Violin Forum/Message Board

Michael Darnton · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject:

What others believe doesn't affect me in this regard. I do what I do for my own reasons and gratification, and comes out of my own understanding, as it develops. As you might have seen in other contexts, players' understanding and appreciation of instruments varies quite a bit, as does that of other makers. I just try to constantly understand more, and understand it better, and don't worry too much about what others are thinking about the subject unless they seem to know something I'd want to learn.
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Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:06 am Post subject:

A morning addition: as some of you know, I'm back into photography again http://flickr.com/mdarnton, which has been an on-off thing for me since I was a kid. Consequently, I'm following a few photo boards. I see the same thing in the photo boards, with more introspection than on violin boards, and that's the gulf between technology and art.

Both violin making and photography have artists and gearheads, but the photo world at least has the discussion. In both, the gearheads far outnumber the artists, and the gearheads unsuccessfully affect the trappings of artistry (very few people seem to want to self-identify as a gearhead in something that's commonly been identified as an artistic pursuit), but more photographers are self-aware on that issue than violin makers. In both areas, however, this makes inter-species communication nearly impossible.
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new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

ctviolin · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:23 am Post subject:

ctviolin · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:34 am Post subject:

Michael Darnton · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:47 am Post subject:

Then there is the additional communication problem of discussions involving a mix of good gearheads and bad ones, good artists and bad artists, on sliding scales with people of little self-awareness of where they fit in all of that. Bob Bein had a nice rule regarding this: attact yourself to people who are the best, keep your mouth shut and listen. Of course many people can't recognize quality to make that selection of an appropriate mentor.

See, Craig, I think too much, too.
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new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

"...Both violin making and photography have artists and gearheads, but the photo world at least has the discussion. In both, the gearheads far outnumber the artists, and the gearheads unsuccessfully affect the trappings of artistry (very few people seem to want to self-identify as a gearhead in something that's commonly been identified as an artistic pursuit), but more photographers are self-aware on that issue than violin makers. In both areas, however, this makes inter-species communication nearly impossible."

Yes indeed. And in photography, the enormous strides achieved in digital imaging technology has dramatically diminished the difference in outcomes between the technically oriented "gearheads" and the enthusiast with only basic skills. So much so, that the gearheads, who were attracted to the medium especially because of the challenge of achieving technical mastery are losing interest in droves as technically good photographs are achievable by anyone. As one blogger put it, "...when everyone is special, no one is."

DSLR sales are down to the tune of 40 percent... but the photographers that never much obsessed about the tools have never had it better!

ctviolin · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:14 pm Post subject: