When I started Project 365 again this year I made a promise to myself… that was to be easy on myself. If I didn’t get the “perfect” shot or couldn’t come up with something creative I was going to just let it go. I would still try my best to post something, but this time around it could be just a shot of something I had done that day. I was going to do a lot less comparing myself to the others in the group. This is not an easy thing to do when the rest of the group seems to be so talented and a lot of times I think I’m just a hack.
This feeling came on strong the other day. The day was racing along without any inspiration whatsoever for a shot. I was in the car on the way home from class with Jeffery and we both noticed the sunset. It was stunning. I really wanted a photo of it. It pretty much was screaming “take my picture”! The whole time, however, I found I was arguing with myself. Things like, “Everyone else is going to get a picture of this,” and “You know, their shots will be much better so why even try.” Jeffery insisted we get out of the car so I could get the shot. I start framing and realize, of course, I have the “wrong” lens. It wasn’t wide enough to get what I wanted. It wouldn’t capture the full sunset. It wouldn’t be good enough. I took a few anyway, but got back in the car wondering what I should use for my photo for the day because these certainly wouldn’t work. Well, I got home, put the photos onto my computer, and found one that I wasn’t too ashamed of. My tapes were playing overtime that night.
After posting it I realized what an idiot I had been. I was going back to that old me that worries so much about what other people think, that I’ll never measure up. It’s not worth it. I may not be the best photographer in the world, but I am good enough. I can put my work up online and be proud that I did it. I don’t have to look at other people’s work in order to compare and pick myself apart. The point of this whole project is to just share… share who we are and what we do. So that is my goal and it should be yours as well. Just share who you are and don’t worry so much about what others think. Some people will like you and some won’t – that’s up to them, not you.
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
~ Judy Garland
