We think an age limit of thirty-five makes sense, since by then most of the artists have left the academy behind them and generated a visual language of their own, yet they are still young enough to develop further, to carve out a path for themselves in the photographical profession and remain influential for a significant time to come. Having said that, there is clearly a difference between ‘being talented’ and ‘being a talent’ . Talent is unrelated to age, but anyone with a talent will generally be young, with outstanding skills or abilities in com parison to others. — Talent issue #28
Talent is relative and always meas ured against the standards set by other people. The fact that many of the artists who sent in their work have not been chosen does not mean they don’t have talent (or are not talents), it simply means that in our judgment others are greater talents. As well as relative, the verdict is to a great degree subjective. Other people might reach a different ver dict, and no one should be surprised that heated discussions take place between the editors. — Talent issue #39
Remarkable Talent
Often the terms ‘talent’ and ‘promise’ are used nearly as synonyms. This corresponds to the metaphor of a diamond in the rough: the capacity, the potential is there, just as the confidence that this potential will reach maturity as long as the talent gets the right guidance. There is of course never any certainty that this will really happen, but a talent is in part determined by the confidence of those around him/her that it’s worth the effort to invest in that talent. — Talent issue #20
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