2009, here I come

I’ve read so many amazing posts and interviews lately that it’s nearly impossible for me to focus on one theme or thread— instead, I want to put some of my favorite parts here as a reference for myself later.  I feel like the strange combination of these quotes will tell you a little bit about where my head is these days: thinking about my place, looking for direction and inspiration, focusing on the potential of this new year.  I hope you find something that resonates with you, too.  And lest you think all I’m doing is more reading and thinking— I’ve had some great conversations with artists who have been at this much longer than I have and have gotten some great advice that has given me a lot of hope.  I’ve also made some really positive changes, most notably in my outlook.  I am ready to get more adventurous, to try, to fail this year.  I want to surprise myself with what I make and really enjoy the ride.

Amy Stein @ Two Way Lens:

“Today I find inspiration in everything. It could be a song, a painting or a parking lot in Queens. I feel very confident as an artist and want to explore everything. I am not interested in being pigeonholed by concept, format, subject or process. I will go wherever my curiosity and inspiration takes me. In some ways my photographic journey is like a bird building a nest. There are bits and strings and twigs everywhere and they all have stories. Through photography I collect and present these disparate pieces and gradually form them into a cohesive vision over my career.”

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“I think it is important to make the distinction between beginning photographers and emerging photographers. Emerging photographers have already created an impressive body of work and received some level of recognition. Too many beginners consider themselves emerging and try to jump ahead before they are ready”

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“There is no sure path to success in the art world and the only variable you control is the work. It’s vital that you believe in what you are doing and that you continue to passionately make work no matter what. After that, set very specific and realistic short and long term career goals for yourself and be like water running downhill in pursuit of them.”

Liz Kuball’s “Farewell, 2008″ Post:

“It just occurred to me that I had started the project because I’d been looking around and realizing that projects were where it was at, that nearly all the photographers I admired and respected were working on projects, and that I’d better get one fast. The problem, of course, is that I came at it in entirely the wrong way. I believe that projects have to be built on a solid foundation, and that the principal part of that foundation is the photographer’s passion for the subject. Without that, it’s really hard to carry something through to completion, and, more important, the lack of enthusiasm shows in the work.”

A Photo Editor points out some great things Ira Glass said about the creative process:

“by killing you will make something else even better live… not enough gets said about the importance of abandoning crap.”

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“People get into creative work because they have great taste… but the first couple years that you’re making stuff what you’re making is not that good… but your taste is good enough that you can tell what you’re making is not good enough, it’s kind of a disappointment to you… a lot of people never get past that phase… they quit.”

Relatedly, Exposure Compensation post about the selection process:

“A key step leading to success in fine art [or photography in general] is selection, selection and selection.  The photographer has to eliminate from the portfolio all but the extraordinary images, and the galleries have to curate all but the extraordinary of the extraordinary. All you are left with, is an small percentage of the work that is being produced. So when we awe about the creativity of great photographers we indeed awe on their ability to eliminate the crap, put aside the good and only show the excellence.  The process of selection is indeed the process of creativity.”

And everything about Dawoud Bey’s “Advice to a Young Artist” is a good reminder.