Is photography about "sense"?

Is photography about "sense"?

No.

I don't believe it is the "sense" that is commonly talked about.

In fact, it makes me angry when people say things like, "You have such good sense!" or "You can make a career out of this because you have sense!"

I think this is because it assumes the equation "sense = innate talent," and I feel a nuance of it being "something you can do naturally without any effort."

I don't want to hide behind "sense" or "talent."
If I hide there, growth stops and it's the end.

So, what is "sense"?

This is just my own opinion, but I would like to try and break it down a little.

The true nature of sense

First, I would like to break down what is generally referred to as "sense."

This is a personal opinion based on my own impressions, but I think it has a strong nuance of "innate talent." Don't many people use it in this sense?

Someone who reaches the correct answer two or three steps faster than others
Someone who can create something that makes people say "Wow!" just by using their intuition
Someone who has sharp flashes of insight without any logic, etc.

If someone has good fashion sense, it's like someone who is stylish for some reason even though they never look at magazines. If someone has good interior design sense, it's like someone who is good at color combinations even though they haven't studied it in school.

People who can somehow easily create things with a good atmosphere tend to be thought of as having "good sense."

But is that really true?

Sense = Knowledge x Experience

I have written the answer, but I believe this equation holds true for sense.

“Sense = Knowledge x Experience”

Let's try reversing it.

“Knowledge x Experience = Sense”

Let's multiply knowledge and experience and replace them with words other than sense.

“Knowledge x Experience = The standard of 'beauty' that I possess”

In other words, I believe that “Sense = The standard of 'beauty' that I possess.”

That is what I think.

What do I feel is beautiful? You can also replace “beautiful” with “cool” or “cute.”

The reason we think something is beautiful is because there is something to compare it to. If there were only Masami Nagasawa and me in the world, I surely wouldn't think Masami Nagasawa is “beautiful!” Or rather, the very concept of beauty wouldn't even exist.

There is at least some object of comparison, which is why we feel something is beautiful.

The things I have seen, the events I have witnessed, the things I have experienced, and the things I have felt.
Because these things accumulate, a “standard” is born.

As knowledge, I know that such-and-such is beautiful.
As experience, I feel that such-and-such is beautiful.

When the multiplication of these is maximized, it becomes “You have good sense!!”

People with good sense accumulate things that seem unrelated at first glance as knowledge and experience within themselves. I think their thinking is broad at the moment they output that.

I feel that someone with good taste in clothes also having stylish interior design is connected somehow. Clothes and rooms are completely different elements, but there are overlapping parts. Everything is connected somewhere. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I think they are connecting them in their brains.

The reason they can do that is because they have a large accumulation of input.

If the answer to the multiplication of knowledge and experience resonates with many people, you become a “person with good sense,” and if it resonates with few people, you become “unique,” “original,” or “lacking in sense.”

Sense is by no means something you are born with.
As the phrase "refining your sense" suggests, sense is something acquired, and anyone can develop it.

Anyone can take photos with good sense if they put their mind to it.

To refine your sense

We have learned that sense is acquired, and anyone can become a "person with good sense."

However, to become a person with good sense, we also know that"you need to refine your sense".

So, how can you go about refining your sense?

I believe there are three stages to sense, from the first to the third.
This seems like it might be a long story, so please continue reading in this article...

As an aside...

This book is also very interesting: "The Philosophy of Sense."
It proceeds by defining "sense" as "rhythm."

To be honest, there are parts where you might think, "What is this author talking about?!" and feel confused, but if you push through and keep reading, it is a book where everything connects as if the foreshadowing is being resolved. Please give it a read.