The Journey

I recently received an email from a friend I knew in high school, Phaedra Ledbetter, who is now an interior designer in California. Phaedra and I email each other a few times each year to catch up on what each of us are doing. She is VERY talented, and honestly, I would love to work with her one day. During our last email she commented on my web site and how it was "very intense, with beautifully crafted photos and amazing color". Now it is always nice to get compliments on something you have worked so hard to get right. But it did make me think - does this mean I have "Made It". Wow, someone so talented has complimented my work. Yes, she could have just have been being nice, but maybe she wasn't. Does that mean I can rest?
I emailed back and said that "since October I'm really starting to feel like I'm getting everything together. Still have a ways to go, which is a good thing.
I don't ever want to "be there". The journey's way to fun".

What a revelation!

I've taken, what I think, are some very nice photos - but have also taken crap. Which brings me to this - when can we say we have "made it". Is it when we start getting compliments, our first big assignment, taken the best photo "ever"? I hope not. It's the Journey that we all want - the adventure in finding something new. We don't use Photoshop so that we can keep doing the same thing. We use it to challenge ourselves. We use it for the journey to creativity.

Here are three photos that have gotten some recognition. The hound photo will be in the 2008 PDN Photo Annual, the girl in the white dress wearing pink chucks has received many emails from art directors and the Wellington boots has a story all onto itself.
Have I "made it" - No. When I've taken the best picture ever, then it's time to quit.

For me, it's all about the Journey!