This used to be a phrase used by an old roommate for whenever we had done something to slight him which might warrant revenge. Nothing to do with photography at all.
My normal MO is to find a photography project that interests me, try it briefly, post a few shots and then never repeat that kind of project again. This list would include
- macro shoots of hotwheels toy cars
- star trails (too much light pollution in the city)
- sunsets (too early to wake up)
- model shoots that had little purpose or aim (I expected her to flake)
Being an artist of any kind, whether it be a painter, musician or photographer, requires a level skill and perfection for one subject before moving onto the next. There are varying degrees of effort required to move up a level. For instance, in photography with a little practice, a practitioner can move from "You really suck!" to "You got lucky a few times with these shots" and even to "spouse makes a photo you took as her Facebook profile picture." Buying more expensive equipment rarely affects your level of skill.
Taking it to the next level however also requires additional persistence, practice and patience. That's the level where people you know tell others you don't about your work. That's where unknown people follow you on Twitter or Flickr to see the latest photo you've created. After tens of thousands follow you, even if they are just a niche (like other photographers), you've taken it to the next step. You have moved beyond peer respect but into the realm of Artistic Authority. Media start to ask your opinions on trends in your field. You are asked to speak at conferences or sit in on panels or write brief comments in books written by others.
Moving into the final stage of mastery, your work has become so well known that you become a household name where you do something so well that normal, everyday folk can not only recognize your name when it comes up - but they can even recall your name when presented with your work. If someone were to ask for a list of famous photographers and your name falls into a list that includes Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz and Henri Cartier-Brosson, chances are you've moved into a realm of skill that few will ever surpass.
There are perfectly good reasons why I should never achieve that kind of fame or skill. But focusing on the ones that sound like cop-outs (X keeps me from pursuing better photography, where X could be my job, family, house, hobbies, friends or equipment) won't actually help me improve. And I certainly don't want paparazzi hanging outside my home hoping for a photograph (ah irony).
But striving to take it up a notch, to move to the next level, where random strangers retweet or comment on my photos - maybe I could get there. Like Steve Martin said to a question of his success: "Be undeniably good... I always say, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” If somebody’s thinking, “How can I be really good?”, people are going to come to you."
