I’m taking a documentary photography class at UT and let me tell you, what a difference from the last class. The instructor has a resume a mile long and has been teaching at UT since the late 80’s. That doesn’t mean much, except when he says something, I take it to heart, whether it’s about ISO speeds or feedback on my photos.

The former has been incredibly helpful. I am soaking up as much as I can and praying for the day it becomes second nature. The latter has been hard. Harder than I thought and I’m struggling with it. I’ve heard artist friends talk about that critical, evil voice that creeps into their head and tells them that they aren’t good enough. Why do they bother singing or painting when there are people out there 100x better.

One of the things I like about this instructor is that he teaches philosophy along-side photography. He talks about metering in one breath and Buddha the next. The point is to teach us a balance. Be a good, technical, artistic photographer, but remember WHY we do it. Remember that if it’s going to work, we can’t think beyond that moment.

My friend, Liz, told me that every time she goes on stage she takes a deep breath and tells herself to give the most honest performance she can. That’s all she can do, just go out there and be honest. I didn’t understand that when she said it, but I do now. I say it over and over and it helps w/ the demons.

. . .

“As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity, I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs. Photography, alone of the arts, seems perfected to serve the desire humans have for a moment — this very moment — to stay.”
—Sam Abell, “Stay This Moment : The Photographs of Sam Abell