Ran across this in an Inc. magazine article quoting Robin Camarote, an executive coach
"Counter to common thinking, we avoid taking action not because we're afraid of failure but because we don't know how to manage uncertainty. Once we understand and acknowledge that failure is not truly dangerous, it's preferable to uncertainty. Because when you fail, it means you followed through and tried something. From there, it's just a learning experience. We have a definite answer and new information on where to go from there."
I found this thought provoking because I struggle with spending too much time preparing equipment, testing processes, buying gear - all in an effort to "be able" to produce good images, but not enough time just doing it. There was more in the article regarding how to get past that, you can google the phrase and get the rest of the article.
I thought of this as I was perusing yet another forum string about 'this developer vs that' and thought "I need to just get off the computer and make a picture", but why do I struggle with inertia in doing that?
For background, I am not nor ever have been a professional photographer, but I made my first darkroom prints 40 years ago and have had a darkroom off and on for many years. I have developed a reasonable level of proficiency with medium format, 4x5 and 8x10 film and printing, but you would never know it by looking around my home, I have a few prints up, but not near as many as I should. Of course I have 'good' excuses for my limited output, busy with family, volunteer work, etc., but maybe uncertainty is my issue
That needs to change, and I found the article helpful toward moving in that direction.
BW
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