Thoughts on what I do
I have heard it said several times that when there is opposition and struggle you are always closer to the goal, I am not aware of who said it or why but find a degree of hope and resonance in that comment presently.
I don't believe many of the people I know well, understand the depth or investment of myself goes into a gift that I give. Let me explain. I have offered to a few people I know and respect, the gift of a personal or family photograph. It has been with few exceptions, though there are a couple, passed over or brushed off with ease and given a response back to me with an almost, oh is that all approach. I have become accustomed to walk through these waters and where it used to really upset me, I have now began to understand the nature of these comments. I accept that most people do not like having their pictures taken much at all, myself included. That said though, the people whom I offer this to have little or no realisation of what the gift I offer contains.
It contains me!
I am passionate about what I do, and believe without being too dramatic, that the gift I offer is the highest expression I know how to give. It is a gift from not just my heart but my whole being. Now, I accept some of you may sneer and say, that is not dramatic? But by expressing it in these terms you may begin to glimpse something of what I truly feel. interpreting the world, friends and family through my lens is something that I know I do it well. Remembering of course, that I do it for me, not for anybody else. The fact that my work finds a receptive audience often, is soul satisfying, but I love the process. I love images, even taken by others and am a fan of the whole medium. I am a constant student of life and of experience and feel that the variety of work I do and am engaged in gives my work insight and depth.
Laughingly though, I spoke to an artist and a friend in another setting as well recently who said isn't strange how the world is keen to give out posthumous awards to people like Heath ledger, and how many many artists make more money, and become much more famous when they die, than whenever they were alive! Agreed. I have been looking at the work of Ansel Adams again recently and am amazed at how much his photographs fetch, they are beautiful though.
I wonder what will be said of my work when I move on from this frail existence. Wouldn't it be the most amazing thing if people stumble upon the full body of work and say wow, and then cause that I become famous or wealthy post living. Truly a strange world we live in. There is of course the high probability that my work could slip into oblivion and become merely a forgotten thought.
I think Helen Keller made the observation once that said, "Fame is a fickle food on a shifting plate"! indeed Helen, indeed. I just love the process.
I don't believe many of the people I know well, understand the depth or investment of myself goes into a gift that I give. Let me explain. I have offered to a few people I know and respect, the gift of a personal or family photograph. It has been with few exceptions, though there are a couple, passed over or brushed off with ease and given a response back to me with an almost, oh is that all approach. I have become accustomed to walk through these waters and where it used to really upset me, I have now began to understand the nature of these comments. I accept that most people do not like having their pictures taken much at all, myself included. That said though, the people whom I offer this to have little or no realisation of what the gift I offer contains.
It contains me!
I am passionate about what I do, and believe without being too dramatic, that the gift I offer is the highest expression I know how to give. It is a gift from not just my heart but my whole being. Now, I accept some of you may sneer and say, that is not dramatic? But by expressing it in these terms you may begin to glimpse something of what I truly feel. interpreting the world, friends and family through my lens is something that I know I do it well. Remembering of course, that I do it for me, not for anybody else. The fact that my work finds a receptive audience often, is soul satisfying, but I love the process. I love images, even taken by others and am a fan of the whole medium. I am a constant student of life and of experience and feel that the variety of work I do and am engaged in gives my work insight and depth.
Laughingly though, I spoke to an artist and a friend in another setting as well recently who said isn't strange how the world is keen to give out posthumous awards to people like Heath ledger, and how many many artists make more money, and become much more famous when they die, than whenever they were alive! Agreed. I have been looking at the work of Ansel Adams again recently and am amazed at how much his photographs fetch, they are beautiful though.
I wonder what will be said of my work when I move on from this frail existence. Wouldn't it be the most amazing thing if people stumble upon the full body of work and say wow, and then cause that I become famous or wealthy post living. Truly a strange world we live in. There is of course the high probability that my work could slip into oblivion and become merely a forgotten thought.
I think Helen Keller made the observation once that said, "Fame is a fickle food on a shifting plate"! indeed Helen, indeed. I just love the process.
Comments
Do you have a legal will in place?
If not, I encourage you to do so.
In doing so, you can be sure that your wife and child receive all of their entitlements; weather or not you are rich and famous.
Without a will, your assets are held in probate and become the property of the government. They decide what your wife and child receive. Their decision may not be in keeping with your wishes.
Food for thought - for all of us!
V2T