Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The Photographic Journey

by Terri


In photography, as well as in life, there are always people you look up to and people who look up to you. The two women pictured with me in the photo above (BarbaraCarroll on the left and Barbara Hurst on the right) are two photographers who I immensely admire. Their skill with the camera is something I aspire to. But I know if I asked them they would tell me that they also have photographers who they look up to and admire.

In the past, when I wasn’t happy with what I had been shooting, I felt like my photographic journey had taken me nowhere while everyone else flew past me with their great camera skills. It took me some time to realize that it is all part of the learning process and there are people who look up to me and admire my photography (although some days I can’t imagine why!) We will never “master” the art of photography or know all there is to know about it. We will never stop making mistakes but hopefully we are learning from them. It is one of the things I love about this hobby -- there is always something new to learn and always room for improvement.

It doesn’t matter where we are in our photographic journey, there will always be somebody who is better and who we look up to as well as somebody who thinks we're great and is looking up to us. Knowing that helps keep things in perspective.




20 comments:

Carol said...

Oh! That's the best picture yet! What a lovely portrait of three women who obviously have a lot to offer the world. You all look happy and engaged in the world, and t peace. Now that's something to aspire to!

Sarah Huizenga said...

Thank you Terri. Just the post I needed to read today. I have definitely been feeling that way lately.

Jeanne said...

Lovely shot Terri! Looks like the three of you are having so much fun and what a lovely portrait! That is just what I love about photography... the challenge! Always there

Dotti said...

Beautiful photo and it makes me so happy to see you all here! Yes, you've nailed it. I think that's what I enjoy so much about photography ... it's a never-ending quest and yet one can mark her progress, which ebbs and flows.

Sherri B. said...

How wonderful it is that you're able to get together with your fellow photography friends...photography is most definitely an individual journey. I know so little but I sure do love the learning process! This is a lovely photo - thank you for sharing. :)

AFishGirl said...

This photo and all you say make my heart glad. I could look at this shot for ages. And I will.
oxoxox Pam/Fishgirl

Barbara said...

I think that is what we all love about this craft, never ending and the chance to met wonderful friends in the process. That couldn't be better for me and so thank the heavens for the opportunity to have my camera and friends like you two. We really need to do this more often instead of the once or twice a year. When is the next meetup? So much more to explore. Thank you Terri for getting this meetup together.

Foothills Listings - Meagen Mackenzie said...

What a great post! Something I too needed to hear today. This is a beautiful photograph of 3 beautiful women that I admire!

Unknown said...

Oops! This last post is from me, Sheila Hughes! Don't know why it posted as our company :)

CarolHart said...

Such a wonderful portrait of the 3 of you and your thoughts today were just the reminder I needed. Thank you.

Corinna said...

Great to see the three of you in such a good mood as it seems. Terri, I completely agree, I think we all experience all these feelings now and then, so well said. We all are on a wonderful journey!

Viv@Thoughts from the Desktop said...

I love seeing all of you together it makes the distance shorter .....

ShanLeigh said...

Such a great perspective, Terri. Thank you for sharing this. I struggle so often looking at so many great photographers and feel so inadequate that it's hard not to give up at times. "I'll never be as good as ___" But it's the passion and that keeps me going. If I didn't love it as much as I do... :)

Katie said...

Such a wise post, Terri. These are words that I really ought to have tatoo-ed on my arm so I can read them every day. ; )

Linda said...

So true! Thanks for reminding me! I do admire the photography of all 3 women in you photo! They are talented, creative, caring and sharing people! They inspire me to be better!
With photography I think that the learning is what it is all about. Does anyone really know all there is to know about it?

Sue said...

Such wise words, Terri. I shall repeat them to myself......often!

kelly said...

as someone who looks up to you, i could not agree more. and i think that the most wonderful part of this lifetime journey in photography is the friends we make along the way. :) xoxo

Cathy H. said...

Terri, this struck home with me today. I've been feeling like "my photographic journey had taken me nowhere while everyone else flew past me with their great camera skills." I don't know why I always think "it's just me" or "I'm alone in this." We each have our own separate journeys and I need to remember that! Great image of the three of you...three of my idols all together!!

Kim Stevens said...

I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated and felt like instead of going forward, I went backwards . . . but I think it's all part of the process.

Barbara said...

I could have stayed for days! It was so inspiring being able to "talk shop" with all of you. We learn so much from one another. So much inspiration! Thank you for organizing this. I look forward to the next visit.

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