Affirmation.

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

I, like most people, require some level of affirmation or validation in various aspects of my life.  As I dive deeper into the creative passions of my life, I often ask for validation from my wife and close friends.  As I delve back into photography, I looked for approval from fellow photographer friends, whose opinions I respected.  In a few cases, I got constructive feedback, but in most examples, I would get a simple “looks good”, or “cool”, and even sarcastic responses.  Not exactly the feedback I was wanting.  I feel my photography in most cases is average at best, but I strive to improve every time I go out.  I still have not found my niche when it comes to what I love shooting.  My passion drives me to shoot as often as I can.

My blog is something else altogether.  I am not a good writer and have no real agenda when it comes to what I post.  It is more the flavor or thought of the day that drives the subject.  I asked some friends about the recent subjects and if they were too deep or dark, and was told, by a few people “you have some positive points”  “it’s your blog write what you want” and “you are artsy and artsy people tend to be deep”.  With that feedback in mind, my focus on the blog will stay the same.  I will post on my passions of hiking, photography, and music, with some blogs, sprinkled in like this one, voicing various thoughts, feeling, or emotions that define my life and make me who I am.

I was raised by parents who not only want to know but genuinely cared about others’ thoughts and feelings especially when it comes to something my parents said or did.  I picked up this trait as well and feel I need a lot of validation, as my wife can attest, on things I do, decisions I make, and the path my life is going in general.  As I am getting older I am trying to request less validation from others and focus on the validation from myself.  It is a hard habit to break, but I am making strides.  I will always find the need to justify my thoughts, actions, or feelings with others, but I strive to not let it paralyze me anymore.

I often watch YouTube, to help with the creative process for my pictures and also to follow my favorite photographers.  I’d say of all the photographers I follow that I have never met, Sean Tucker is probably my favorite.  Sean’s videos are more than messages about photography and gear, but a self-reflection of his thoughts, mood and life experience.  One such video I have watched a few times touches on the needs for validation and the true purpose on why to create art.  I think this carries over in any aspect of people’s lives whether it be a job, marriage, raising children, exercising, love, hate, or in his/my case taking photos.  In this video, he hit on something I struggle with. “If I don’t get that need for affirmation under control I’ll lose my way.”  – Sean Tucker.  That is now one of the main focuses of my life.  Sean’s message is strong and very relevant to me.  I suggest you take a few moments to listen to his video and possibly follow him. How to be Authentic in your Creative Work

One other message that struck me from the video is “All art completes its cycle when it is appreciated by someone else.”  – Sean Tucker.  I will gladly accept any critique of my work going forward but, I plan to shoot what I want, and write about what I feel.  I hope by practicing this within these two activities in my life, I will need far less validation about who I am, how I look, how I behave or act, how I think, and ultimately why I am the way I am.  I am Tim Bindner.  I no longer need to justify who I am to anyone!

Quotes, video, and the site used with permission of Sean Tucker.  Thanks, Sean!

Until next time,

Tim