Motivation vs Inspiration
Inspiration is defined as an act of influencing people mentally and emotionally to do something creative.
Motivation refers to a process of stimulating someone to act in a definite way to achieve a goal.
Commitment vs Obligation
A commitment engages healthy boundaries where an obligation bulldozes them.
What is Your Commitment Photographically?
Are you committed to your art? Or “obligated?”… either one is fine. It’s your life.
Personally I love adventure. I also love road trips. This could be part of my Sagittarius personality. However I remember this lifestyle and desire, all the way back to my early childhood.
I used to get out a map and find new locations to search out. I’d get on my bike every weekend and ride to them. Sometimes as far away as 50 miles one way! At about 10 years old that’s a pretty good jaunt. Nothing has changed… I still get out maps and look for new adventurers.
Photography fits right in with my adventures! I used to enjoy taking models out and placing them in the landscape as well to create my art. However?… now a days good luck finding one willing to make that commitment. So I’ve backed off on that quite a bit.
It was very hard on me not to have a model at first. I kept looking at that landscape and visualizing a model within it. My motivation and commitment needed to override those feelings.
So what is your motivation? What is your commitment? Please do not let budget enter into this equation! Even an entry level camera now a days is highly capable! Or a smart phone!
Also? Not having to “worry” about the model has made my work far easier, and also more marketable. After all, only the model really wants that image. Without her in it, more people will buy that image.
The Gear Has Nothing To Do With Your Motivation!
It’s not about the gear… it’s about your commitment. It’s about your inspiration. It’s about your motivation. If you are looking at your gear disappointed you don’t have the latest and greatest, this is a severe travesty!
Even an entry level camera now a days is an extremely awesome piece of gear! Your entry level camera is far, far better than anything the masters of the past had. Our darkroom is also far more capable than back in the day as well. Your perceptions need to change!
Commitment, Inspiration, & Motivation
Those three words will be part of what makes your image. Those three words will also be readily apparent to us in viewing your work as well!
Bottom line… those three words can also be summed up as passion! Do you have it? Have you lost your passion? Did you ever have it? Or did you let what you think you don’t have, interfere with what is possible that you can do?
A Challenge to Regain or Instill Passion
Many people now a days look at social media and compare themselves to others. Please stop doing this! I challenge you to get off the couch and go shoot! Then post those images making them, wish they were you!
Make short trips. You do not have to travel the world, look in your own back yard! Many of my clients and followers live in Las Vegas. Those that do have it real easy! Millions of people per year flock to our town just to see it. Have you taken it for granted?
Go down to the strip with your camera. There’s multi billions of dollars spent to make that area a Photographers paradise. Take advantage of that!! The Volcano Image below is no longer possible! It was also very challenging to shoot!
Don’t Live In Vegas?
No problem. What have you taken for granted in your town? Get out with your camera! Show us your vision! Maybe create a project… simple things make great projects. Like stairs, or benches.
One thing is certain… there’s very little inspiration going on just sitting on the couch. Passion? Yes there could be some of that, but that’s an entirely different subject.
Ultimately the only thing holding you back is looking at you in the mirror. Tomorrow morning, or even right this minute, get up; go look in the mirror and say, “Yes I Can!” Make that your new password… Yes I can 2023!
More importantly make “yes I can” your new mantra.
If You Like I Can Assist
Come on down to B&C Camera on October 5th at 5:00pm. I’ll be doing a class on Infrared Photography. This is a really cool type of Photography that anyone can do, even with a smart phone!
Get Out Of Town
I can assist with this as well! I’m doing a PhotoSafari on October 17th! On this gig you can even use my gear!
