Be selfish…as an artist (there was a time not long ago when I would have dismissed the notion of calling myself an artist. I got over it, though, mainly because it’s true).
Be selfish. Photograph only those things with which you have a strong, personal interest. No, interest is too weak of a word. Photograph those things that inspire and move you emotionally. What are your passions in life? Let those passions be your guide and follow them with the greatest intensity possible. If you’re not passionate about a subject or scene, why bother? If you are ambivalent or bored, how can you expect your audience to be anything but ambivalent too? The only way to inspire others is to be inspired yourself. Just be selfish. Follow and photograph only those things that are meaningful to you.
Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Be selfish. Don’t worry about what other people think about your work. Photography, as in all forms of artistic expression, should say more about the photographer than it does about the subject or scene. So what you say about yourself, through your photography, should be real and genuine, not what others want or expect from you. Raw, visceral expression of one’s self should never be influenced by peer pressure or a focus group mentality. Never take the criticism or the complements too seriously.
The scene may have been photographed hundreds, maybe thousands of times previously but how it makes you feel is uniquely your own. Use your photography to share your unique interpretation with the rest of the world. What the world doesn’t need is another carbon copy version of what others might expect you to feel. So why care what they think? Ironically, by being selfish you are giving the world the gift of yourself.
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21 Comments
Best advice I’ve heard in a long time. Gonna do just that! Learn to be selfish and offer the world the gift of “me”
Thanks Richard
Great Insight and incredibly inspiring!!Thank you
Hear Hear Richard…. Hear Hear.
Well said! I believe in being selfish as a photographer, as an artist, but often we aren’t. We shoot for the editor or art director (guilty of this!). Seeing your words reaffirms what has been my motto in the past year. So, thanks for writing this!!
Be selfish? Excellent advice! Yes, it is important to be passionate about what you do and, above all, to enjoy and simply be in the moment.
To be the best, get the best and deliver the best,it is essential to be driven – I am just learning this!
Love it and so very true Richard. Do what is right for you
Passionate is a far better word than interested. I think that for nature photographers, this is absolutely true. The beauty of the world comes alive through the photographer’s unique interpretation. I suppose the same thing can be said of any genre!
Thanks for the post.
Enlightening and uplifting.
I needed to hear this 20 years ago. When I was younger I listened to other photographers and authors who said that portraits was where the money is, and it was, but it didn’t make me happy or inspire me. Now I focus on my passion and my photography has purpose for me again. Thank you for the great advice!
That was a great advice. The photographer wouldn’t be known by what he or she has to do but to do what would express themselves the most.
I love that words, Thank you for the wise advice
I so needed this reminder. Thanks, Richard.
I like that advice, I only wish I`ve heard it a long time ago. Thank You.
Awesome; thank you for sharing your insight on this topic. Well stated.
I came across your site through Twitter and oh boy am I glad that I did. Your pictures are obviously fantastic, no question there, but what made me even more glad was to find this blog. I really like being able to see more sides than one of an artist — that is, only photography or writing or painting or whatever the choice of weapon is. So definitely will keep following your updates.
As for this post, as many above me have stated — true and insightful, and thank you for the reminder.
I love your insight. Be passionate about what you do and be selfish, not worrying what people think about your work. Great advice.
True words to live by.
I came by your site via Twitter, and this particular post speaks a lot to me and is what I needed today. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the artistic side of photography, the side that speaks to the heart.
Thanks for the great advice!! I have always taken only photos of things that i love- but thought that I was too selfish and should only take pictures that would sell or what others might want to see. My best photos are the ones that touch me and move me such as cows, landscapes, barns, mills etc.
I’m glad to hve read this early in my time as a photographer!!
That’s right, enjoy what you do!