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Another Kirk ditty: discipline
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Amen to that Kirk, I remember a couple of years ago I had an emergency surgery that postponed the delivery of files to a client (I called her before entering the surgery room from my cell phone and explained), the day I arrived at the house back from the hospital I sat down as I could and finished the files called the client and told them that since I couldn´t drive they could do me the favor of picking the DVD´s here, they were in shock and appreciated the gesture a lot, to this day they are one of my best clients.
Another time I had a flu but had scheduled a photoshoot for a tv station, I picked up some medicine a box of flu masks and went to do the photoshoot (some of the photos are posted here in my gallery) they are still my clients and appreciate that I went and do what I was hired to do without excuses.
Excuses to not do what one is supposed to do are millions but real reasons to not do it: few to none, part of being a professional is to deliver a quality product, deliver on time and to devote oneself to be a better photographer and professional everyday.
Originally posted 21 months ago.
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eduardo_frances edited this topic 21 months ago.
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Great article, Kirk.
Posted 21 months ago.
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It never ceases to amaze me when I spot someone claiming to be a professional photographer who simply doesn't know - deep in their gut - the absolute basic functions of their gear, like how to change the ISO setting.
And that's part of the discipline.
Posted 21 months ago.
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I am still quite proud of the discipline that it took to make me good in whatever endeavor I am at least good at. I cannot imagine shooting for less than the best... even if it was impractical, I would still want to be the best I could possibly be.
I have generally observed that people who do little eventually do nothing.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Kirk.rev2.0 [deleted] says:
You get really good at manual focusing around the 25,000th time you try.
Getting up from the couch is the first step.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Gunnery Sergeant Tuck wrote:
Today, you people are no longer maggots. Today, you are Photographers. You're part of a brotherhood. From now on until the day you die, wherever you are, every Photographer is your brother. Most of you will go to B&H. Some of you will not come back. But always remember this: Photographers buy. That's what we're here for. But the photograph lives forever. And that means YOU live forever.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Or possibly more appropriately...
Oh that's right, Photographer, don't make any fucking effort to get to the top of the fucking obstacle. If God would have wanted you up there he would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn't he?
--
paulophotoblog.blogspot.com
Posted 21 months ago.
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This is my camera. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My camera is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My camera, without me, is useless. Without my camera, I am useless. I must use my camera true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to out-photograph me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...
My camera and myself know that what counts in this war is not the frames we shoot, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the keepers that count. We will make keepers...
My camera is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its viewfinder and its lens. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my camera clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God, I swear this creed. My camera and myself are the defenders of my craft. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until victory is ours and there is no enemy, but peace!
Originally posted 21 months ago.
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K e n B r o w n edited this topic 21 months ago.
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Kirk.rev2.0 [deleted] says:
That's the spirit! :-)
Posted 21 months ago.
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The camera is completely secondary to you.
Without you it is nothing.
Without it, you are still you.
When together, you have a tool that provides a means for expressing and realizing your vision.
Without this tool, you'd find a way to do it with another.
It does not give your life meaning, you give it meaning.
If you put yourself entirely into something that is external, you will be lost, for it may not provide for you always, what it provides for you now, and it is not the one that will have changed.
The less it matters, the better your pictures will be.
It's just a fucking camera, get over it and get on with it.
Posted 21 months ago.
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What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Kirk? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to shoot, we are enow
To do our client loss; and if to shoot,
The fewer shots, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one assistant more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for fast glass,
Nor care I who doth shooteth for microstocketh;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet megapixels,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one shot more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to shoot this gig,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And film for convoy put into his purse;
We would not shoot in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to shoot with us.
This day is call'd the Portraitith of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall shoot this day, and see the lightroom proofs,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow I get paid for that Crispian gig.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These tats I got on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our photo credits,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Kirketh the Bold, Eduardo the Southern,
Millios and Korn, Brown, Rodriquez, Valites and Groseclose-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian's raw file shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood while being a voice activated light stand with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition (yeah, OK...);
And photographers in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap (OK, that's a visual we didn't need) whiles any speaks
That help'd us shoot Saint Crispin's HiDef Portriat.
Originally posted 21 months ago.
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Don Giannatti (aka wizwow) edited this topic 21 months ago.
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Kirk.rev2.0 [deleted] says:
Um, Steve. I think I was talking about the discipline of practice, not camera ownership. I thought musicians practiced a lot in order to be proficient enough to support their musical interpretations. I was also making the point that much of success in business is being disciplined. Coming in and doing the work. Making and sticking to decisions. Etc.
I'm pretty sure Ken was injecting humor, not the true intention that he and his camera were inseparable...And that is certainly not my take. If I didn't swim I would run, if I could run I'd walk, etc. If I couldn't photograph I'd paint if I couldn't paint I'd write, etc.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Kirk, I'm responding to Ken's response. I don't want anyone to lose sight of themselves in service of a hunk of metal, plastic and glass. Discipline, absolutely. I know Ken is being "tongue-in-cheek", I just thought it was a good opportunity to make the opposite point, which I think is important to note; that the artist must serve his vision, not his art form. Otherwise, not only do we homogenize and cheapen our craft, but we lose ourselves in the process.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Yup, very tongue in cheek. Paulo's "Sergeant" remark just made me remember the rifleman's creed. You can always replace camera with vision in that.
Posted 21 months ago.
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Kirk.rev2.0 [deleted] says:
I'm too literal lately. Must be the alignment of the stars. Or something. Sorry.
Posted 21 months ago.
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For some reason after reading this thread I threw myself to the floor and did 50 push ups!
Posted 21 months ago.
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Steve - I don't see knowing the limits of one's camera as being "in service to a hunk of metal, plastic, and glass" any more than knowing the limits of one's chisel makes one less a sculptor.
And Ken's making a joke based on the Marine Corps philosophy of riflemanship:
"This is my rifle. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my rifle and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen."
(That particular bit is from "Full Metal Jacket," but I've seen several variations on it.)
Posted 20 months ago.
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Hey John,
I know what Ken was referencing. I'm not suggesting that you not know your camera thoroughly.
About 6 years ago, I came to a point in my life that really required that I make a change. I began playing music when I was 8. Music became my job, my hobby, the main focus of thought and ultimately identity. I was completely wrapped up, lost, in that identity. What's worse is that my entire life's work and identity was built on something I took very seriously and tied my self value to. If I didn't practice, I felt guilty not only because I didn't do what I felt I needed to do as a musician, but I felt like I'd been a bad person. When things weren't going well with music, things weren't going well with me. Any problem with my career became a personal problem. If I ever entertained thoughts about switching careers, I couldn't imagine it. It felt like I would be killing a part of myself. My only friends were musicians. If I stepped out of that world, what would be left? So, I realized that I needed something that is not music.
So, this is my point. I'm not suggesting that one shouldn't be serious about what one does or that one shouldn't work really hard at it. I'm simply suggesting there is more to life and that balance is important. Have a hobby that has nothing to do with your career. Have things in your life that don't really matter beyond the simple fun and joy they provide. Tunnel vision is not healthy.
Most importantly, realize that "great photographer" is not who you are, it's simply a part of who you are. I think it's important to know that if someone tells you that today is the last day you can be a photographer and that tomorrow it will be over, that you can be ok with that. That, though you might miss it, that your being is not so dependent upon it that you don't know how you'll live without it. When you're there, I think the potential for the best work arises because it comes from the most honest, healthy place. It's all about you and your creativity, the camera just happens to be the medium you are expressing yourself through.
Originally posted 20 months ago.
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Steve.Korn (a group admin) edited this topic 20 months ago.
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Totally agree and that is my critique of Kirk's original article. Dedication is important but you need to take care of yourself first otherwise your no good to anyone.
Posted 20 months ago.
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Ah. I missed that, Steve.
That said, photography *is* the hobby through which I express myself - not my career. By most measures (including my own) I'm "successful" in my career...
Posted 20 months ago.
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Kirk.rev2.0 [deleted] says:
Kirk is hardly obsessed by photography spending perhaps more time swimming and writing than actually photographing....not to mention my hobby of drinking good red wine..... :-)
Posted 20 months ago.
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