“I build the cars I like. If people wished to buy them, well, that could possibly be arranged.” Ettore Bugatti
It is impossible to know whether others will like your photos or not.
But it is easy to photograph what you like.
“Interesting” is subjective
What is “interesting” to you won’t be interesting to other people.
For example, if you live in NYC, yellow taxi cabs aren’t interesting to you. But it might be very interesting to European tourists.
If you’re living in Tokyo, vending machines and capsule hotels aren’t interesting— but they are interesting to Americans.
Reality is all colored through our own perception. What is “interesting” to us, isn’t necessarily interesting to others.
You’ll never know
When it comes to photography, you can’t predict whether others will like your photos or not. There are tons of great photographers who have never been discovered. Some who were discovered after they died (Vivian Maier), and some who were discovered when they were really old (Saul Leiter).
But the sad reality is that you can be the world’s best photographer— but if you don’t have enough luck, or hustle — nobody might know who you are.
But is that okay with you?
Are you okay with being the best photographer you possibly can, and photographing with all of your heart and soul, and possibly having nobody else know about you?
Do you really photograph what interests you? Are you making the photos that you want to look at?
“Success”?
The secret to becoming a “successful” photographer (or human being) is to follow your own heart, to not compromise, and to not do what you don’t want to do.
So keep shooting what you like, and be patient for others to like your work.
After all, would you want to photograph rainbows and cute dogs for the rest of your life — if that meant you would gain wealth, fame, and fortune?
Or would you rather be a nameless photographer, who photographs what you’re passionate about, and perhaps never be discovered?
Follow your own taste
Shoot what you like, after all — you have the best taste.
Always,
Eric
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