Central Park, NYC
I’ve been in Michigan this week visiting friends and family before I head to Montana for the summer. It’s been a busy week, but very rewarding as I’ve reconnected with the very people that have supported my efforts throughout the years. Many years ago my path was much different than it is today. I knew I loved photography, I knew I had some ability, but I really didn’t know where I wanted to go with it. I know this story is nothing new. Many of you are or have been exactly where I was years ago. Wandering, searching, looking for guidance. I wish I could say I found my way and the searching is over, but the truth is it seems to be a moving target. My personal and professional growth have seemed to be completely intertwined with my need to understand who I am as an artist/photographer. It’s a vicious cycle, riddled with moments of doubt as you question your style, technique, or commitment. The reality is: it’s a process. My work today is much different than it was a year ago, and I suspect a year from now it will have morphed again. What I do know is paralysis of analysis never helps one move forward. I’ve always had a strong bias toward action, even if it means failure, and trust me I’ve failed miserably more than a few times. I was recently listening to a Chase Jarvis’s interview with Zack Arias, and Chase said something to the effect that he considers himself to be an expert at failing. The fact is, Chase is an expert at taking action and risking failure. So, if you’ve been contemplating what sort of photographer you are or what type of blog you would start or what photographs you would take—-well, quit thinking and just do something. Simply put—our willingness to fail breeds our opportunity for success.
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so honest & open & exactly what i needed right now … thanks for sharing & saying the things i needed to here.
It seems like it should be common sense or that we realize we go through this every so often, yet each time we go through it we sit there and analyze again. Maybe we should just post this to ourselves every few months/or each year as a reminder to move on, you’ve been here before, this is what you did and this is what you need to do!
Very well put!! Thanks for sharing and as Laura said above – something she (and many of us) need to hear!
I am taking action this weekend. I have an volunteer assignment, my first, and I going through that fear that I won’t be good enough, that I won’t come through. But you know what, like you said you’ve just gotta get out there and do it otherwise you’ll remain paralyzed. I’m hoping that in the process somewhere out there I’ll find out what kind of photographer I am. Thanks for a timely (for me) and inspiring post.
Thanks John and yes that is where i am today, when i first started it was like everyday out shooting, and now its like i doubt what i shoot.(oh it wont work why bother) But I know I will get out of it just when is the answer I dont know yet.
I think it is that i need one good shot to pull me out.
Thanks Again awesome topic
Question for you for tomorrow then. ‘How do you pull yourself out of a artist block’.
Wow, you’re echoing much of the same thoughts, fears, excited anticipations and doubts that I am having right now and wondering if I’d ever find that spot to settle down in as an artist/photographer. Thanks!
Hi, understand the feeling,struggled and still struggling with trying to define who I am as a photography just like many of you. Joined Camera Clubs, learnt to be a judge in the Camera Club scene, looked at stuff on the net then went out and tried it all, become disillusioned with the competitive nature and the rules of the clubs where every ones a critic. Started to take photographs to win and gain awards, was OK but then become more disillusioned.
Then one day asked myself the simple question, “who am i doing it for? and come up with a simple answer, I do it for me. Since that time if I like my image, no matter how different it looks that is all that matters. But to be honest, I did have two different audiences, being a father and a grandfather I do take photos of my family, in these I try to capture the true moment and the essence of the subjects. I just do not care if I break all the so called rules.
“But it’s all right now,
I learned my lesson well.
See you can’t please everyone
so you got to please yourself”
Ricky Nelson
Ron
Ron
This post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I feel I am at a crossroads of how far I want to go with this craft. Because of your comments about Chase Jarvis in previous posts, I have been following his work on FB. I watched the interview you mentioned here with Jarvis and Zack Arias and I was glued to my computer for the weekend when Arias did a live feed about lighting. He took away so much of the mystery of studio lighting that I am considering setting up an area in my home to try some portrait photography.
Anyway, that is the crossroad I am considering. The question for me is, pursue adding another avenue (I mostly shoot landscapes now) or be satisfied with where I am? But I can’t think of any other pursuit that inspires me like photography! So thank you for this post! It seems there are a lot of us who need the encouragement!
Lori,
I didn’t get to watch all of Zack’s live lighting feed but what I saw was very cool.