A little ketchup goes a long way…
2014 was a good year. I got to know many wonderful bloggers. While struggling to find out what photographing really meant to me, I was encouraged by and learned from many of you. Thank you!
I have gathered and reread the comments I had received from you and I am amazed at your wisdom words. Now I would like to share them with you and I hope you’ll like them as much as I do.
(There is no particular order for the list… I am too lazy to put them in any order.)
Otto von Münchow
You should follow your own way. If you shoot “soft” street photos, then don’t worry about others shooting bold and strong images. Just keep doing what you do and be honest with yourself.
I think you shouldn’t worry about what happens if you do this or if you do that. If it sounds interesting to learn more about Photoshop for instance, I would just go for it (although I would actually recommend starting with Lightroom, which has a much less steep learning curve and is more intuitive to use). And if you end up always wanting to Photoshop your images, so what? If that’s what you want, that’s fine – and it’s called developing you photographic voice – something you can’t plan beforehand anyway. As long as you are honest to yourself; whatever you do is going to be fine.
treerabold
I thinks it’s important that we be open to what others say and keep practicing!!
Each photo tells its own story. Maybe some of us aren’t meant to be professional level photographers but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a story to tell through our photographs. Our stories and our photos are unique to us. No one else can tell the story we have in our heart and no one else can see exactly what we see.
I think sharing our hearts and creativity with others is so much more important. Each time we share a creative piece of writing or creative photo we put a little piece of ourselves out into the world!!
Mark Kertesz Photography
In my opinion you are good enough when you are proud of what you have taken. When some emotions are stirred from your photograph you have done your job but it’s all about you. Should others along the way like it that’s great but in my humble opinion no validation is needed just do it because you love it and that will shine through.
Amy
To me, a great photo should give viewers a room to image, related to, or tell a story.
Paul’s Pictures
Once we stop comparing our work with others then we move forward. We then stop trying to match ourselves to the expectations and standards of others (an impossibility as we will never be satisfied) and begin creating real art.
I think you should follow your own vision.
Lignum Draco
It’s important to find your own style.
I’m glad you’ve found your passion. Now you know where your heart is, the rest will flow.
There’s so much to read (from Internet) that’s free. But remember practice and experimentation is what is truly important.
Steve
Comparisons will always make you feel smaller than you really are. If all birds sang the same song, it would be boring 🙂
Mother Hen
You are free to be who you are and capture what interests you.. Isn’t it wonderful to realize that.
I love diversity and so it is hard for me to nail it down. Our world offers so much of everything.
firstandfabulous
Be inspire by other people’s talents, not discouraged that I’m not as good. Sounds so simple but I always got discouraged that I wasn’t as good. I decided to take a new outlook and be inspired rather than to withdraw.
Elizabeth
we all have our own style and view of the world, these make us what we are, it’s good to learn few techniques with others, but the important is to find our own qualities and enjoy it.
Evenretep
I do it for me, I do it for the art, for the pleasure of an image, the colour of nature, I still do some studio work, but just for friends and family, I no longer have to be at someone’s beck and call, just being me.
You take photographs how you feel, leave the rules, philosophy and everything to those who want to use them, those to make money from photography and those who have a very long pole up their backside.
carol1945
Each of us is unique and each of our photographs whether they are “good” or “bad” are expressions of our own individuality.
jpeggytaylor
Even the smallest things in nature can be so beautiful – we can find new and beautiful things around us every day 🙂
Woolly Muses
Photography should be all about enjoying what we are shooting and endeavoring to improve our own techniques and skills to the degree we want. As for post processing….I think I read on another blog that if it takes longer than two minutes the photo was not good enough in the first place. Personally I think that is a fairly good yardstick to go by.
HHC Blog 
What a special treat this is Helen! I still have a few hang ups, lol!, but I am better and I love that you put this together in this manner. It is helpful to read what other bloggers have to say on the subject! Thank you so much!
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You’re welcome. Actually, I should thank you… for the friendship, support, advice, love… This is a wonderful world!
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These were all very wise words and I for one derived a lot of benefit from them. In the end, our photographs are as unique as our voices 🙂
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I am glad you feel the same way as I do. It took me a while to copy them from my blog, but it sure worth the effort because they mean a lot to me.
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Thank you for making the effort because I benefited too 🙂
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What a wonderful post, Helen. This made me breathe a sigh of relief that I can just go and have fun and enjoy taking pictures for the sheer joy of it. Thank you!
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Hello, Lois. Breath a sigh of relief? I always have fun reading your post. You’ve given us so much joy!
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I’m humbled to be here with these top notch photographers and bloggers. Thank you so much, Helen! I shall visit them. I always enjoy your visiting your post, your photos always give us room to imagine and have stories to tell, and you have created your own beautiful style.
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Thanks, Amy. You are so kind. I’ve learned a lot from you and many other bloggers whom I didn’t mention here. It’s easy to share something I learned, but not everything. It’s not because I didn’t want to, but it is difficult technically. You have a big heart. I learned to care more about others, and I learned to be nicer ;-), and that is hard to put into words, so I’ve skipped that part 😉
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Even you won’t say a word, I know and understand…, Helen. Between us, there is no need to struggle for words. Thank you again. 🙂
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I like what Otto had to say right away “You should follow your own way.” And then throughout the comments this theme seemed to grow and take on such important points. You can admire other photographers, their work and gather the inspiration…but create something that comes from you, take a long look at a subject and then tell its story.
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Hello, Randall. You summarized it well. It took me a while to learn that. (Still, if I can do it your way, I would be thrilled. Ha. 😉
There is a follow-up on this post, which I don’t know when I will be able to write it. Life is interesting. We learn things in a strange way. At least I do. I hope you will read that post whenever it comes out!
We plan to visit Taiwan at the end of Oct. My friends and I will travel the east side of island. Can’t wait.
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That is a good point, the way we learn things is so varied ~ and interesting… Taiwan in October, a great time to visit ~ hopefully I will be out in the area at that time as well. Cheers!
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Such a great tribute to those you hold dear. 🙂
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Thanks, Cee. And you are a very special friend! If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t meet any of these bloggers. It was your photo challenge that gave me the opportunity! Not to mention all the encouragement, support, e-hugs… I have gotten from you 😉
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Thanks for including me, Helen. So much wisdom here. We are lucky to be able to share with this blogging business. Keep up the fabulous work. (I don’t have to tell you that do I?)
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Thanks, First-Hand-Fabulous! Yes, I feel lucky. It’s a warm environment! I will keep working hard, teacher. (You were a teacher before, right? You sound like one. 😉
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Yup. But we’re all always learning, right. We teach each other. ❤️
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Very nice collection of commentaries. Way to go in putting it together. It seems like the general concensus is … basically … being yourself … be your own camera button. 😀
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Good morning, Rommel. I don’t like to waste wisdom words… 😉
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These are wonderful! These are true words of wisdom! Thank you for sharing these.
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Good morning, Dixie. I can’t say enough good words about this blogging community. People are wonderful. My life has been changed… for good 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
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