Daily Archives: October 8, 2014

 

For some time now I’ve been obsessed with the new push to get out the eBooks!  It’s really a great thing because secretly, (well not anymore), my greatest love after the Lord, my family and photography is writing!  I truly love to try and express myself in the written word, emphasis on “try”!  Some activities make us happy and writing is one of those for me.  So I got an email yesterday from a good friend who was concerned because of my “push” to get these eBooks done, she was afraid I had a terminal illness!  I do have a terminal health issue, it’s called life!  I’m 68 and will be 69 in February so the clock is ticking!  Now I may live another decade or more, but I really want to share a whole lot of stuff, so I’m dedicating myself to getting it done now….

 

One book I’m planning is the title of this blog post, “Getting Your Head On Straight!”  I meet people all the time that express to me that they have a very deep desire to get really good at photography, and they want my advice.  I also have a great desire to help them, but truthfully it’s not just about aperture, shutter speeds, which camera body and how sharp is your lens!  No, I think it all starts with getting your head on straight.  Let me give you the brief outline of that book, which of course, will get fleshed out a great deal more.

 

Step One:  What is your goal?  Now you can’t just say become a great photographer, you have to quantify what you mean by GREAT!  By great do you mean highly respected by others, widely published, the author of many best selling books, having one man shows in prestigious galleries?  You have to have a more reasonable goal than that.  Keep in mind that Joe McNally, a truly great photographer, is having his first one man show in Santa Fe right now!  Joe is well up in his fifties and has worked hard as photographer his entire life.  Joe is considered by many, me included, as one of the greatest photojournalists in the history of photography!  Do you really want to saddle your passion with such a lofty goal.  Why not just have the goal of just getting better each day?

 

Step Two:  Be realistic and set a goal that is attainable.  Instead of 6 best selling books, why don’t you decide that you are going to try to really get the fundamentals of photography down pat, and see where that takes you!  It may not shock you to find out that Joe started where you are, and he worked very hard for along time to get to that gallery in Santa Fe!  Make several short term goals, that when added up get you to that book or a gallery show!  It can be done, but it is a process!

 

Step Three:  Get used to the idea that this journey you are on, is a long one, and it is going to take time!  Even more important, determine that you are going to enjoy the journey!   Somewhere down the road of this journey you are going to realize the great joy that comes from learning, why not start enjoying it now. i treasure my great experiences, friends, and laughter to any of my personal achievements!

 

Step Four:  Get used to disappointment.   I love that line from a Princess Bride, because folks, in life, you will have disappointments, and failures.  Keep in mind that failure is an opportunity to learn how not to do something.  In the end, your progress as a photographer will be determined by how much you fail, and how much you’ve learned from your failures.  Sometimes it hurts, but it is for your own good!  No one ever gets better without some failure along the way!

 

Step Five:  Relax and have fun.  Photography can bring you many great treasures, experiences, and wonderful friends.  Enjoy the ride, the destination is just up ahead, have fun getting there!  When you do arrive at the destination, you will realize that it was the journey, after all, that was the greatest joy!  The more you relax, the better your vision will be, and of course, the better your images will be too!

 

Now the book will go further and have a lot of suggestions on how to implement these ideas, but you get the idea.  Don’t fail to enjoy this great craft!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

* Photo Note:  Roof of wooden beams  in a pavilion in Chicago.  Fuji XT-1 – Fujinon 10-24 zoom