The Long Road Ahead

[Damaso]

Life, as they say, is a journey. Do you know where you're going? Or why? Or did you just start walking along a road, perhaps by accident, and months or year later you find yourself still walking down that same road with know idea why?

Goals, tactics and strategy: these are the three elements that get you to where you want to be in photography and in life.

Don't confuse tactics with strategy and don't confuse your strategy with your goal. Are you really interested in photography? Why? What does it do for you and what do you hope to accomplish, however unrealistic that might be?

I like to say that if you want to go to Chicago there are lots of ways to get there. You can fly; you can drive; you can even walk. But if you don't know that is where you want to go it's unlikely you'll wind up there by accident. You should also figure out why you want to go to Chicago because it will inform how you get there.

Most people, if asked, have a hard time fully articulating their goals in the short or long term. Take the time to figure out why you’re doing what you're doing because you may realize that you need to be doing something else. It's never too late to change course but it helps to know what the new course is...

 

[MiniMoke]

Very strong picture, and very profound words.

Thank you for sharing

 

[noimmunity]

Love the photo.
Cannot agree with the words.

I won't pretend to speak about photography. But when it comes to life, I think that "goals, tactics and strategy" takes us down the wrong road.

But rather than bore you and others by repeating wise words I've received from others, I'd prefer to wish you and everybody else here successful realization of all your endeavors!

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I don't understand what that image is supposed to be telling me. Could you explain?

 

[______]

You could also just take each day as it comes, and be grateful for the opportunities presented.

 

[MiniMoke]

I had some goals in my life, but I guess I didn't push hard enough, or these goals were definitely out of my reach.

These days I just follow the big stream of life and I'll see where it will take me. Just trying to apply slight corrections to avoid the rapids and the rocks.

 

[Roger Hicks]

ALL life is contingent, a series of happenstances.

Otherwise I'd never have taken up photography (a VIth form project on corals that came to nothing); written any books on photography (selling my Leica collection to someone who introduced me to a publisher); met my wife 5000 miles from where I lived (went to a Mensa party in Los Angeles because I was bored, even though I hadn't been a member for years -- and she wasn't a member either); be living in rural France now (Frances had breast cancer in 2000 and we decided that we didn't want to work so hard)...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rodchenko]

Quite.

I find it amusing to hear of people's goals. Things happen, and you live your life around and through them.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Quite.

I find it amusing to hear of people's goals. Things happen, and you live your life around and through them.

No doubt you know the old saying: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Her your plans."

Cheers,

R.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I'm an optimist but, occasionally, things happen that prove that having an eye out for the unpleasant and unexpected isn't a bad thing. I wish I could plan my life with a greater degree of certainty but i don't believe that's possible.

I really don't believe in karma, fate or any such thing. Life, in my opinion, is largely random and unpredictable. My experience proves, at least to me, that the harder I try to influence things, the less successful I tend to be - and the more frustrated I become.

I have no real idea why I got into photography. My dad had a Rolleiflex when I was a little boy in the early 1960s and I wanted to play with it. No chance. Maybe that's what spurred me on? Eventually, my parents bought me an Edixa when I hit 13 in 1974 and it started from there. All I can say is when I'm really concentrating on taking a photo, a bomb could go off next to me and it'd barely register. I'm not suggesting I'm any good at photography but I like doing it and, frankly, that's enough for me.

I see no point trying to analyse or question it. I just enjoy it and it relaxes me.

 

[Rodchenko]

No doubt you know the old saying: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Her your plans."

Cheers,

R.

I do (in fact someone quoted it to me yesterday as we were cycling and discussing my baby, who was on the ride with us), and worried that someone might think I was comparing myself to god. 😀

 

[airfrogusmc]

Love the image and yes life is a journey as is the understanding of the language we use to visually communicate. Enjoy the ride...

If it keeps on rain'n
levee's gonna break

go to Chicago....

Short term, I am working on a body of work now with a possible show next year. Long term to continue to discover my work and how it relates to me and the world around me and to become increasingly fluent in the language we use and the way I use it.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'm not suggesting I'm any good at photography but I like doing it and, frankly, that's enough for me.

A very sensible sentiment. Some of our fellows could do with writing it out 500 times. :angel:

 

[Damaso]

I don't understand what that image is supposed to be telling me. Could you explain?

The image is of a visitor touching one of stones that make up the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. As to what it is supposed to be telling you that's up to your interpretation...

 

[airfrogusmc]

To me it ties in with your words about the journey and since you get the feeling of moving out of the frame, to me, it's about moving from this space to another. A journey and since you don't see or know whats in the space that the body has moved into, the journey is unknown.

 

[Damaso]

Many people on this forum express frustration with their work and their progress, in at least one case that person does so over and over and over again.

Having a plan or a goal does not mean that life doesn't get in the way or that in fact your goal or destination doesn't change. It just means you have an idea of where you're heading and move in that direction until life, or your desire, changes.

Some people find happiness by accident; many others find frustration that way. I don't believe life is a random series of events one after another. What we do, what we want has an impact even if it isn't always the sole reason something happens or we end up in a particular place...

 

[David Hughes]

Well, as the lady said, perhaps, life's a bitch and then you die...

Regards, David

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

The image is of a visitor touching one of stones that make up the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. As to what it is supposed to be telling you that's up to your interpretation...

Why didn't you provide that caption with the picture?

 

[______]

I'm not sure it's necessary. The photo could mean a lot of things without knowing where it was taken. If it doesn't mean anything to you, that's okay. We are all not moved or intellectually challenged by the same images.

 

[danielsterno]

My response is: For me, regarding the combined approach to Making Art/Photography and Life and to use your metaphor of "if you want to go to Chicago there are lots of ways to get there". Its not about "getting there", it about what you learn/contribute/experience along the way in your journey to getting there, which is "living"…...