David Hockney is well-known for his use of photography and technology (iPad drawings) and has published a number of books. However, I have still generally thought of him, first and foremost, as a painter. Actually, I used to think of him this way until recently when I read a wonderful little book edited by Martin Gayford and published by Thames & Hudson. It is called simply: ‘The World According To David Hockney’.
The book contains numerous comments he has made over the years on life, art, inspiration, nature, technology and the man himself. It also includes a section under the heading ‘Hockney On Photography’.
Nevertheless, I did not, initially, see this as a book about photography – rather about a man whose work I have long admired. (‘A Bigger Splash’ must rank among the favourite original artworks that I would love to have hanging on my wall!) I was 50 pages into the book when I realised I was also reading a work remarkably relevant throughout to photographers. Perhaps interestingly, the quote that adjusted my viewpoint is not in the section on photography (which features approaching 100 pages later). Here is the comment:
‘We can’t all be seeing the same thing; we are all seeing something a bit different.’
Isn’t this fundamental to the ability of each photographer to create something new, even when capturing what is an inherently familiar scene?
I read the rest of the book as a Hockney fan AND a photographer and so many of his thoughts seem to have real relevance to those who capture images on camera.