New year , new gear , new photo books , the street photography world is your lobster !
It could be and should be but for many it won’t be …
The journey between nowhere to okay-ish might be fast , okay to competent a bit slower , so on and so forth depending on the individual and the amount of time spent “Driving” a camera out on the streets , reading photo books , seeing , failing , learning and developing a curious creative eye demands a strong work ethic , bordering on the obsessive …
Most camera owners fail to build a creative palette of ideas and develop a visual vocabulary of self expression , in short , serious Street Photography requires a level of hard work and understanding that many are unable to sustain beyond the “Randem Stranger” phase, at some point the real YOU has to stand up and speak photographically !
Looking into the urban abyss for inspiration is one thing but the only way forward for serious photographers is the deep critical search within ourselves …
Not sure if it was the “Work Ethic” bit or the “Search Within” bit that encouraged the departure of some readers but the truth is that when we’re treading water photographically the answers can only be found within , this “Stand-Still” hits different togs at different times for different reasons but it finds us all eventually , it’s how we respond that matters , Golf Club membership is a extreme but correct solution for some , talking the talk seems to satisfy others , photographs always “SOUND” good …
Fishing for “Big Fish” is demanding , raising your bar of expectations and identifying what success looks like for you can be difficult !
Demanding more from yourself is a challenging but necessary , if your serious , reassessing your life , your pictures and your ideas can be a rough ride , fully formed creatives grasp the nettle , do the work and take the hits , persistence in photography will beat natural talent every day of the week …
Seeing todays “good” shots as not good enough and knowing why they fail is the first step to personal growth , knowing how to make them better is the next , letting go of the nearly pictures frees up space and time for you to hook “Bigger Fish” , the “Good” pictures of tomorrow will be fewer but should be “better” and of greater value to you !
Knowing what your new aspirational pictures look like following your personal 2023 audit will help you to move forward , don’t expect miracles , learning is a slow business , knowing what your looking for makes pictures easier to find , let the small fish escape …
Keep both feet planted on the ground , ensure your new plans are realistic , local and attainable , in short keep it real …
Demand more of yourself and your photography this year , embrace change & raise the bar in 2023 …
Shoot frequently with a smile on your face , a bad days Street Photography is always better than a good day at work …
What stands between you and your ambitions …
MORE…
If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …