in praise of the process
I recently came across a valuable reminder while watching a YouTube video about photography. In this video, the creator listed some top tips for street photography, but one tip stood out as applicable to all hobbyist photographers, regardless of their genre.
The tip, simply put, was to "enjoy the process." The creator reminded me why most of us take up photography as a hobby in the first place: for the pure enjoyment it brings. I've found myself increasingly guilty of going out with a singular focus on the final photograph, often returning unfulfilled and less enthusiastic about future outings. This frustration can grow even more when our results don't measure up to past successes.
The creator's recommendation is to engage in something you genuinely enjoy while carrying your camera along, remaining observant and allowing opportunities to present themselves. This reminds me of a valuable lesson I learned from a well-known landscape YouTuber, Thomas Heaton. Thomas often describes driving for hours in the dead of night and climbing mountains in anticipation of capturing a breathtaking sunrise. However, he maintains a philosophical attitude towards the outcome—if conditions don't cooperate, he appreciates the hike and the chance to witness the sunrise, even if unworthy of capturing on camera.
As hobbyists, we often lose sight of what drew us into photography in the first place. While the desire to capture stunning images remains strong, we must remind ourselves of the joy we experienced when results took a back seat to the sheer fun of exploring our cameras and the world around us.
Of course, there will be times where a goal is to capture specific shots - for instance, no one visits Paris without photographing the Eiffel Tower. However, in most other instances, we should pursue activities that genuinely bring us happiness and remain open to opportunities. This approach not only enhances our overall experience but also fosters a deep emotional connection with the work we create from that place of joy.
I will definitely be keeping this in the forefront of my mind as I move forward. After all, the joy of photography comes from the experiences and memories created, regardless of the result.
I'd like to leave you with a clip from the video that inspired this reflection. While the entire video is worth watching, you can skip to the 9:37-minute mark to find the content related to this post.