My chat with Curtis yeilded a fascinating reflection. I posited the idea that Photography has had a particularly negative impact on culture and Curtis responded. His approach of separating the act and pursuit of photography as a pure art form and the manner in which is used echoed Stoic approaches to ethics. Namely that the ultimate aim of any pursuit should be it's core virtue - separate from any worldly or secondary interpretations... in this case that photography itself remains pure when practiced for the "correct" virtue of capturing and displaying images. The fact that it has become politicized and used in specific and negative ways is not a reflection of photography itself but of others. Of the people who misused it.
Stoicism has become a great rallying call for spiritual pursuits. Looking for an idealism that promotes a humble inward look can unlock and free people from the burden of worrying what anyone else thinks. But is it simply that; and idealism? We don't get into the philosophy itself... it's something that occurred to me after the fact.
But there's a line between "pure" processes and "actual" expressions that, in my opinion, gets blurrier each generation. I want to agree with Curtis - that if I can't practice photography separate from what I want others to think of me, of money, of fame... then I shouldn't photograph. It's too damaging.
This process is just starting. It'll be a goal of mine to return to this idea after more conversations and perspectives.
Thanks to Curtis for his time. Check out his great body of work at www.curtisdez.com and on instagram @curtisdez .