comparing your work to that of others which can potentially lead to a diminished view of your own artistic skills and abilities. With all due learning and balanced comparison your work needs to be seen in conjunction with you and you alone. It is what makes it your work.
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