{"id":122450,"date":"2018-12-17T16:56:12","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T00:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=122450"},"modified":"2018-12-17T16:56:15","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T00:56:15","slug":"autotelic-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/17\/autotelic-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Autotelic Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

‘Autotelic’ means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do something by yourself, to be self-driven for a purpose you believe in.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"hands\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ever since I deleted my Instagram<\/a>, I have felt free. Because to be honest, a lot of us subconsciously get suckered by social media and photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing on making photos for yourself, we get suckered into trying to strive for more ‘likes’ on social media.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The more I philosophize about photography, the more I realize this truth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You must be an independent photographer; an individual photographer, a self-focused photographer — making photos to please yourself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Consider– if you strive to impress others with your photographs, the danger is that you end up making generic photos which please the masses (IKEA-esque photos). Truly great artwork generally spurns to please others (Nietzsche); great artists strive to impress themselves<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Would you still be motivated to make photos, even if you couldn’t share it with others?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Leica MP x Henri Neck Strap Mark III<\/a> in PHANTOM BLACK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For myself, this is the ultimate test to know whether you are self-driven with your photography or not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you still make photos if nobody else would see them?<\/p>

<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you still make photos, if you didn’t even have the opportunity to try<\/em> to impress others with your photos?\u00c2\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Also,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would you be happy as a photographer, if you made photos that pleased you, but others hated or felt indifferent towards?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"selfie<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to be self-driven in your photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"texture<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Practical tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Honestly, if you want to thrive as a photographer for the long-term, I encourage you to delete your Instagram and start your own photography blog<\/a>. This way, you will own your platform<\/a>. By owning your own platform, you have more control on how to share and publish your photos. Furthermore, you build equity in yourself by building your own platform!<\/li>
  2. Look at your old photos, and be brutally honest with yourself: “Which of my photos puts a smile on my face?”<\/li>
  3. Shoot everyday<\/a><\/strong>: You drink coffee everyday, watch entertainment (YouTube and Netflix) everyday; why not make photos everyday? If photography is fun for you, why don’t you shoot everyday<\/em>?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    SHOOT ON!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n