For me, photography has been like a rollercoaster ride, full of ups and downs and tight curves. From running a semi-successful photography business to wanting to sell my gear and move on from it. The business was fun at first but after a few years, the fun was gone. It became more of a job, not interesting and boring. I am going to guess that being somewhat of an introvert was part of the problem. Photographing people was not my passion! During this period I did have a great mentor. A professional photographer with 25 or so years of experience as a wedding photographer and a corporate headshot photographer. Mario P. Menard taught me many things over the years we worked together and I greatly appreciate his time and effort spent on a newbie photographer.

I, instead, enjoy nature and wildlife. So, I closed shop and continued to photograph what I was passionate about, for fun, as a hobby. Even then you still get the periods where you want to sell all your gear and never look back. The next day you are back outdoors with camera in hand looking for something to catch your eye. I went through this many times over the years. Loss of motivation. I no longer felt creative. My diabetes started to affect my mobility, nerve damage in my feet. I had to start using a cane to get around. This caused a mental blockage for me. I no longer felt safe going out to photograph alone, figuring a man in his late forties walking with a cane and carrying his camera around his neck with a camera bag on his back was an easy target for getting mugged. In other words, I only went out to photograph when I had a companion with me. For reasons known or unknown, your creative juices start to flow again you are back out with your camera creating images once again.

Another thing that would hit me every now and then was seeing all these awesome images on social media and comparing my works to them. I am talking about years back when I was just starting out as a photographer. I do realize these photographers have spent years practicing and maybe even taken all kinds of related courses which allow them to create what they create, with good reason. You feel that you will never accomplish what they have accomplished, so why bother trying. Over the years you realize that every photographer has their own style. Some are very creative in the editing process while others prefer a more natural look. You also realize there is no right or wrong way. Art is art. Sure, over time you get better at taking a photo, you better understand the gear you use and to use it properly. That alone makes for better, more appealing photos. You learn some of the “rules” of photography and know when to break or bend them. You soon go from snapshots to photographs. You develop your own editing style and create the images the way you want them to look. You are now starting to create your own brand of images. I do not speak for the masses, this is all based on personal experience but some of it may hold true to some of you. So, who should be comparing yourself with?

The ONLY photographer you should be comparing yourself to is the one you used to be.

This is what I am currently doing, going through my archives and looking at my photographs from the beginning, which I still enjoy, until the current period. My style and knowledge have changed quite a bit over time.