DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Beautiful video that I first saw on Briony’s blog as linked from Chase Jarvis’s. Love the quote that they each pulled from it as well:

“I never set out to be anything in particular, only to live creatively and push the scope of my experience through adventure and through passion.”

For some reason I get really frustrated when I see people who are so talented just settle for less. Like they’re sitting on a winning ticket but are too chicken to cash it in (enter Good Will Hunting reference). And when people criticize others’ success…it irks me to my very core. I mean, I thought it was a given that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all…but some people just don’t know how to filter their words. I obviously have some sort of underlying beef with whatever it is that I’m starting to ramble about so I’m just gonna leave it at that as my little venting sesh for the evening.

I kind of hate the idea that we live to work and work to live (but such is life), especially when the work part isn’t something that you believe in so I’ve been revisiting my list of to-dos…the BIG list, not the grocery and errands kind, and came across this three-step plan to reaching my goals:

STEP ONE: SET YOUR GOALS

• You can’t succeed until you’ve decided where you want to develop your success.

STEP TWO: PLAN AHEAD

• It’s rare that you’ll reach those goals unless you devise some sort of plan on how to get there.

STEP THREE: NEVER GIVE UP

• Use every failure and every naysayer as motivation because in the end when you finally reach your goals, success will be that much sweeter.

Sometimes when naysayers get to me, I take a time-out, pen many words on numerous sheets of paper and send it off through the postal service. I did that again recently and what I received in return was a sentence that made me feel whole again after wondering why I was feeling like some people weren’t really “getting” me: “I love you, you’re a wonderfully amazing and talented person who has the right to grow impatient when it seems like the waiting room reeks of old people and there aren’t any good magazines to read.” That’s really deep. And I’m not being sarcastic. First of all, Ashley, you’re a damn good writer. And secondly, thank you for knowing exactly what to say.

So to you, my dear Internet, I hope that you are happy. And if you are not, remember that without disappointment, you can’t appreciate victory. And that life is too short to not be doing the things you love.

From the site: Escalate Live 2010 is a photography conference about bringing your vision into reality. This conference is for you if you are ready to change how you approach your photography business. Join us in person at the event or watch us streamed live on the Web if you can’t make it. Are you ready stand up? Are you ready to stand out?

It will take place May 17-18 in Newport Beach, CA, and since most of us work at a computer these days, it’d be easy to just have it on to listen in the background. Speakers include Jasmine Star, Jeremy Cowart, David Jay, Jessica Claire, [B]ecker, Julieanne Kost, Dane Sanders, and Jerry Ghionis.

I came across this quote in Bobby Earle’s blog post titled “Originality is Overrated (for Photographers).” In it, he writes about the importance of sincerity in art and I couldn’t agree more. I know for a fact that I do my best work without the added pressure of doing it for any other reason than just to make a photograph that is meaningful or taken candidly in a quiet moment. Check it out for some reassurance.

The application process is now open for this year’s lucky attendants, and if you or someone you know has a passion for photojournalism, then you should definitely apply if you’re eligible. It’s like church for photographers in a barn full of hopefuls being coached by the absolute best in the industry. And it’s tuition-free. While most workshops require thousands of your dollars to attend, this one accepts you based on merit and not your ability to pay. Eddie Adams said “I just want[ed] to get all my friends there and make it the best damn workshop they’ve ever been to,” and make it something that he wanted to attend. And he did. And it’s totally fulfilling, encouraging, exhausting and inspiring. I was star-struck by the faculty and staff and in awe of the amount of talent that surrounded me. It kicked my ass and opened my eyes to so many things even though my eyes could barely stay open as I only got about 10 hours of sleep the entire four days I was there. When they say it’s an intensive workshop, they mean it’s an intensive workshop. Portfolio reviews go well into the mornings with some of the top editors and photographers in the world and it is a gold-mine as far as networking goes. I can not stress how amazing this opportunity is.

On that same note, if you like documentaries or are interested in photojournalism and haven’t seen An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story, then go, now, find it, and watch it. I get goosebumps every time I see it and it’ll definitely inspire you if that’s something that you need. On my first night at the workshop they debuted this documentary and I’m not quite sure there was a dry eye in the room. Mostly because we were surrounded by his colleagues who miss him dearly (he passed away in 2004), but also because for me at least, I felt like in a way we were watching something that we were just about to be a part of. And it was really really important. Most of you who read this already know my ties and the many webs of connections it has weaved in my life, but if you’re considering applying and have any questions, feel free to get in touch! I’d love to tell you more about it.

Our class photo—I’m in the front row, left side in the grey  to the right of the green:

You can read up on these resolutions in detail in this article by Lisa Bettany. I have never been to her site before reading this post but will most certainly take the time to look through and see what other delicious tid bits I’ve been missing. Resolution #4 is one that I personally struggle with. Maybe it’s because I had the liberty of playing with so much expensive equipment in my heydays that I think I need more than what I have to be successful, but so many amazing photographs have been made with just a hole in a box so I think I should be able to do just fine with my Nikon even though everyone talks crap about it compared to Canon. I’m one of them. But who cares what kind of gear you use. What’s important is what comes out of it.

Here’s to getting out of my own way!

Sidenote: One of my pet peeves is when someone says they “edit their photos,” when they really mean “process their photos.” Editing is the act of selecting the images you want to work with from your days’ shoot…”Editing down to 20 images and then processing them in photoshop.” I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s someone who’s not in the photo business but just thought I’d throw the correct industry terminology out there.

Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan and Simon Bruyn on Vimeo.

INTERSTATE 81 — 2007

“When you come right down to it, the secret to having it all is loving it all.”
—Dr. Joyce Brothers

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“Citar” means “quote” in spanish and “Sunday Citar” is something that Tabitha Blue over at freshmommyblog.com has started and invited me to join in on. It’s a way of sharing funny, inspiring, motivational quotes that she comes across and also for others to share the same and have a common place to find more inspiring words. I think it’s a lovely idea. Please feel free to join in on the show and tell.

“Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it. Other rewards — recognition, financial remuneration — come to so few and are so fleeting…there are many other easier ways to make a living in this society. Take photography on as a passion, not a career.” —Alex Webb

“Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after. Don’t be in a rush to make pay your rent with your camera. Jimi Hendrix didn’t decide on the career of professional musician before he learned to play guitar. No, he loved music and created something beautiful and that THEN became a profession. Larry Towell, for instance, was not a “professional” photographer until he was already a “famous” photographer. Make the pictures you feel compelled to make and perhaps that will lead to a career. But if you try to make the career first, you will just make shitty pictures that you don’t care about.” —Christopher Anderson

“Find a subject you care about. Something that moves you. Something which stirs your rawest emotions. And then have patience.” —Mark Power

Many more here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA