Three Challenges We Share

There’s an old saying that “time flies when you’re having fun”. That must be true since the past three years for me here at Photography Life have gone by at supersonic speeds.

NIKON 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 254.1mm, ISO 400, 1/2500, f/8.0

Unlike many photography blogs on the internet Photography Life has carved out a unique place for itself with its comprehensive and diverse content, while at the same time creating a respectful environment for its family of readers.

NIKON 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1250, 1/1600, f/5.6

Many folks turn to Photography Life as their primary source for the latest impartial gear reviews, in-depth tutorials on various techniques, and a range of feature articles that provide insights on many other interesting topics.  There’s few other places that one can go on the internet to find so much in one location.

NIKON 1 J5 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 160, 1/800, f/5.6

It’s been three years this month since Nasim officially asked me to join the writing team, and introduced me to the readers at Photography Life. Being a small part of the talented team here comes with its own set of personal challenges. The first is that most perishable of commodities – time. Regardless of what seminar that each of us may have attended at some point in our lives, time management is an impossibility. It simply does not exist. None of us has ever been able to manage time – it marches on incessantly with each ticking second and cannot be controlled. Each passing moment brings us ever closer to the end of our time here on this spinning orb…and for many of us fuels an inner sense of urgency.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 53.1mm, ISO 1600, 1/500, f/8.0, extension tube used

The reality is that all we can do, and ever have been able to do, is manage our priorities. Every Photography Life editorial contributor makes a conscious decision to allocate some of their time to craft an article. Just like every one of you who read Photography Life make a conscious decision to dedicate some of your precious time when you post a comment. Once committed that time that each of us dedicate to an action can never be recovered and reused.

NIKON 1 J5 + 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7mm, ISO 400, 1/200, f/8.0

The second challenge is personal growth. From where will that next spark of inspiration come? What images will we see in our minds that we can bring to life through the magic of photography? How can we touch another human being with our creations? These challenges are not unique to contributors at Photography Life – they are a part of every one of us who has a creative passion for photography and how it can help enhance the world around us.

NIKON 1 J5 + 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 24.2mm, ISO 400, 1/320, f/5.6

The third challenge is equanimity. How do we find and maintain the inner calmness to accept opposing views that can sometimes become emotionally charged and potentially irrational? Whenever any of us displays our work or expresses an opinion about anything we risk criticism and ridicule. It simply comes with the territory and cannot be avoided.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 59.4mm, ISO 3200, 1/25, f/4.5, extension tube used

To stop creating and to stop engaging with others, is to stop living. At the start of each day we gather all of the courage we can muster and venture forth as if this day may be our last. Each of us knowing deep down that one day we will be right about the finality of our life here.

NIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 51.2mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/8.0, extension tube used

Time. Growth. Equanimity. Three challenges that each of us share. I am most thankful to have had many opportunities to do so with all of you over the past three years…and I look forward to more ahead.

Technical Note:
All images were captured hand-held in available light. All images in this article were produced from RAW files using my standard process of OpticsPro 11, CS6 and Nik Suite.

Article Copyright 2017 Thomas Stirr. All images are Copyright 2016 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, adaptation or reproduction of any kind including electronic and digital is allowed without written consent. Photography Life is the only approved user of this article. If you see it reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use.

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