Back in the analogue days of yore pre-2000, I would usually get introduced to great photographers through... their work. That is, I'd first see this great photograph or body of work, then go about finding out who the hell made it. Yeah, even if your 'research' consisted of no more than aiming your line of sight at the caption directly underneath- you became impressed with the actual work, first.
Things function kinda different these days, one often sees the name first, through: vlogs, Instagram, FB, Twitter, whatever social media they happen to be on (usually all the aforementioned and more). The Bigger their star status, the more their name keeps popping up until finally one makes the effort to find out who the hell they are. On the way you're usually treated to: each and every social platform they're on, who their equally famous friends and associates are, what social platforms you can find them on, what products everyone has to sell, their current workshops, future happenings, and various likes, opinions and wish lists. Somewhere along that road of discovery you'll eventually come upon their actual work, and then realize why social networking dominates their name recognition, instead of their work doing the heavy lifting. And hey, good on them- they've mastered the formula, it's the hustlers who get to first base!
My YouTube logarithm popped up one of those names recently- Zack Arias. Again, have seen it a thousand times in photo related media, but what photographs instantly pop into mind... ninguno. But this time, for whatever goddang reason, I clicked on it and now I'll most definitely remember his name- instead of thinking he and... Chase Jarvis are one in the same (another of the predescribed names of fame of which I also know nada).
And what Mr. Zarias did was create a vlog post that went far beyond good photographic advice, far beyond the display of good or even great photography. What he did was give an honest, earnest accounting of his own racial epiphany- an epiphany which he readily admits occurred not because of some heartfelt interaction with a person of color, but because a White man finally broke it down for him and translated it into far more easily digestible bits and pieces. In other words, (and he says as much) his enlightenment occurred not because of the message, but because of the messenger. Had a Black person said it, it would have fallen into the usual background file of racial noise and platitudes.
It is heartening to see Mr. Zarias now embarking on a road to share his privilege with those less so... This is how White Privilege can function in a positive manner- by not only opening one's heart and mind, but by opening doors for those accustomed to having them shut in their face.
And here again is the man in question, of whom I posted back on my original (and now ravaged) blog- god love him, and do hope he's alive and well...
