The Beauty of work slowing down…
…is the ability to take the time to shoot test work, to refocus your marketing, to reevaluate your business plan, to take a breath in your career, to remember what it is you started out looking for and to determine at this juncture if your still in the game. I fully admit, as my daughter turns a year old in a month, I stopped consciously refining my vision and left the development of my eye to chance and accident. When you believe no one is watching or the client is happy and I payed the rent so its all good then complacency in your vision becomes easy. Yet as life is oft to do, I was offered both subtle and sledgehammer opportunities over the last week to wake up.
Monday it was my honor to speak to the Hallmark Institute of Photography’s class of 2009. While it was a growth edge for me to step to that stage I imagine I garnered more from the experience then the audience. The students were gracious and welcoming and it ended up being a blast. Several students approached me thanking me for my time and images and to them I simply must offer, it was my pleasure. However, when I spoke about being true to themselves and to their vision, figuring out what they wanted and creating the measurable strategy to stay focused upon it that I realized I lost mine. I have long known that one of my biggest failures as a viable professional photographer is my inability to relinquish my title as a generalist. This is not to say the ability is not a valuable one or even one which will always serve me, but I have yet to make a claim to the niche or style of work which will allow me to stand out. Rather than hiding behind the generalist title, I think it is time to lay claim. Now the only problem is going to be what it is I want to lay claim to. A good friend of mine once said ” you don’t have to do one thing forever but do one thing amazingly and make your name, make your mark” then take the freedom and change. It is time to find that thing.
In this spirit of growth I also received a reminder this morning to keep my vision sharp and my craft evolving. This time, fittingly, it was from my college professor, Steve Raymer, who recently published an article in the NPPA magazine about the ‘framing’ of suffering in the photographic world. His article is a wonderful examination of the rhythms and cliches we are prone to falling into as photographers. The article challenges our ability to take our craft in whatever form and hold it to a higher standard in the midst of the blurring lines of photographic responsibility. After reading the article I came to realization. At the end of my career, my days or hell at the bar after work when I am asked what legacy I created, I want to be proud of the answer. In less than 24 hours both by an emerging class of new shooters and by a trusted guardian of the craft i find myself charged with reexamining how I create. So for today I leave you searching and will let you know what I find when I find it.
I highly recommend Steve’s Article and would be interested in hearing how or if it the thesis challenges your perceptions.