blog.donaldharper.com

Day at the Beach

I have been doing a lot of reading recently.  Some books, and a lot of blogs.  Now, not all of the blogs I read are on the same subject, but I have been reading more photographers’ blogs recently.  I have meet a few local photographers, and follow some more on-line.

I have been trying to improve my craft by focusing on composition. From the feed back I have been getting, I think I am doing okay.

There has been a trend in some of the blog posts I have read which as gotten me thinking pretty hard. Not all of the posts are recent.  I recently was turned on to an Austin based photographer by the name of Kirk Tuck. His thoughts and insights on the method of photography has really struck a cord with me.

Some of the articles which have really gotten me to do some deep thinking about what I am as a photographer, and where I want to go include:

• Short Term Bleak. Long term unknowable. by Kirk Tuck
• How Many Of You Are Standing On The Dock? by Atlanta, GA based Zack Arias (a music photographer)
• Momentum :: What are you going to do with it? also by Zack Arias
• Raising Gatejumpers by Boston, MA based CC Chapman

I know the last one is about child rearing, but not really.  It also applies to me as an adult.

As another push in this direction, I am helping teach a class to a bunch of junior and high school students on how to make decisions.  The class this week revolved around goals and if the choices in any given decision supported your goals.  The homework from the class was to come up with a goal hierarchy.  The teacher (someone else who I respect his views a lot) was very surprised when I told him I did not have my goals mapped out.

What is the thread that is tying all of these things together?  Discovering your goals, recognizing them, mapping a path, and then follow your path to your goals.  This year, I have already starting working on some goals (getting in better shape, getting out of debt [car loans, credit cards, etc], simplifying my life, getting back to school), it is clear to me now that I need to stop and map it out.

My homework is due this weekend.  I have half a week to set it down, at least the first draft.  I know photography will be in there, but I am not sure how big of a part it will be.  I suspect it will be very large.