I haven’t written in a while. Why? I honestly wasn’t really sure if anyone was reading these, and I forgot to trust my gut.
Here’s the thing: being who I am, I tend to overanalyze quite a bit. INFJs are an interesting bunch. What I realized, though, is that I need to return to who I am, back to what drives me. I lost much of that over the last 15 years, stripped out of me by my time in the corporate world.
I’m an artist. I create, and that has been sucked out of me by a world of “make it fit,” “why doesn’t it conform?” and “that’s not how we do things.”
I don’t work that way.
Collaboration is my wheelhouse. I enjoy thinking outside the box, working with you, finding a new way. I’m not the “this is the way it’s always been” or “because that’s how you do it” kind of person.
Okay, okay. I don’t want to make this about that.
So, what is it about?
Coming back to photography. My romance with my craft.
My love started young. Like, really young.
I always loved looking at books, photographs, and old pictures on the walls of museums. I always wondered, “Who took that?”
I wanted to be the person documenting the world. Not for the glory, but for the rest of you and future humanity.
That is the reason I prefer being in the background, documenting the story and not always being the person out in front of the group. You will usually see me in the back of the group or crowd, taking shots. I’m quiet, trying to capture the shot that is being missed.
There are those photographs from moments in history that are memorable to me. Think back. You can already picture a few in your mind without me mentioning anything specific, and I’m certain a few will immediately pop into your memory.
It doesn’t matter which ones came to mind, because the point is that photography is important for all of us. That’s why so many spend so much time scrolling reels right?
There is a reason why I identify with wolves, and why wolves and INFJs fit so incredibly well together.
That said, look at the last photo you took with your phone of a moment you wanted to capture that was important. A graduation. A birthday. Anything important.
Zoom in.
And I’m sorry.
Think about where you will be in 5, 10, 25, or 30 years, trying to look back at these memories.
They will be gone.
So very unlike the old photograph books we still have, even though those aren’t great either, they are at least clear. Cell phone cameras just don’t cut it.
There are options. I’ll post a few soon.
I grew up watching my Uncle Mike take pictures with his giant Canon. As a kid, it was giant. My Mom always had a decent camera, too.
Every time we went anywhere, if I could get my hands on a camera I would. I tried to snag one from a thrift store, a garage sale, or someone throwing one away. There’s a collection of cameras at my Dad’s house from me simply saying, “Mom, please?” Thanks Mom.
Begging Mom to join photography in 4-H, but it required a better camera. Everyone wanted that class. I never had one, so I never got in.
I finally got a chance to buy the camera I wanted when I was older, and I’ve been investing time into learning and catching up ever since.
In college I studied broadcasting, lighting, TV, video editing, blah blah, all of that early on, and I always loved it, but there’s nothing like photography for me.
I enjoy creating a story with pictures and building a scene. It feels like songwriting for me, but visual.
Trying new things. Learning from others. Remaining open to all of the techniques that are out there in the world.
The thing is, and the point from the start here, is that I changed my settings recently because I was overanalyzing and stopped believing that I was doing things correctly.
I wasn’t happy with the outcome of the change.
The reality is that you don’t need to listen to the experts or the professionals who tell you what is some “global standard.” If you are creating something that looks right to your eye, follow that.
Stay true to yourself, not the “experts.”
It’s always good to soak up information and learn from others but always trust your gut.
I’m glad I tried something new. I’m glad I didn’t stay in my “safe box.”
But it is time to go back to my regular standard.
I wonder if anyone even noticed?
Let me know if you noticed either way. I’m always interested in your thoughts and feedback.
I hope that this helps someone.
Until next time. I’ll be on the hill, ears up. -B
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