WHO you are matters less now than ever before. Pedigrees no longer matter. You can go from nobody to famous, or rich, or happy, or successful without anyone else’s permission.
WHAT you are matters less now than ever before. Movie stars and wine experts, academics and ultimate wrestlers are all on the same playing field.
WHERE you are matters less now than ever before. You can be sharing photos from your basement apartment in Brooklyn, building a semi-conductor in your garage in Palo Alto, or leading a revolution in the streets of Egypt.
HOW you do what you do, matters less now than ever before. Doesn’t matter if you shoot it on a Panavision 35 or a HdSLR. It only matters that you did it.
What DOES matter is….
WHEN. If you don’t do it now, you might miss this amazing window.
and…
WHY. Why you do what you do always matters. Don’t even think of asking me to explain it.
Wierd the rant about communism, but otherwise great post, and lots of great responses too.
What actually strikes me in all of the above, is that all of them (who, what, where, how, when and why) all are very dependent on the definition of point of view from which each word is being used.
who doesn’t matter, as long as you _are_ a who (ie you have the self confidence to know that you are an individual)
what doesn’t matter, as long as you have a what (ie a mission to “change the world”, or at least that bit around you)
where doesn’t matter as long as there is one (telling your story without a soapbox to stand on means you may as well not tell it at all)
how doesn’t matter as long as there is one (I’m hoping that’s self evident)
when doesn’t really matter as long as it’s done (the moment you do something it’s in the now)
and – finally – why doesn’t even really matter as long as the who that _you_ are has a why.
I suppose it all boils down to
me, doing what I cannot not do, in public, here and now, because if I don’t I won’t be me.
You know what I love about your posts…
I have watched/followed/researched photographers for some time and have noticed a rising fear regarding all the new advances in technology and what that means to the pro’s. The fear that the role of a professional photographer is going to be less significant than before. What I love is that you promote the craft and encourage people to get out there and go for it. I think it may have to do with the fact that you are awesome at what you do. And, I really appreciate this refreshing attitude! THANKS!
Yeah you’re probably right. Everything will all be OK if we all just jump on the socialist bandwagon to the promised land. Where the rich and responsible take care of the poor and lazy. Don’t worry it will all be alright. When Esther Dyson and her Personal Democracy Forum Movement pull the rug out from under you don’t say, “Well nobody told me THIS would happen!” Why don’t you head over to Google and search for “Rebooting America.” Then check out “Creative Commons” because we all know how valuable that is to our social revolution. Flickr? “Nooooo. They are good people. They just want to inspire creativity and community” Really? Destroying the very industry that you got into to make money because you lost your job is something that makes sense? Well I’m confused. I’m just flat out confused. Technology is not the problem it’s what people are doing with it that is the problem.
Absolutely right, if it wasn’t past 9 o’clock right now, I’d take my camera and go out to shoot some photos right now 🙂
…”Movie stars and wine experts, academics and ultimate wrestlers are all on the same playing field.” … now THAT would be a match worth photo/videographing !
Great post. Essentially … just go do it.
In attempts to better understand your reasoning on that statement. How do you plan to turn this ideal of said “Proletariat” into a profitable and successful business? Correct me if I’m wrong, but in this “revolution” you speak of isn’t the success of you and the people who work for you also considered the success of everyone else who shares your views? If Chase lands a huge contract with lucrative profits then won’t the other people of the revolution want a piece of that pie? How do YOU plan to appease them? Or maybe that is the wrong question. How WILL they be appeased? By the FED placing your business into a higher tax bracket thus spreading your wealth to the less profitable through entitlement programs like welfare? I want to know how this all will pan out in the end. maybe Kate can chime in.