(Standing on Soap Box)

So it has been an interesting week to say the least (Starting since last Saturday Night).  So far I found a guy in Brazil stealing my images and claiming them as his own on a Flickr account (Thanks to my good friend Ray Ketcham for the advice on how to deal with that) and I have been having a stream of comment spammers hit my site hard this week which has been causing some issues, along with a slew of trolls that for some reason have started a hate Josh movement.  Thank goodness for comment monitoring

So like the title says this is going to be a Soapbox standing post that I hope will help others and try to shine some rays of hope on Dick and Jane photog who are questioning continuing with this amazing art because they were given harsh news. 

Figured out what this post is about yet???  Well to sum it up, it is about critics.  There is a saying out there that “Everyone is a critic”, and that is a true statement.  In the world of photography it is no different.  You have people that love your work, people who think it’s OK, and others who may want to use it as toilet paper once printed.  You have to understand that once you put your art out there in the public eye it is open to review by anyone, so be prepared for what comes. 

When I was starting out in photography one thing I had to learn (and it took a long time) is that there is always going to be someone out there who may not like your stuff.  Your work can be raved about in articles, galleries, etc.  but there is always that chance that there may be a comment made that is not favorable and may make you question your own work. 

So what do you do about it ???  Simple answer, Nothing.  You just need to roll with it and let it go.  If you don’t your art will suffer for it.  And that is why I wanted to post this. 

A lot of folks have emailed me saying that so and so said that my image is horrible and it lacks this or that, and now they are questioning photography and staying with it.  My response to this is “who cares what they say”  if your photograph makes you happy then to heck with what others say, every person you talk to will have a different opinion of your image.  You have to have a thick skin when it comes to this, and it is because of emotional bonds.    I have blogged in the past how photography is about emotion.  The whole art of photography revolves around it.  There’s the emotion you have when you take a photo, seeing it printed the first time, having the joy when someone wants to buy the image because you captured them on some emotional level that makes them want to have it as well.  It is those emotional bonds that can make it hard to swallow when you hear someone say something that you perceive as negative.  The thing is you can’t let this get to you.  If you do then it will effect your art, and your love for photography. 

I am not going to lie this had happened to me a few times and it is not easy to shake, you question your photographic eye, the way you take your images, and the way you finish them.   However, you have to find a way to push through it.  It is different for everyone, and you have to find your niche, but keep shooting and enjoy this art.  Don’t let what one person said on a comment posting, review, or just even on the street sway you from your passion.  It is your love of photography that drives you to make images and nothing and no one should ever take that away from you. 

So in closing:   Eat, Shoot, and Be merry for tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to make amazing images. 

[Stepping off Soapbox now]

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