A thousand words

Photos may never lie, but they never tell the whole truth either. They contain as much information as a one minute trailer does of a full-length feature. This is why it is taking me so long to finish off the restoration of the plaster figures. All I have are a few small museum photos which will not blow up clearly due to an acute shortage of pixels.

Anyway, these days photos do lie. No self-respecting young girl with self-esteem issues would put up a selfie without first running it through enhancing software to change her complexion, weight and bra size. Boys carry knives because other boys carry knives. Girls put on electronic make-up because other girls put on electronic make-up. iLiner.

In my experience there is almost always something wrong with professional photographers. They usually have some sort of barely concealed social problem which makes the most comfortable place for them to be behind a lens.

Amateur photographers are usually obsessed with being viewed by others as professional artists. The obsession can lead to huge expense on equipment, even - or especially - in this digital age. A good photographer is a good observer. A great one is just lucky.

Remember when someone said - in the 19th century - that photography would be the death of painting? No, neither do I.