“There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos!” Jim Hightower, Radio Commentator and Author
It’s another quality of those photographers we admire – they always take a stand. This isn’t about being opinionated, it’s about believing in yourself so strongly that you’re not easily swayed by the various trends and opinion shifts in the industry. That doesn’t mean they don’t pay attention to consumer trends and paradigm shifts, just that they take a stand and don’t ride the fence!
Jose Villa still loves to shoot film and has managed to utilize the very best aspects of today’s technology. Kirk Voclain only needs 20-30 frames to get the images he needs to capture the very best of his senior clients. David Ziser never compromises on the way he lights a portrait. My partner in GoingPro, Scott Bourne, often talks about the responsibility he feels to have his images speak for the animals.
Then there are leaders in various charitable aspects of the industry like Leah Hoskins, who had something more she wanted to do and started the F.I.L.M. project, helping families with cancer. Betsy Chesler founded Cameras for Kids Foundation to help abandoned teens build their self-esteem. Tasra Dawson started Teen Identity helping teen girls develop a stronger self-image.
Every photographer we admire has taken a stand on something. They have a consistency in their images, their business and their relationships. They don’t waffle when you ask them a question. They’re not politicians trying to please everybody.
Taking a stand isn’t just something they do when it’s appropriate, it’s the way they live their lives!
“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.”
Kofi Annan
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This post sponsored by Bay Photo Lab
January 17th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Nice Post Skip.