{"id":203500,"date":"2020-01-21T16:09:01","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T00:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=203500"},"modified":"2020-01-21T16:23:59","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T00:23:59","slug":"dont-strive-to-make-good-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/21\/dont-strive-to-make-good-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Strive to Make Good Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A big thing that has helped re-motivate my photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t care whether you make “good” or “bad” photos.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Better yet: don’t strive to make good photos. Just shoot for fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

You have no contemporaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest things which has helped me and my personal artistry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine as you have no contemporaries.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Only find inspiration from (dead) or (really old) masters<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem of paying too much attention to your contemporaries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are more likely to make derivative photos.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If your goal is to make truly original photos based on your personal taste<\/a>, then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strive for CREATIVE ISOLATION<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What is a ‘good’ photo anyways?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A good photo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A photo which brings you joy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I believe that we need to PRIVATELY enjoy our own photos. We need to judge our own personal authenticity; whether we are truly making photos for ourselves. And this is my thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your desire is to leave a legacy as a photographer, FIRST strive to make photos that please you. THEN share your photos!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You might be less popular in the short-term, but you are more likely to thrive in the long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are the best self-judge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"selfie<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just keep shooting. Shoot photos as you breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you desire to share your photos, the best place to share them is your own website\/blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Approach photography like a child<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When do we learn that certain things are “good” or “bad”? As we get socialized from childhood to adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A child plays for fun; no regard for “good” or “bad”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Become more child-like in your photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Let us take a zen<\/a> or taoist<\/a> approach to photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See the world from the eyes of a child<\/a>, or “beginner’s mind<\/a>“.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For example my niece Amelia — she shoots for fun, and actually doesn’t really care to see the photos after-the-fact. Perhaps this is the best way to approach photography?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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