Lines in the snow……
I’ve seen this done a lot better, but it is still a thrill to see the light cast these shadows in my own yard!
Better? What does that mean? I look at the work of lots of other photographers and I often say, “man I wish I’d shot that!!” Just the other day I was looking at Rick Sammon’s work, “Wish I had shot that!” Then some of Ian Plant’s wonderful landscapes, “Sure wish I had seen and shot that!” Jack Graham and Guy Tal, you bet, same response. So what’s the point?
I can tell you what the point isn’t, outshooting any of these folks! The world doesn’t need another Guy Tal, or Jack Graham, Ian Plant or Rick Sammon, there is already one of each! When I was younger I wanted to be John Shaw, or at least as good as John Shaw, but what’s the point? It finally dawned on me that I need to be Bill Fortney, and the best Bill Fortney I could be. You see, being the best “you” can be is fun, it’s not a competition, it’s as series of growth experiences, sometimes you fail, sometimes you win, and it’s all fun. You never loose, and you never come in second in that contest!
The questions is “do you make photographs to impress others, or because you enjoy the process?” I’m not judging, I used to make images in hopes they would be appreciated by others, now I make them because it’s fun! The real of joy of not worrying about the other guys or gals work is you can genuinely be happy for others when they make great images. In the past it was maddening to see others out shoot me, now I’m happy, and I actually get inspired by them!
Look at this way, in a great old western movie I love, “The Fastest Gun Alive.” came one of my favorite quotes, “there’s always a faster gun!” If you were to become the best photographer in the world today, in 15 minutes someone would surpass you. Seems kind of pointless doesn’t it!?
Striving to be the best you can be is a good thing, just don’t tie your expectations to what others are doing! Trust me it will be a lot more fun when you do!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2015 at 8:41 pm
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This is a great lesson that goes way beyond photography. We should strive to be the best we can at what ever we do. Whether your interest is photographic related (using a camera, Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.) , music, or more the routine day-to-day tasks we do like looking after your family, being a friend, or choosing the right path instead of the easy path. This is the lesson that every one should learn. If we learn this well, we will find we are much better at everything we do.
Good for you!! You got it!
That’s good advice. I think people will only be disappointed if they always try to emulate what others are doing…even if they’re very good at emulating that. Personally, I almost despise taking the same photos or same type of photos that others take. I try to be as different as I can about it, but there’s only so much you can do to be different and some scenes and so on will inevitably end up looking somewhat similar to what others are doing. I try to pick out more details that others might not be interested in shooting, for example. But when I go on vacation and shoot, I find myself thinking “oh man….I’ve seen this same scene online over and over! I really need to find a different position or different way to shoot this.” I also find myself hesitant to share certain photos online if it’s basically the same scene everyone else shot a million times….like photos from Antelope Canyon in AZ. That’s one of those cases where I really ‘tried’ to pick out details to shoot….but I’ll admit, I did give in and make a photo of the fake flowing sand off the rocks scene. You know…when the natives pick one of the tourists out to throw sand up on the walls and pretend like it’s some natural scene of sand flowing down from above. I was very disappointed in myself for that. haha! 🙂 But…I guess it’s a descent shot and I’ll keep it as a vacation memory. This is the scene I’m talking about. I’m sure they even put the piece of wood up there too to add to the aesthetics 😉 http://www.thephotographyhobbyist.com/VACATION-AND-SHORT-TRIPS/PARKS/Grand-Canyon/i-9nmGFSb/A
Commendable goals, which I admit to have a hard time following as well! Like the Slot shot though!
This is an excellent post, and great idea to live by not only in our photography, but in our daily lives. My father always told me, that the only person I need to be better than, is the person I am now.
I agree, with your father, my stated photographic goal is to be better tomorrow than I am today, and that is quite enough of a goal for all of us!
Great points Bill. I will say I used to shoot to impress and it’s much harder to make images when you do that, you’re trying too hard. If I make a shot I am happy with, and it’s a good shot, usually people like it. It’s a win-win.
Very true.
The late Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago had a saying that the only poll that counts is the one on election day. We should all strive to make the best images we can under the prevailing conditions and, as Duke Ellington said, if it feels good, it’s good. Sometimes people get so worked up over technical points that they lose sight of the image and the passion of photography. Again, this isn’t to say that a crappy image can somehow magically be transformed into a work of technical and artistic perfection but rather that a good image is a balance of technique and vision. Now guys like Bill made/make their living from photography. I don’t. And even if I was much better than I am I wouldn’t. Why? Because then it would be work. One of the main reasons I got into photography was to get away from work and even though the life of a nature photographer is pretty grueling, if I did it for a living it would become an expectation — punching a time clock, so to speak. And any workshop instructor will tell you that every so often there’s the little old lady with the point and shoot who has an incredibly good eye and comes back with superb photos out of a $150 camera.
That little old lady is my hero!