While I was fortunate to learn many things at the North American Photography Association’s (NANPA) 2009 Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the one that I think I will find the most valuable over the months and years to come ironically had nothing to do with the mechanics of photography. During a break-out session presented by award-winning nature photographer, writer, speaker, and photography instructor Jim Clark, a crucial tip to becoming a successful photographer (and by my extrapolation, at least, successful at anything in life) was offered: “Don’t become a legend in your own mind.”
This is a crucial mistake I have made and it is one that has no doubt impeded my progress in a number of life’s facets. How it happened I’m not entirely certain. I attribute part of it to a natural attitude of arrogance that has been with me since childhood and which I have (at times) struggled to expunge from my personality. Another part of it was possibly the result of being a publicly visible player on the marketing and development team of a world-renowned optics firm; I made the mistake of confusing the value of the team and its abilities – what made and keeps the company great – with my own small contributions. After leaving the firm, I made the mistaken assumption that the firm’s prestige would and had followed me. It didn’t. They are still a global leader in their markets; I am… well, I won’t belabor the point, but as much as they are, I’m not.
In the practice of Zen Buddhism there is a concept called “Beginner’s Mind.” Books have been written upon the idea but in essence it is fairly straight-forward: approach all activities with the enthusiasm and natural humility of a beginner. In many ways, this is not so very far from the admonition of Jesus in Luke 18:17, “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” When I took up the occupation of writing, and in seeking to improve my photographic skills, I did so with neither Beginner’s Mind nor a child’s open-hearted honest curiosity, hence I am often plagued with petty jealousies and trivial conflicts when I should merely tend to the practice and improvement of my craft.
Thus with my first professional photographer’s conference behind me, I return to the work-a-day world with a pocketful of newly discovered skills to practice and, it is hoped, a corrected perspective on how better to improve my craft as well as perhaps my life.
