Slowing Down
Photography is art.
Art is subjective. Subjective is difficult to define. There is obviously a Merriam-Webster definition. What I mean is that approval based on an individual's personal feelings is the consistent challenge of anyone who works in the arts. I think most of us can agree with that. However, there is this idea that certain photos are great while others are, you know...
Not great.
So as someone who intentionally spends free time creating art in the form of digital photography, how do you maintain a level of satisfaction with your photos when there is clear delineation of what a great photo is and what a not great photo is? A question that rattles around in my noggin all too often. There is a perceived expectation of creating a professional looking shot, capturing the glory of the colors, perfecting the lighting, even editing out parts of photo to create a more idyllic scene.
On a recent photography excursion with two friends of mine, I spent an evening wandering around a local town to capture images ultimately to be used as backgrounds for a website. An evening intended to be fun, challenging, and social turned to stressful, comparison driven, and disappointing. An internal set of expectations were created based on what I believed to be what others expected of me.
Well, I have a website and a cool logo (at least I think so). Naturally I should have the best images with compositions no one else could have seen. I have the expensive camera so I need to have the sharpest and cleanest images. I scrambled around to take photos to meet expectations that were created based on fiction. A night intended for community turned to a night of deeper introspection of purpose and self-perception.
Slow down, Josh.
I like taking photos. Let us start with the basics before you all attack me with the ole, "So why do you even bother?" I enjoy the capturing, fiddling, wandering and sight-seeing. I enjoy my photos more than I believe others do. I often peruse through my galleries with delight as I see the things I was able to capture and recount the memories. However, I need the reminder more than most. Slow down.
I should never feel pressure to take photos that I think other people will like. In that moment, my focus should be on taking photos I will like. That is what matters. That is where the enjoyment is found. This is my hobby and I enjoy it for reasons that far outweigh the opinions of others.
Who hurt you?
As most of you are likely thinking that I was trashed for my performance on this excursion, you are right. I hurt myself. I limited my enjoyment, I stood in my own way of capturing what I wanted. I was the problem, not the subjective nature of this fine craft.
Of course I want others to enjoy my art. I'm human. I thrive on acceptance and approval. I'd like my photography to burst forth into a career path and have the opportunity to do for a living something I enjoy. However, that is not the purpose. It takes slowing down to recognize where my mind is at and where it needs to be. It take being reminding of why I do what I do. It takes the difficult moments to bring be back to my roots.
If you made it this far, I appreciate you. I'm constantly on a learning curve to improve my skills and desiring to create art that is liked and appreciated. But at the core of it all, my personal enjoyment and expression through photography is paramount. The photo above was taken after our excursion, while we were hanging out and enjoying the night life of small town America. You know, after I slowed down.