A Key Step To Becoming A Better Photographer In 2013

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

Dave, I agree, I don't think you do understand what Matt was talking about (and not because you're from the Isle of Skye–I've been there, nice place, a bit off the beaten track for me though).

First off, Matt doesn't claim to be a a "fine art" photographer or any sort of professional photographer...his day job (if you don't know what he does) is to teach and write about Photoshop & Lightroom. He does use his photography in his books and lectures (as do I) but as far as I know, Matt isn't hanging his work in a gallery or selling it as a normal course of his work. He's much more of an amateur in the truest sense of the work...he loves photography.

His "mission statement" could be translated as his photographic goals for the coming year. You got anything against setting goals? Matt is trying to set a series of goals for his photography and he calls it a mission statement. So what? He's making a statement that his mission this year is to take beautiful pictures of beautiful places...those are his goals. Good for him.

If you don't understand the concept of trying to verbalize a set of goals to try to accomplish, and then working toward achieving those goals, I'm kinda wondering about how you go about deciding what to do with your life...

Matt's mission is to take an extra step when traveling, to find and shoot beautiful pictures of beautiful places...which beats the heck out of sitting in a hotel ordering room service and emptying the minibar and watching pay per view movies. Been there, done that, it's pretty boring...

Jeesh, I don't know what's in the air today. Somebody was jumping all over Alain Briot's series on Color Harmonies in Photography LuLa article and now Matt's taking crap for writing about his mission statement.

BTW, I watched most all of the video he linked and he and Scott made some good points (just a bit slow about getting them out though). There are indeed steps one can take to improve themselves in their photographic efforts. Matt only wrote about the one that means the most to himself. Ya gotta watch the video to see the others :~)

Hi Jeff,

I am certainly not trying to lock horns with you on this subject or anyone else, please believe me. I am also not trying to rubbish or belittle what Matt is doing, I have great respect for Matt and used to follow Matt and Scott on PSTV for many years before giving up about 2 years ago for the same reasons as you mentioned, all I am saying is that I just do not understand the concept, it is an anathema to me. Okay, this might be a good methodology for Matt and others, but all I am trying to say, is that if you are truly passionate about your photography (which is perhaps what is now happening to Matt and this is simply his way of verbalising it), then everything else becomes secondary.

I don't need to verbalise ideas via a mission statement telling me that I should go out more and shoot more, because I am already driven enough to go out shooting every second I have available to me and this also happens to be how I decide what to do with my life - in other words, I do not have think or analyse what I should be doing as I am already doing it.

Yes Jeff I know you have been to Skye (I have just finished reading your 'Digital Negative' book which my good wife bought me for Christmas – which I highly recommend) which includes your stitched pano of Eilean Donan Castle, which is about 15 minutes from my house, beautiful isn't it?  - you know next time you should call in to see us and we could take a few wee drams together and talk about photography and I'll also give you a tour of the island and show you all the best photographic locations  

BTW, I am more than happy to admit I could be wrong on this, as this might indeed be a good methodology for some people, but for me it just does not compute, as I think it should be your passion for photography that is driving you and telling you what to do, not an itemised list.

Dave

[Isaac]

"What I wanted to do here is talk a little about the first step – deciding what kind of photographer you want to be."

That kind-of suggests your blog post text is supposed to stand-by itself without watching your video.

Your entire blog post is about that one sentence -- your mission statement.

Yes...and what's wrong with that?

Where do you think I said there was anything wrong with a blog post text standing by-itself or with the entire text being about a mission statement?

Actually, it was Matt Kloskowski who said the video "was a key part in what [he] posted" and complained that I "took one sentence in a 1000+ word post and took it out of context".

Note that formalizing his mission statement has led him to spend the time and effort to find interesting places to shoot in the areas where he has to travel to for work.

Please note that I have not complained about Matt "formalizing his mission statement", just that as a mission statement To take beautiful pictures of beautiful places is vague and lacks a concrete statement of measurable objectives.

And that would be of no concern, except that it has been given as an example for others to follow.

I suspect Isaac may have an "issue" with Photoshop TV...

Please don't speculate about my motivations -- it's unlikely to reflect well on either of us.

To be clear -- I don't 'have an "issue" with Photoshop TV'.

To be clear -- I don't 'have an "issue" with ' Matt Kloskowski pushing people to watch a video and being paid by advertisers for the video being watched.

That's just what free means on the Internet -- "If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product."

[Photo Op]

I'm wondering if the posting of this mission statement could have appeared in the blog without the numerous references to Kelby Media. Did I need to know about the DVD's, the books, the lectures, the training, the videos and the streaming materials to better understand the epiphany the poster had about his photography. Just saying.

[Schewe]

...all I am saying is that I just do not understand the concept, it is an anathema to me. Okay, this might be a good methodology for Matt and others, but all I am trying to say, is that if you are truly passionate about your photography (which is perhaps what is now happening to Matt and this is simply his way of verbalising it), then everything else becomes secondary.

Dave, this ain't a hill I'm willing to die on either but, I think you need to understand the circumstances surrounding Matt's post and the fact that verbalizing goals isn't always an easy thing for a photographer to do...hence his attempt explain his motives and his approach...

...your stitched pano of Eilean Donan Castle, which is about 15 minutes from my house, beautiful isn't it?

Yep...would love to have a a wee dram (or few) with ya...Martin and I has originally planned to have more time on the Isle of Skye but he double-booked our trip with a family vacation (guess which one won out)?

BTW, I am more than happy to admit I could be wrong on this, as this might indeed be a good methodology for some people, but for me it just does not compute, as I think it should be your passion for photography that is driving you and telling you what to do, not an itemised list.

That's fine...whatever works for you is, what works for you. I think the whole "mission statement" thingie is overblown. What he was really trying to do is get across the concept of doing what you really want to do and stop trying to do EVERYTHING photographically (which is what I got out of the article).

[markadams99]

It's partly generational, partly cultural. To some "mission statement" reeks of 1980's corporate bullshit along with TQM and other diversions from running a business. If I lived in NW Scotland my mission statement would be "to drink beautiful whisky in beautiful places."

Were I zig-zagging across America, competing with other extremely sharp people like Matt Kloskowski, I'd want a clean statement of what I want to do for myself in photography such as "take beautiful pictures of ugly places."

[Dave (Isle of Skye)]

You know what - I am completely wrong (digs spoon deeply into humble pie and starts to eat...), after finally watching the whole video through last night, I have to admit I was off about as far as I could be on this one. Up until last night I had only read Matt's post and as had already been pointed out in this thread, culturally for me, any talk of setting goals or mission statements being associated in any way with photographic creativity, sent an icy cold shiver all the way down the back of my spine. But when looking at the accompanying video, I have to admit that this video is in actual fact, full of excellent advice for the beginning photographer, to help decide what genre of photography they should choose to concentrate their efforts on and pursue to best effect.

Obviously my passion for photography temporarily blocked my ability to rationalise what was being said. So all I can say is, that if I am wrong then I am ALWAYS big enough to admit I am wrong and this time I was entirely wrong.

Sorry Matt, Scott and Jeff  

Dave

[Schewe]

Obviously my passion for photography temporarily blocked my ability to rationalise what was being said. So all I can say is, that if I am wrong then I am ALWAYS big enough to admit I am wrong and this time I was entirely wrong.

Good for you Dave...and I also watched the video and I agree with your assessment of it-it does provide useful advice for amateur photographers–either beginners or those that want to take a fresh approach. See, we Americans aren't all THAT screwed up :~)