"Cliché is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning, or effect, and even, to the point of being trite or irritating, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel."
As soon as Edward Weston first photographed the Oceano Dunes the inevitable journey towards the labeling of any black and white photographs of sand dunes cliché began. I am guilty and I am aware of that. Being born after someone that did something very well that I happen to enjoy has always been a pet peeve of mine. I hate showing up to the party late. Oh well, I guess his son Brett would have had a more difficult time seeing as he had to grow up as a photographer in the shadow of that legendary father. I figure that as long as you continue to ask questions about why you are drawn to certain subjects and why you are photographing them the way that you are (even if comparisons can be made to legends) then that is the only way that you will be able to get to a point where you can stand on your own or even better, on the shoulders of giants. You can't run away from photographing what you are instinctively drawn towards without suffering from an identity crisis. In the words of Joseph Campbell, "Follow your bliss." If the path to your vision has to borrow steps from those that have come before then so be it. You could be in worse company. Just don't stop in those footsteps and forget to finish your journey.
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