The First Mile is a Liar
I recently got the brilliant mid-life crisis derived idea to train to run an ultra-marathon. What does any of that have to do with photography? Hear me out, I'm going somewhere with this, I promise! Did I mention I'm in my forties? I'm a couple of months into running now, and as an infant yet simultaneously aged runner I've learned not to trust the first mile of any run.
You see that first mile, for me anyway, will have you convinced that you are dying. You can't breathe correctly. Your legs ache. Your joints are screaming. Your feet feel like 100 pound cement blocks. I've learned that if I just hang in there a little bit longer, this magical thing happens around about mile 1.5. My body just sort of decides to cooperate. It says, "Oh ok, this is what we are doing!" I catch my stride and glide into a dissociating bliss. I can go for miles in that steady rhythm once I get past the initial shock of being in motion.
How is this like photography? I'm so glad you asked! This can be applied to so many aspects of life, not just photography. I've had several people tell me they love photography. They used to take pictures. They even have a DSLR at home that's been setting on a shelf collecting dust for years. They tell me they could never take pictures like what I take. I've come to the conclusion that these people are just trapped in the pain cage of that first mile of the run. They gave up before it all synced into a floating rhythm.
My first pictures weren't great! For reference, have a look at the picture at the bottom of this blog post. See the boy holding the cat? That's one of the first pictures I took when I stepped into the new digital world, AND that was only after googling how to turn the darn thing on. Also, that's with years of previous experience I had stored up on the shelf as well. I'll tell you a little secret, most of my current pictures are still pretty awful. I delete about 30 pictures for every nice photo you see posted on this website. Oh I know, there is a certain breed of photographer that wants to gate-keep this hobby. They'll have you thinking photography is a migraine-inducing algebra equation; it's part magic, part science, part innate talent. Some of them learned the hard way and think everyone else should pay some imaginary dues. Some of these folks will tell you that the photography market is oversaturated. To that we shall just have to agree to disagree. Are there loads of photographers out there? Sure. There are also multitudes of humans on this planet wanting to have their pictures taken. Not to mention, each photographer has their own art style, their own flavor of imagery, so to speak. To quote my husband, "There's a behind for every seat." I guarantee that there is some little visionary detail to taking pictures that is unique to you, making YOU the only person that is able to provide that special little something. There's an entire world of still-life, landscape, and wildlife photography as well.
Snotty photographers will have you convinced that you have to spend thousands of dollars on a camera and subscribe to the latest software, and then go beat your heard against the wall in frustration for a minimum of ten years. I'm here to dispute that. I'm willing to bet you have a phone with a camera. Go take some pictures. BAM! You are a photographer. You don't have to pay for some online course if you don't want to either. YouTube is a wealth of free videos for photography beginners. Now later on, should you decide you'd like to upgrade (whether this is strictly a hobby for you or something more), then by all means look into pricier gear. Even so, you don't have to go buy the latest mirrorless camera with a 1200 dollar lens. I know countless photographers charging obscene amounts of money that rely on the most expensive gear and presets they bought online to run a business. Kudos to them for making a living like that, but if you really break their pictures down, there isn't anything special about them at all. All that to say, don't let the comparison monster rob you of the joy you find in taking pictures. There's far more going on behind every fabulous picture you see shared by a photographer online than you can even imagine. I promise you they did not roll up, take 10 perfect images, and send it out to the world in one sweeping motion. Show yourself a little grace!
There's no need for jealousy or competition. I have my own issues with photographers feeling negatively towards me, but I don't let it get me down or stop me. Photography is such a rewarding endeavor. Don't give up on that first mile. Keep breathing. Keep going. It'll all click together. I promise you!
