If a rose could look at a tiger lily the same, sad way humans compare one another, would the rose feel ordinary or less impressive? Would it compete for attention from the jump, or would it take the time to celebrate the innate beauty of the tiger lily instead?
Cut-throat rivalry is often
dismissed as friendly competition.
Still, it can quietly undermine our self-awareness and engagement if we're not careful. Yikes! That sounds bleak and dark. I mean, think of it, ten species start their lives as fratricides!
Then there's Ai...
Hidden from our sight longer than we can believe, and the most covert dark passenger we are all being called to dance with, whether we like it or not. Yes, AI is incredibly useful, loaded with so many tempting bells and whistles, yet at what expense for our minds, our children's future, and our earth? This reflection aims to foster emotional awareness of technology's impact on our connection to nature and to each other, encouraging consumers to value genuine human experiences.
Depending on mindset, disposition, and upbringing, among other factors, one could view competition as a burden or a motivator. Maybe you're like me and have tossed aside the depleting mentality after realizing that not only do we compete with ourselves, but that mental drain of frustration, self-rejection, and the ever-looming imposter syndrome is, well, all too exhausting for our adrenal
glands and spirit.
How about yours?
The glass is either empty
with inadequacy or full of
"I got this!"
I'll choose the latter and
have fun gettin' it done!
As for competition, it can be easy to say, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." That does feel good, but does it really get the job done? It comes across like the best-case scenario. Maybe. I'm all for support, but not at the expense of having to make my way amongst many in society today who will take anyone's intellectual property and stamp their own seal on it. As a creative who has had this happen several times, it can be disheartening.
It is a grey area, that's for sure!
The way we photographers see it,
YOU and your story matter to us.
It's not just for the paycheck, either.
One simply can't put a price tag on our need to create and capture imagery.
Don't get me wrong, we need to eat,
pay bills, pay for overhead, and show a profit. Of course, everyone running a business does....
Nonetheless, for us...
to create is to breathe!
I recommend adding
a new twist to your vacation or celebration mindset. Budget for a local photographer to meet you on the last
day of your honeymoon, at your birthday celebration, or family vacation. We spend our hard-earned money getting to the destination, on lodging, enjoying dining out, unique experiences, and those random souvenirs you gotta have.
Yet, we won't think twice about overlooking a portrait to document
that time set aside to celebrate, relax, and create incredible memories.
How cool would it be
to have a stunning portrait
adorning your empty walls, to
reminisce about your exotic excursion abroad, or to capture the random sunset on a Tuesday evening at your favorite spot? Honeymoon stills from alluring Jade Mountain in St. Lucia, documenting your loved ones in the fairytale town of Hallstatt in Austria, or a day in the life at your children's favorite park. No matter the budget,
imagery should be
front and center
for posterity's sake.
How about a day shoot at
that summer watering hole with
those you love? Capturing a
breathtaking view of the Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Japan,
or autumn in Croatia at Plitvice Lake.
Taking in and freeze-framing the
soaring views of Glacier National Park
in Montana. Feeling sweet contentment
in your spirit, knowing that you arranged to have those smiles frozen in time while capturing the wonders of whale watching in Central America, Panama.
How could your guests
not stand still and take in that
soaring gown flowing in the wind on
The Salt Flats of Bolivia? You may inspire them to do the same! Oh my, and
Zion National Park in Utah....
You get the picture,
pun intended!
Hopefully, I've inspired you
to give a good reason to plan an unforgettable vacation and wrap it up with that unique souvenir hanging beautifully on that empty wall, too often walked by without a second glance.
Deliberately documenting
precious moments in your timeline are rewarding in the value of reflection alone. Creating an artistic moment, set in a beautiful frame and hung in a place of honor, pays for itself time and again
for generations to come.
Treat the emotional value
in these co-creations
as the art
you should have...
and deserve.
We all know what it is like
to gaze upon an image that takes our breath away. AI may be able to create art from unique prompt twists, but feeling the emotion of creating with an artist is
rewarding and part of the experience.
These impactful images can
evoke and resurface beautiful
healing memories more often than not. That captured moment can offer us a loving reprieve and gentle reset, even for a brief moment, whenever we need it, or even when we least expect it. That alone is worth your time and every dime spent, especially with my colleagues!
From my lens,
if I were a rose,
I would celebrate my fellow artist,
the tiger lily.
I'd even find that eco-friendly,
elbow-to-elbow, belly-to-belly opportunity to promote us both and celebrate you!
"It is not when you press the shutter,
but why you press the shutter."
-Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015)
