You all need to watch this

That's an excellent and insightful short film.

I can relate to that. Those thinking that it won't instantly make your photos any better are maybe missing the point. To me it says that when you're going through a patch of not being happy with your skill or ability, don't worry as everyone feels like this at some point. Experience will allow you to grow but it just takes time, a lot of time.
 
Maybe I'm a bit of a SAD sufferer too :thinking: as winter certainly makes me hate my work too. Most of the time I'm 'chipper' about life, the universe, etc. but there are those darker moments when self-doubt takes over from self-belief and I just want to run away and hide

I find it important to have 'projects' to work on and a goal of sorts too to help my photography. Sometimes that's just the business aspects, but mostly it's the artistic ones

I have two such artistic projects just kicking off this year and I'm very excited about both, and Spring is coming and the sun is shining :)

Thanks for spotting that Pete :thumbs:

DD
 
I don't do a lot of photography in the winter. My business is very seasonal, so during the winter I'm largely preparing for the new season. Ideally, I would hibernate - well perhaps not totally, but I'd slow down, stay at home, mentally turn inward, that sort of thing. Actually, in a way, I don't have much choice, that's the way my metabolism works.

You could call it S.A.D, but maybe we ARE meant to semi-hibernate. When we lived in caves what would be the point of staying awake for 16 hours a day in the darkness? Maybe some of the symptoms of S.A.D. result from us trying to fight what our body really needs in wintertime? (Warmth, sleep, enough food to stay alive?)

Come the spring I feel that photographically I've had the chance to recharge my batteries, and that maybe what I produce or create might not just be more of the same. In that sense a long break over winter or at any time could actually help you to stay creative...

The middle of February, though, I have to get my a**e in gear and get out there and start selling stuff again. It's not easy.
 
Blooming 'eck, thats gotta be one of the best things I've watched for a long time. I almost switched it off after the first 20seconds but I'm glad I stuck with it. It may be photography based but it could apply in some way to everyone in every walk of life, humbling and inspiring at the same time.

Thanks for posting the link Pete.
 
When anyone says anything like the following, I listen.

"What is my voice?, This keeps me up at night. What is my vision? What is my goal? What do I bring to the table that countless others haven't already served up on this massive platter of visual pollution we create each and every day?

Some of you are the real top ten photographers of the world and the rest of us don't even know your alive. You don't even realize how amazing you are, some of your are just getting started, be patient, don't rush, chill out and you'll be on your way.
Some of you suck and you really need some help, your camera doesn't have a Richard Avedon button on it does it? Well, Avedon sucked, Karsh sucked, Adams sucked, Mary Ellen sucked, every photographer in all of history was a horrible photographer for some period of time, they learned, they grew, they had dark days, they persevered, that is the way of the artist.
Just be patient, keep on going, transformation takes time and from what I've seen in my life it really is worth the wait"

I've emboldened the word help because it is significantly different to saying that you suck and should give up.
I find no hidden segregation of amateur or pro, working or non working photographers.
The message is clear for me and that is to be truthful to yourself.
Are we doing all we can in what we believe in? What we aspire to be?
Whether it's a hobby or career, are we satisfied with what we bring to the table? If we are then why do we give ourselves such a hard time? Why do we compare ourselves to others when it's our visions, our life, our goals that are the issue?

foodpoison said:
I can't help feel that it was just... slightly... condescending?
Is anyone with me?
Click to expand...

Mike Hoyer said:
I got bored after a minute - can someone give me the gist of what happens?
Click to expand...

ranarama said:
"You all need to watch this"
I disagree. It was well made and quite an interesting video but it'll make diddly squat difference to the way I take photos. I think he has more mental demons to fight than I do.
Click to expand...

awp said:
nothing happens
Click to expand...

swanseamale47 said:
Sounds like seasonally affective disorder to me, almost like a video suicide note, guys got some problems to sort out.
Can't see how thats supposed to inspire anybodys photography. Wayne
Click to expand...

Personally I'm very relieved that I don't share the above views and opinions on the short film. Particularly Wayne's comment I find disturbing and desolate. I perceive attitudes like this leading only to oblivion.

I think the film had precisely the effect that was intended by it's author. To inspire and sooth.

Cheers for posting it Pete, I would have missed it.
 
Something like making videos about his life perhaps? :p I didn't get the feeling that he doesn't enjoy it at all. I love what I do and wouldn't change it but there are times as there are in any creative job.
 
Kerioak said:
I found it deeply depressing rather than inspiring - to go though all that stress every winter - why not find something that he enjoys instead?
Click to expand...

He loves what he does, that's why it pains him so much when he feels he doesn't improve.
 
"your camera doesn't have a Richard Avedon button on it does it? Well, Avedon sucked, Karsh sucked, Adams sucked, Mary Ellen sucked, every photographer in all of history was a horrible photographer for some period of time, they learned, they grew, they had dark days, they persevered, that is the way of the artist."

This is the bit that I liked the best, really made chuckle.
 
The most interesting part of this is how different people here respond to it.

For me it was interesting to watch after reading what people posted about it but to me it was more depressing than inspiring. Having said that I can appreciate that it would be a comfort to people who go through the same thing - just knowing a professional has the same feelings.

Perhaps the solution is to have an abundance of creative outlets. Creativity is an energy and it needs to be exercised. If what you are doing doesn't give you the creative 'high' then you need another direction to look in. Is this guy so focussed on his own particular style of photography (that pays the bills) that instead of looking for other directions, he comes to a dead end and bangs his head against the wall?

Just my thoughts.

Some kids go to the sweet shop and say 'can I have that and that and that please and how much will it be?'. Other kids go in, hold out a hand with their pennies and say 'how many sweets can I have for this much?'

Am I trying too hard? :-)
 
Thanks for posting that Pete, it's just what I needed atm and it has rammed a few things home for me.
 
I think it shows that creativity comes from experiences so without the darker moods ....the creative highs cannot be achieved..... :shrug:

Just as I think I have a good pic using an alternative style .... I am brought down to earth with a suddering bit of critism ..... crushing the creativity ..... but just as quickly a ray of hope appears .... in the form of positive comment out of the blue and from someone totally unknown .....

I enjoy photography ....... it is for me ..... but if others like something I'm proud of it just takes it to a new level.

Very interesting spot Pete :thumbs:

Paul
 
The video clip is something I generally don't watch, when it started, it appeared to me to be just another one of those 'how to's' so wasn't going to bother, but for some reason, I persevered with it.

A lot of it, I can't identify with, he talks of himself as an artist, he describes how he actually has a lot of things going for him, he is in a profession that allows him to be able to spend time with his offspring during the week, and not just at weekends, to sit in a coffee shop with his wife during the day, he isn't on the treadmill that many of us find ourselves.

I have taken up photography as a hobby purely by accident, I decided that I sit at home, doing nothing, for far too much of my time, and decided that I needed to do something, and one of my initial thoughts was to go to airshows (previously, my last airshow was the Mildenhall Air Fete in 2001) and then shortly afterwards, had the thought that a nice camera, to take a few pics would be in order, then when doing the research for what would be required, it became apparent very quickly that a point and shoot would not be up to it.

I got my first DSLR last January, a 400D kit, and I sit here now, I have a 40D, and my main lens is a 100-400mm, so in terms of the aviation side of things, kitwise, I'm pretty happy (sure, a 1Ds Mk3 would always be welcome) but then I sometimes find myself a little unfulfilled.

I joined this site some time ago, and on it, have found some characters here, and some fantastic photography, does it inspire me? It should do, but doesn't, laziness and apathy has set in, and I can't leave my comfort zone, standing at RAF Mildenhall is easy, an aircraft comes to me, I click, I have pics, it is easy.

To go out and get the great landscape shots, the urban and people shots, to understand photography, to find that creativity, thats whats beyond me, I long for that "wow" shot that I have seen so many times, and one day I may get it, I need to read more, I need to understand more, I need to put myself out there, the pics don't take themselves.

The guy in the video talks of his dark days, I (photographically speaking) walk around with the proverbial dark cloud over my head, it is February, the spring is coming, the summer will follow that, I long for that cloud to lift.

And as the poster of that video says, why get to pushing 80, unable to speak, when you haven't done anything to get to where you want to be.

Yes, that clip was the sort of thing I don't watch, but it did make me think.....
 
Thanks for posting this.

I kinda felt like this video was for me.

A lot of the time, I think negatively of my work, and of myself. I often set myself ridiculously high goals, and then realise it's going to take a long time to reach them. I vision how I want to be in the future, and then kick myself for not being that person at the present.

A thought provoking video.

Towards the middle of the video, he was talking about his Dad in hospital. And that right now we have the ability to say all the things we want to say, and do all the things we want to do.
How are we going to spend our time? Are we going to sit meditating on all the negative things we do? Or are we going to keep going, keep learning, improving, and doing something to make us the person we want to be.

Also like the ending of this video. The whole clip is in black and white, then right at the end when he's talking about persevering...there's some colour, something good comes from our efforts.
"transformation takes time...and it really is worth the wait"

Anyway, that's just how the video came accross to me.
 
Well I've just sat and watched this, that was bloody cheerful wasn't it!

Doesn't do a lot for me, I get the idea of what he's on about, but I knew all that anyway. Don't need depressing music, desolate black and white scenes, and someone moaning to decide how I should change my life. I don't spend the winter getting depressed, sure I try and plan what I'm going to do better this year, but it's something to look forward to.
 
Interesting how some people find it inspiring and moving while others find it depressing and pointless. I think its healthy to feel this way, to have darker days. It means you're always striving to make things better and that can't be a good thing.
 
Well I found it quite inspiring, because I can relate to it.

I think that's the key. If you can relate to how he feels, then you're likely to be inspired.

I think the gist of it is

"You think you suck...everyone sucked at one time...." (but a bit more wordy of course).
It's very true when you think about it, and who doesn't think half of their work is crap sometimes? I know I do....alot.
 
I really liked it because I can relate quite closely to it. I think it would appeal to most photographers in business, probably less so to people in the business of photography...

Amateurs, I guess it would depend what they are into photography for if the video would mean anything to them or not.

I personally don't compare myself to my peers but I find that looking back on my shots I never really like them and feel I should be fit to do better. There is shots I'm proud off, but I'm not terribly sure if I've taken any shot that I could truly say I really like. My parents have loads of shots of mine hanging, I have none.
 
petemc said:
Interesting how some people find it inspiring and moving while others find it depressing and pointless. I think its healthy to feel this way, to have darker days. It means you're always striving to make things better and that can't be a good thing.
Click to expand...

I think it's because the film forces us to face a few inner truths and in the end, inspires defensive and discriminatory reactions from some.

It's apparent that whenever a debate or discussion surfaces that contains definitions or relations to 'professionalism' or full time photography as a career or a living, then an abundance of defensive comments and remarks pop up. In truth, whether full timer or hobbyist, it doesn't really matter, whether photographer or brick layer, it doesn't really matter. It's about what you create and whether you care about it so much that sometimes you can't sleep or relax because your worrying about your worth, your offering, your creations.

It's like folk have to make a statement to justify themselves to themselves, feeling inadequate when there's no real reason too. They're missing the point of the topic entirely and finding rotten elements when there is nothing but fresh views on offer.
Instead the irrelevant becomes relevant and is used as an obstacle in prejudice:
Mike Hoyer said:
Doesn't do a lot for me, I get the idea of what he's on about, but I knew all that anyway. Don't need depressing music, desolate black and white scenes, and someone moaning to decide how I should change my life.
Click to expand...

They see what they want to see rather than accept that they're maybe unhappy with what they're doing and changes need to be made, new approaches are needed, new angles need to be found and big music needs to be faced.
It's just plain old denial IMO.

As Marcel mentioned, if you can relate to what Zack Arias is saying the messages are quite clear. There is only a positive and encourageable current to the films flow.
 
liked it a lot, was a little dramatic at times and the colour sun through the cloud bit at the end made me want to hurl but i thought it was good, loved the intro and i understand what he's saying. :)
 
I think that Zack has built up enough of a rep with his One Light work that whatever he has to say regarding photography is definitely worth a listen. He has put his heart out there on the net for public consumption which is a pretty brave thing to do. How many of those looking at this thread would throw something out there for the world to see admitting to depression and other dark moods?

I found it pretty on the button, we all find our photography hitting a wall and we all think our photos suck. I am definitely with with him on that. Even when people tell me I have taken a good photo I just can't believe them but I do think that that is the whole point of photography, it inspires self improvement.

Unfortunately there is a flipside, constantly criticising your work does drop you into a funk with it all, you think 'whats the point'?

It underlines that photography is an artform, not some easily learnt craft where any old joe can pick up a point and shoot they got from Asda and start taking pro pictures. There is a constant struggle for self improvement and in this struggle our self criticism has a definite downside. It is this downside that made Zack made that video.

The fact that Zack struggles with this and he pays bills with his camera must be doubly frightening. A big pat on the back for his candour and bravery.
 
There is definately a link between the creative arts and mood. There is definately a link between the creative mind and depression. How may artists, photographers, comedians have stunned us with their artistry and privately suffered.

I don't think it's a huge revalation that Jack is another sufferer. Bob Carlos Clarke killed himself by walking in front of a train and I absolutely adored his work.

Interesting insight though.
 
I felt this was aimed more at the younger up and coming photographer.

I've had plenty of up's and downs, and a lot of dark winters in my life over the last 40 odd years and felt he was trying to teach me to suck egg's.

I can see it inspiring some, but for me it was a load of c**p.

Well shot though.

This is just my opinion.
 
Watched it twice now,perhaps i`m too practical and down to earth as I found it to be self indulgent,self pitying crap............:shrug:
 
Pretty much how I feel. I know there's always room for improvement, but I don't get depressed about it. It's something to look forward to!

It's not really just about photography is it though, it's also to do with his family tragedy - which if you view it that way, the photography is a pretty insignificant thing.
 
I quite enjoyed that and like many I have countless days where think my work sucks (to use the American euphanism) and often wonder why I bother. The message I got from that was that I am not alone and most of us who take it seriously have darker days which I can only presume goes with the territory.

Was the film inspirational? I'm not sure as he only echoed what I feel at times but it was very interesting and certainly moving when he was talking about his father which I think was the driving force of this movie.

Thanks for posting it pete and I'll probably watch it again.
 
subseasniper said:
I think that Zack has built up enough of a rep with his One Light work that whatever he has to say regarding photography is definitely worth a listen. He has put his heart out there on the net for public consumption which is a pretty brave thing to do. How many of those looking at this thread would throw something out there for the world to see admitting to depression and other dark moods?

I found it pretty on the button, we all find our photography hitting a wall and we all think our photos suck. I am definitely with with him on that. Even when people tell me I have taken a good photo I just can't believe them but I do think that that is the whole point of photography, it inspires self improvement.

Unfortunately there is a flipside, constantly criticising your work does drop you into a funk with it all, you think 'whats the point'?

It underlines that photography is an artform, not some easily learnt craft where any old joe can pick up a point and shoot they got from Asda and start taking pro pictures. There is a constant struggle for self improvement and in this struggle our self criticism has a definite downside. It is this downside that made Zack made that video.

The fact that Zack struggles with this and he pays bills with his camera must be doubly frightening. A big pat on the back for his candour and bravery.
Click to expand...

Very well said. :clap:
 
I think this is simply a case of different strokes. Some people prefer to share their 'downs' and work through them knowing there are other in the same place. Other people prefer to work through any depressions themselves. It's not denial - it's just a different mindset.
 
AndyB said:
I think this is simply a case of different strokes. Some people prefer to share their 'downs' and work through them knowing there are other in the same place. Other people prefer to work through any depressions themselves. It's not denial - it's just a different mindset.
Click to expand...

There may be two different frames of mind here but not the two that you have described, IMO, I see a difference between folk who consistently want to do better, so much so it can cause negative side effects and periods of heavy self analysis and then folk who don't really care as much and would rather condemn and discriminate the folk who do.

fracster said:
Watched it twice now,perhaps i`m too practical and down to earth as I found it to be self indulgent,self pitying crap............:shrug:
Click to expand...

Like many of the more negative responses, Fracster (in this instance) needs to suggest that he is the practical and more down to earth type here and then also suggests anyone who thinks otherwise is maybe self indulgent and endorses self pity.

"Some of you are the real top ten photographers of the world and the rest of us don't even know your alive. You don't even realize how amazing you are, some of your are just getting started, be patient, don't rush, chill out and you'll be on your way."

The film strikes a note in people, it's proven in the responses, it either makes you feel better or makes you feel worse.
 
No Thomas, that is my opinion,stated as you have stated yours.We don`t agree on the matter and don`t need to justify our opinions to each other,surely?
 
fracster said:
No Thomas, that is my opinion,stated as you have stated yours.We don`t agree on the matter and don`t need to justify our opinions to each other,surely?
Click to expand...

No mate, you don't have to justify yourself to me or anyone for that matter, that's not what I'm trying to draw attention to.
I personally believe that your opinion on this particular discussion, in this instance only and most certainly not generally speaking, is harmful to you and I think it's a shame that you feel that way about the film.
I mean no offense, I mean no harm and I certainly intend no bad feelings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top