Skip to main content

Happy New Year

 

Since many of the stores already have Christmas stuff out, I set a New Year Resolution. I know it is early, but it was on my mind, so I wanted to share.

Over the past several years, my frustration with social media has grown. I have joined, deleted, and rejoined Facebook, mainly to follow photography groups.

I recently watched a video that struck a chord with me. The author spoke of the purpose of purpose of sharing things on social media, and in my case, my pictures. He talked about the desire to get likes, followers, and comments. That in the beginning all people, no matter what genre, strive for this. It is later that, as we grow in our work, those likes, follows and comments lessen as we strive to find our authentic voice.

I have always prided myself on doing what I like and not doing for others. This is apparent when one of my most photographs that now hand in three different locations (two homes and an office) is a picture I don’t like. I took it on a whim and almost deleted it when I got home from my hike and began reviewing my shots for the day.

Like these blogs, I write what is on my mind and what I am ruminating about now. My pictures are the same way. I admit I was from time to time shooting for others to get praise, likes and comments, but that has changed. I now shoot what I see and like. If others like it too, that is a bonus.

My New Years Resolution will be to not post for a year (maybe longer if this removes the stress and anxiety I feel) from Instagram or Facebook. Let me clarify a bit. When I say post, I mean my photographs taken with my camera. I might still ‘check-in’ or post an occasional selfie or shot taken with my phone, but my artwork will not appear from January 1st.

Unlike before, I will not be deleting my accounts, just not posting on them. I will still house my pictures on my 500px site and share samples of them from my work email, but my daily posts will not happen for at least a year.

I'll continue my daily Instagram posts for about 45 more days, but then I'll take a break to concentrate on my work and capturing what I enjoy. I will strive for a Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Tim

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

End

I don't worry about the world ending.  It has ended for me many times and always started the next morning. Until next time  Tim

Mentor

  When my photography journey rekindled back in 2015 with a trip to Maine, I never knew how far I would come and how important pushing a button on a camera would be. I have come a long way, but still have so much more to learn. A mentor is described as an experienced and trusted adviser (noun) . Also, as someone who will advise or train (someone, especially a younger  colleague ) (verb). Wikipedia also states mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.  Since I have gotten more serious about my photography, I have been looking for a mentor that fits these categories listed above. Seeking guidance, I reached out to a handful of “professional” photographers to inquire about mentorship. I received no response from one person, another person casually mentioned that they rarely mentor, and a third person kindly explained that they ...

Somewhere I Belong

  Music is so powerful. It is an integral part of my life. It often helps me express my feelings that I cannot do otherwise in any form. Yesterday this happened to me once again. I drove to Curby, Indiana for my massage. It is a nice smooth drive west on interstate 64 to exit 92. With the temperature in the upper 70s and the sun shining brightly, I had all four windows down and my sunroof open. Cruising at 78mph, my playlist on shuffle and the radio turned up. We have all done this. I arrived at my massage location and as it begun, my massage therapist referenced my latest post tiled 3am . She, however, had a different take on it. She mentioned that she had read waking up at 3am consistently was because of anxiety or anger, not creativity. The CALM app states, “ The mind has a funny way of kicking into overdrive just when you need rest the most. Stress and anxiety can activate your body’s “fight or flight” response, making it hard to stay asleep . ” For me, waking up at 3am h...