I was looking back over some of my old photographs from when I was a teenager, back when I first got interested in photography. I created this image almost 50 years ago, can’t remember the girl’s name. I have that info somewhere (yes I got a model release).
She was working at a mall, and I noticed her, and asked her if I could photograph her. We went to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. I shot a lot of photos.
We had a great time.
I was shooting with a Pentax KX SLR film camera (they, of course, were ALL film cameras back then). Photography was still relatively new to me, but everything about photography just felt “natural” to me. I loved it. I loved all the ways I could capture a beautiful moment in time, or a beautiful scene, or a beautiful person. I loved how it was a mix of art and science because that sort of sums up my interests pretty well, art and science. Using photography as an excuse to go out to a park with a beautiful girl had nothing to do with it. (Okay, that is a total lie.)
Anyway, on this day after Thanksgiving, I was reflecting on how thankful I am that my parents encouraged me in my photographic endeavors way back then. They bought me that first Pentax KX SLR. They always encouraged me in whatever my pursuits were in life.
Well, why am I writing this, on this today? I guess I just wanted to remind YOU, in your pursuits of photography as a hobby or career, never lose touch with what you LOVE about photography.
In this age of the Internet and social media, it is easy to get caught up in following the latest trends, striving to just do whatever is currently popular, and gets the most “likes” on Facebook, etc. OR maybe you get discouraged because you see other photographers posting images that are “so much better” than yours. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT. Despite the countless photography contests you see out there, I really encourage you to not see art as a competition. It is just too subjective. If you start striving to just create images using styles that you see other photographers doing, you might just lose your individuality in the process and your images will start looking like everyone else’s.
Photograph whatever you love to photograph. The person you should “compete” against is not someone else… it is YOU. Just strive to be better than the photographer you were yesterday. Work on your technical skills, but don’t think that is all that matters. Your artistic skills, composition, use of light, etc. all matter just as much.
Just always try to improve in one way or another over time. Enjoy the work of other photographers, but you have permission to be YOU. Be different. Be bold. Be creative. Be silly. Be serious. Be you.
If you are not doing photography because you love it, then make some changes. Find the part of photography YOU love. You may not have even found the part of photography you would love the most, so try different things. If you are a landscape photographer, try dabbling with something totally different like studio photography. If you photograph babies, try photographing horses (or anything else)! Shake things up a bit. Challenge yourself, but BE yourself. As you do this, you will discover the fun in photography.
Almost 50 years later, I am still having fun. I hope you are too.
One thing I love to do is help others find their “love” of photography.
Kevin Gourley
KGPhotoWorkshops.com
P.S. If you are feeling a little “burned out” in your photography, you might consider taking my Photography: Finding Your Way – Creativity and Inspiration Workshop.
