Do What You Love

Do you ever ask yourself a question whether you should specialise in a certain type of photography? There have been a lot of discussions about it and a lot of professionals will support the general opinion "find your niche and become the master of it". But what if this extreme focus is not your style?

The way I see it, there is no right or wrong answer. It all comes down to your own choice. At the end of the day you will do what you feel is right in your heart. I personally would not like to be put into a box because I only photograph sunsets on the beach or black and white long exposure waterscapes or close-up details of rock formations. To me being focused on one type of photography is very limiting. My first love and biggest passion are landscapes but I love diversity and truly believe that beauty can be seen in all things. It could be anything from the last autumnal leaf, a simple detail in a flower petal, soft colours in the sky, evening light in a forest, reflection of a building, a random passer-by to a breath-taking view from a hill top or sunset colours on a deserted beach. I feel this gives me a lot of freedom because I know I can go out in any sort of weather, be happy wherever I am and sometimes bring photos that will remind me of those moments I experienced.

Perhaps it is not the most professional approach but I am a great believer that you should do what you love, whether it is just one thing or several different things. All this is a piece of who you are and it would be a shame not to show it.

Empty Promenade

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  1. I totally agree Vanda! Concentrating on one thing only may have commercial advantages, but I would never want to shut myself off to other photographic possibilities… and you never know where you will find something that really moves you – it may be in a sweeping vista, or the smallest dewdrop balanced on the edge of a petal. And when you feel an emotional response to something, that’s when the best photography happens!

    1. Absolutely Sue. Commercially it makes perfect sense but we should not just think about the commercial value. The artistic value comes from the heart and the passion we put into what we do… And that has no limits…

    1. You are very right Michéla. I couldn’t say it in a better way. I have always loved the way you pay attention to little things that others just pass by!

  2. Sometimes I find myself ‘locked in’ to a certain subject and then it gradually becomes a rut. However, when I just try to find the beauty in the ordinary I will find myself with an objective to please ‘me’ and when that happens I feel I become more creative. Maybe my ‘niche’ will be to have no ‘niche’ :)

  3. As if you answered my question! You have summed it so well, I often aske myself, why this, why that, but what counts is where your own creativity takes you.

    1. That’s right Bea. Your heart will give you the answers. You just have to listen to it. We quite often stop listening because we are told to do things a certain way. Every opinion counts but at the end of the day we have to be true to ourselves and do what we feel is right for us.

  4. Like your post, Vanda. I’ve been thinking about this matter myself. For me, it is the art of seeing, not the subject matter that defines photography which is dramatically displayed in your final photograph with the man on the bridge. Excellent!

    1. Thank you very much Deborah. I could not agree with you more on the art of seeing. You prove it in your beautiful art. I have always admired the way you see the world!

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