There was no hope for that poor shrimp. He didn’t know it. But I did. There he sat, wading in his tank of water in the Hong Kong wet market, just waiting to be scooped up by the fish monger. He was dinner, no doubt about it. But his efforts were heroic. I felt sorry for him, as he climbed over the edge of the acrylic tank. Reaching. Arching. Extending. Finally, freedom was his. He crawled over the edge, and fell to…another tank below. Filled with even more shrimp. But, hey, at least those were higher priced shrimp. Not quite freedom, but at least he finished his life worth more than when he started. Could anyone ask for more?
Let’s face it. Life can be tough. A slog through mediocrity, interrupted by just enough moments of self-induced delirium that you decide it’s all worth it. You push on. Until, finally, you climb out of it. You’re out, you look around. And then you realize, you’re stuck in the next well of mediocrity. But, hey, at least it’s a different well.
If you’ve just started shooting, this doesn’t much apply. But if you’ve been at it for long enough to ever find yourself in a slump, this is a story everyone knows. Breakthroughs are hard. And their afterglow is preciously limited. They’re bliss when they happen and they can make all the difference. But for each day that is inspiration, there is another that is an envious look at the greener pastures of the neighbor next door.
If you find yourself just a bit frustrated, a bit stuck, and a bit bewildered, here’s something I’ve found helpful. We all look to the best. We should. It makes sense. Know what they do, know who they are. But try the opposite, too. Look at the worst. Actually, not really the worst – but look downward. See what new people are up to. Find the best of them. They’ve got something to say, and if you haven’t been watching them, it’s probably not what you’ve already heard.
The greats are great, but they are established. They formed their style and found their influences awhile back, and, while some stay current, some become dated. But the new people – they are energized. They break rules. They are pushing in different directions. They’re bringing something new to the table, and they’ll be the next greats. Experienced shooters bring wisdom and nuance. They bring depth and the ability to appreciate context. Pair that with the unchained vision of the new, and you have an unstoppable force. That’s inspiration.
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