A recent discussion with a dear friend, a retired clinical Psychologist, finally bought home my need for validation. It was clear as mid-summer morning. Although I have learned to be very patient and to trust myself, eventually I need to hear what I’m doing is good or right. If I have a theory about something or have a feeling about someone, I like to have a sounding board. However, they need to agree with me before I believe my idea is a good one.
This came about again yesterday when I received an acceptance of my submission of images to a magazine. This is a very well respected and accepted publication of art nude photography. The featured work is always a cut above.
So I submitted a bunch of images from a shoot last fall which I thought could stand the scrutiny of judgement. Maybe. Maybe they could. Honestly, I didn’t think they would. The model was incredibly good, the lighting was good, the finals images had a similarity yet enough difference between shots to be a great series, and they looked to me like good images. But really, what do I know? I’m not an art scholar or long-taught photographer; I’m nobody. I just like photography and making images I like.
Now; wait a second…
What I like and what I can make are two different things. To say I make images I like is to say “these are the best I could do at the time”. There’s a point where I have to raise my own bar as to what is good but ultimately, these are as good as I am and I am only as good as my last image. To say I like all that I make is to lie. There are a few shots I have a very hard time believing that I took, many shots that I think are good and I like them and many that are good enough but are not something I personally would want on my wall. It is the after-effect of taking an image that you really like that makes you strive to wade through the mediocre. You must take the mediocre to find the good and amongst the good are the very few shots that define how good you are.
Then it helps if a magazine you have wanted to be in for a while but never felt you could, says they will publish your work. Finally, that moment of validation that said what I am capable of is good enough for that print magazine. My images…. no, my work …. no, me; I am good enough to pass judgement.
I’m sure this will resonate for some of you reading. Basically, it feels good to know that I am capable of taking images that are good enough to be amongst the company of incredibly talented photographers.
I add images that I like.
Again, thanks as always.
Check out NUDE Magazine:
https://www.lenudemagazine.com/
WWW.instagram.com/robinburchphotographic
Congratulations, and that is a wonderful place to be published. It is a wonderful affirmation when we hear that positive feedback from someone, particularly someone who's standing and opinion we admire - in this case the publication's editorial team.