Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tina, I guess I would add to what Peter is saying...What do you enjoy doing, what makes you happy? I have the same questions to answere in approximately 5 months, as I am retiring from the engineering world, and plan to explore the photographic arena, and the above is at the top of the list of the same questions. Gene -------------- Original message from Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.net>: -------------- > Tina: > > I'm going to answer your questions with more questions: > > * What is the purpose of your photography? > > * Are there some common threads in your photographs, themes that keep > popping up? Do you know what they are? Do you know why you are drawn to > them? > > * If you had to stop shooting tomorrow, what would you be most proud of, > and what would you regret most not doing? > > * Do you have to make X dollars per year from your photography? Who says? > > * What do you like most about your photographic life so far? What do you > dislike the most? Is there a way to do mostly the former and less of the > latter? > > * Suppose there was no choice #3, (muddle along alternating between new > pictures/stock/travel and working with your negatives). You have to choose > between #1 and #2. Would either make you happier? Or would either make > you miserable? Why? Now, put choice #3 back in the picture again. Do you > feel incredibly relieved? That tells you something. > > You don't have to answer any of these questions here, but answer them for > yourself. It might tell you what you want. Write it down, it helps. > > Remember, artists and engineers operate from a completely different > basis. Your husband may want everything to make sense. You know it > doesn't. :-) The fun and beauty is in exploring how and why it doesn't > always make sense. Your photographic business may be simply an excuse for > you to be able to photograph, for you. Your husband may want to > "straighten things out," make it more orderly, more profitable. I suspect > it will always drive him a little crazy. He'll probably enjoy it, if you > can get him to understand what it's really about. > > Personally, I think that you have a legacy of work showing the brotherhood > and sisterhood of humanity across cultures. That's what's always struck me > about your photos. It's not just pictures of poor or hungry people. It's > not been only about getting people to donate to this or that cause. It's > been about the beauty of being part of the human family. > > There's a book or two or three in that, and IMHO it would be a shame if > they didn't happen somehow. But will you be content to be a shut-in with > your negs? Maybe not. I think travel stimulates you. Maybe you need to > alternate by month or by season for a while and see how it feels. And at > some point you'll say to yourself, "You know, I'm tired of running around > so much," or, "While I can, I'm going to get out there and see new > things." > > Maybe you need to collaborate with an editor. He or she might see patterns > in your work that you don't, and that could be the basis of a book. Or > stimulate a related but fresh line of shooting. > > Hope this is helpful. > > -Peter > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information