[Leica] Hate my job

[Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net>]

>>>I hate my well paid, low hour
engineering job, because there is no creativity involved in my work, the
tasks
are all trivial, and the small gray cubicle they stuff engineers into
could make
almost anyone reach for Prozac<<<

Don't hate it. A "well paid, low hour" job is the best possible job for
photography. You are only required to be dedicated and disciplined to
your photography on your own time and through your own motivation. Your
job pays the bills and pays for your gear.

Why not dedicate yourself to taking your personal photography more
seriously? Define a personal photography project--perhaps a long-term
project about something you are interested in. Work hard at it and work
in a directed and dedicated fashion. Act as if it is a second
profession. The fact that it isn't commercially motivated may make it
more difficult for you to stay dedicated, but the corollary is that you
have much greater freedom.

IOW, don't treat your photography as a "hobby" that you are just
dithering around with. Treat it seriously.

This is how some great photographic artists operate. Some do have day
jobs to pay the bills, you know.

Accomplishment is mainly a matter of the attitude with which you
approach the work. You don't need commercial pressure to provide that.

- --Mike