The Visual Toolbox: 60 Lessons for Stronger Photographs

Lesson 59. Listen to Other Voices (Very Carefully)

If you’re serious about your craft and your art, then consider getting off the online forums as fast as you can. Stop hoping for “likes” and atta-boys and the unhelpful, but enthusiastic, “Nice capture, man!” Anyone in the world can find hundreds of people to affirm them and tell them their work is the best work ever. That’s your mom’s job; let her do it and cut the others loose. All of us need voices in our lives telling us to keep at it, encouraging us. Most of us can use a little more confidence and a little less fear as we take greater risks and create our work. So find a couple of those. But don’t let those be the only voices you listen to. In fact, there are four different voices most of ...