The other day, a friend sent me a text message with a link to a podcast, along with a single sentence that read, “If I could be a small fraction of the photographer Sally Mann is, it would really be something.”
Excellent article and topic. I definitely don't compare myself or my work to others. I work at being unique. I experiment, read, attend cultural events, listen to music, etc etc to become more well rounded and to learn more about the world and those in it. That is what I strive for and, in turn, it affects the work I produce. Again, great article.
So hard to take inspiration from others without being overwhelmed by their talents. I think sometimes consuming art/innovation/ideas outside of your own sphere is helpful. I'm only a casual photographer with no intentions of becoming more. So I can look at visual artists (like you), photographers, musicians, etc, and marvel at their talent, learn from their process and get inspired to get back to work. But if I read a brilliant piece of prose, I can be chased away from my pen for an unhealthy amount of time. I will never be as good as that writer. Of course I won't. I'm NOT that writer. What I need to hold on is neither are they me. And while they may (deservedly) get book deals or acclaim that I will not, that isn't a reason to for me to stop creating. I need to create to get things out of my head. To figure out what I'm feeling or what I want to say by the process of saying it. And to do it with the conviction that maybe someone else will relate to it and maybe they won't, but it's the thing I knew needed to be created at that moment. (Saying this with conviction now, but know that I've been derailed by comparison more times than I care to remember.)
I enjoyed reading this and the thoughts that you shared. Interestingly, I could hear your voice in my head, so then I actually listened to your podcast. (I seem to do that on a regular basis). At times I think we all compare ourselves to others and you're right, we can't be someone else no matter how much we might try to emulate them. I watched the James Baldwin doco some time ago, but thanks for the reminder. Thanks too for your thoughts.
Excellent article and topic. I definitely don't compare myself or my work to others. I work at being unique. I experiment, read, attend cultural events, listen to music, etc etc to become more well rounded and to learn more about the world and those in it. That is what I strive for and, in turn, it affects the work I produce. Again, great article.
Great read, this is timely for me.
Excellent! Thanks, Jeffery. I needed this.
So hard to take inspiration from others without being overwhelmed by their talents. I think sometimes consuming art/innovation/ideas outside of your own sphere is helpful. I'm only a casual photographer with no intentions of becoming more. So I can look at visual artists (like you), photographers, musicians, etc, and marvel at their talent, learn from their process and get inspired to get back to work. But if I read a brilliant piece of prose, I can be chased away from my pen for an unhealthy amount of time. I will never be as good as that writer. Of course I won't. I'm NOT that writer. What I need to hold on is neither are they me. And while they may (deservedly) get book deals or acclaim that I will not, that isn't a reason to for me to stop creating. I need to create to get things out of my head. To figure out what I'm feeling or what I want to say by the process of saying it. And to do it with the conviction that maybe someone else will relate to it and maybe they won't, but it's the thing I knew needed to be created at that moment. (Saying this with conviction now, but know that I've been derailed by comparison more times than I care to remember.)
I enjoyed reading this and the thoughts that you shared. Interestingly, I could hear your voice in my head, so then I actually listened to your podcast. (I seem to do that on a regular basis). At times I think we all compare ourselves to others and you're right, we can't be someone else no matter how much we might try to emulate them. I watched the James Baldwin doco some time ago, but thanks for the reminder. Thanks too for your thoughts.