Comics Question about Peter the Photographer.

[Trevor Goodchild]

I began to wonder recently, if any writer has ever explored Peter's understanding of photography? Surely he has some well developed skill, if his photos are published in a newspaper.
Granted it gives little advantage in superheroics. I don't imagine him using it to defeat a villain, unlike science. But perhaps it could be used in a contemplatory like manner, for Peter to make analogies between his situations in life and photography.
Awkward that in the comicbook medium writers would use his scientist aspect to advance the story so often, yet completely neglect his artistic mind.

 

[Blader5489]

In BND, Peter has been twice rejected because his photography lacks any kind of merit, proving that the only reason JJJ published Peter's photos for so many years was because they were the only pictures of Spider-Man.

 

[Themanofbat]

Yeah... I don't think Peter has ever developped any sense of photography skills beyond where to place a camera that will snap good Spidey battle pictures every few seconds.

 

[Brand]

I had to laugh when I saw BND depicting Peter as having no photography skills. While I agree that there's no way a stationary camera can come up with quality pictures during those fights, Peter has done more than take pictures of Spider-Man. Also, enough of his Spidey photos were of a high enough quality to merit the publication of a book ("Webs"). I think Marvel is trying a bit TOO hard to make him come across as a loser.

 

[wolvie2020]

I had to laugh when I saw BND depicting Peter as having no photography skills. While I agree that there's no way a stationary camera can come up with quality pictures during those fights, Peter has done more than take pictures of Spider-Man. Also, enough of his Spidey photos were of a high enough quality to merit the publication of a book ("Webs"). I think Marvel is trying a bit TOO hard to make him come across as a loser.

Agreed. A few writers have touched upon this aspect of Peter, but I feel like it's a plot point that's always been wasted. There was that pretty neat mini Negative Exposure with Doc Ock that delved into it a bit... That was pretty cool.

The photography represents the creative side to Peter, and I really like it. It is a skill after all, and you need to learn quite a bit to get into it

 

[Tony Ingram]

Peter has never really been shown to have any interest in photography, though, and there's never been any indication he would practise it if not for his sideline of photographing himself in action. I doubt that he actually regards himself as a photographer.

 

[Trevor Goodchild]

Thank you for you input everybody.
I guess this is a topic worthy of being delved into after all.
Brand and wolvie made great points.

Peter has never really been shown to have any interest in photography, though, and there's never been any indication he would practise it if not for his sideline of photographing himself in action. I doubt that he actually regards himself as a photographer.

That’s exactly the problem. And there will be no mention until a writer steps in with a good enough idea to include that one aspect in a story. Comics don’t exactly write themselves you know.
And JMS did give Peter a line in one of his arcs. I believe it was right after the time he applied for teacher in his old school and was something along the lines that, if it wouldn’t have been for that school, he wouldn’t have learned anything about science and photography.

 

[shogunrua]

wasn't there said in the first Sentry series that a picture Peter took of the Sentry did get him a Pullizer price ?

 

[Trevor Goodchild]

^Amusing that after such logical and likely possibilities Peter would still be grounded by his no-money-loser status in his core titles.

 

[SPIDER-ADDA]

You'd think that Peter would get more recognition as a photographer. Considering the insane angles he is able to capture on film. Over the years both Jonah and Robbie have been amazed by the hights and positions in which his shots where taken.

 

[Tony Ingram]

Great angles don't help if the picture is out of focus. I've never understood how he's able to get any pictures at all by just leaving the camera on a ledge snapping away to itself.He must have wasted a lot of film over the years.

 

[November Rain]

After all his time with a camera, I would actually like to see him further his studies in photography.

Or perhaps bring in a character that is actually BETTER at taking shots of spidey than peter parker is to bring in conflict for cash.

 

[Tony Ingram]

After all his time with a camera, I would actually like to see him further his studies in photography.

Or perhaps bring in a character that is actually BETTER at taking shots of spidey than peter parker is to bring in conflict for cash.

They did that twenty five years ago, with the late, unlamented Lance Bannon. As i recall, Pete couldn't compete with him at all!

 

[Trevor Goodchild]

Great angles don't help if the picture is out of focus. I've never understood how he's able to get any pictures at all by just leaving the camera on a ledge snapping away to itself.He must have wasted a lot of film over the years.

Err...suspension of disbelief?
And hey, you constantly see the paparacy people snapping at celebrities shot after shot after shot every damn second. You don't imagine they use every single one. It's kind of the point of it - you choose the best ones and I guess Peter did the same.
Besides that, fact still remains, he knows how to use a camera and actually was paid money for his pictures over the years, so that pretty much guarantees Peter is a professional photographer.

 

[LobokDaikon]

Nowadays it wouldn't make much of a difference, but before digital cameras got big, Peter must have had more than a passing interest in photography (although this would have tied into his interest in chemistry) because he was constantly developing them.

 

[November Rain]

didn't ben reilly take a photography course with uncle ben's killer's daughter?


her name escapes me

 

[wolvie2020]

Nowadays it wouldn't make much of a difference, but before digital cameras got big, Peter must have had more than a passing interest in photography (although this would have tied into his interest in chemistry) because he was constantly developing them.

There you go.

At the end of the day, this is a great plot point that has been wasted time and time again. And the continuity has been inconsistent too. At times he's been told he's terrible, yet he's had books published, one an award, and sells to one of the biggest papers in NY. A couple of writers have delve into it a little though...

Even in Spidey 2 they showed his creative side of his photography and how he cares, only to be shot down by JJ.

You know, as sad as it is to say, I think this stems as for back as the Stan days as to let it go to waste. It's also laziness, all writers have to do is research into photography, and then it turn into new plotlines!

the brilliant Brian Vaughan managed to do it. And not too bad, might I say. Not great, but fun

 

[wolvie2020]

wasn't there said in the first Sentry series that a picture Peter took of the Sentry did get him a Pullizer price ?

Yep. That's true. see what I mean?

 

[Trevor Goodchild]

Brian 'Runaways' Vaughan wrote Negative Exposure!?
I got to get this now!

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

speaking as a photographer myself. if it was the real world and everything existed, peter parker would be world famous for some of the shots he has managed to pull off.

 

[storyteller]

In the real world, his identity as spiderman would have been found out. Also in the real world, because petes not a staffer, he should able able to make thousands upon thousands off of spiderman. Since he probably takes many photos, Sales a set to the bugle and another set to a rival company.