my to-stop-doing list

Using the excuse of waiting for one hundred percent of acceptance of myself in order to shoot.

Letting my preconceived notions about what is remarkable blind me from seeing myself clearly and prevent me from delivering my most authentic work.

Feeling guilty every time I pull out the iPhone instead of the big camera (aka my Canon 5D).

Comparing my journey with someone else's.

Today tell us. What's on your to-stop-doing list as a photographer? And share with us an image that brings you joy, and celebrates who you truly are.

Comments

[Marcie]

To stop doing what's 'expected'..and to just have a little fun:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/2/12/mumble-jumble.html

[Jennifée]

To stop feeling guilty about my processing choices:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5439492510/

[Winn]

To stop worrying if it's "good enough"...

http://winnswindow.blogspot.com/2011/02/wonder-and-magic-of-being-lil-samurai.html

[rachaelmarie]

these words make my heart sing today...as i read through your list, i found myself agreeing with each new point you made. also on my list... doubting myself and my vision, believing that it will be wrong or simply not good enough. over thinking the decisions that need to be made with the heart and under thinking the decisions that actually do need thought. wasting time with meaningless tasks to avoid doing the harder work. avoiding the things that make me feel fear.

[Jeanne]

We are our own worst critics. The vast number of things we do wrong versus those that we do right. Thank you for allowing us our freedom from those today!

http://bostongirlontheverge.blogspot.com/2011/02/pink-love-for-valentines.html.

[Jeanne]

Sorry, the link was broken!
http://bostongirlontheverge.blogspot.com/2011/02/pink-love-for-valentines.html

[Tamar]

to stop being my worst critic, to not be fearful of making mistakes and to stop being so serious, after all photography is fun - this is what is bringing me joy today http://www.tamarhaytayan.com/father-and-son/
i am taking pictures with my iphone and twitching them a bit - it's a lot of fun.
thanks!

[Patty]

That is just a wonderful photo and I agree with all the things on your list...I would add a 'keep doing' to my own...which is to keep trying new things - types of shots, ways of processing, composition....etc.

http://pmaherphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/sunday-sunday.html

[Morgen]

Ooooh, I like this! I want to stop questioning my eye, stop comparing myself to others, stop rushing things, stop beating myself up, and to stop forgetting to just have fun!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearsefamily/5396055575/

[gina]

to stop 'thinking' about it all too much. to OPEN my eyes to what is right in front of me.

[Sarah]

Stop comparing myself to others. I want my vision to be my vision, influenced by the least amount of people possible. Then my art will be my creation only and not inspired by someone else.

[Karen]

I can totally relate to all of the "to-stop-doings" listed above.

[Karen]

Oops....forgot to add this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43853203@N04/5441568313/

[Sarah]

I guess I should add this too
http://www.babcockstudio.com

[Crisse]

To stop procrastinating until I have "more time" and just pick the camera up and start shooting! To stop comparing what myself to other photographers. To stop waiting for the photographic event or planned activity and remember that all moments are worth photographing!

[Katy]

Thanks, Irene for your post today! I truly needed it! For me, to stop worrying so dang much about what others think of my work & to just do it for me. I started it all just for me & somehwhere along the way, I've forgotten that. Here's what's been making me smile lately:http://www.flickr.com/photos/56691490@N05/5438625647/

[Suki]

Stop envying others.
Stop crashing a good future in seconds.
Stop making myself look bad.
Stop wanting it all.

[Lori]

Stop comparing my work to others and let my own style develop in both my photography and writing. Tracey's "I am Enough" collaborative inspired me to write a poem and this post has inspired me to actually post it! Thanks Irene.


http://lorisanders.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am.html

[christine]

I want to stop comparing myself to others...including letting myself have camera envy every time I see another persons camera. I'll have my day too.

[anghjula]

To stop feeling guilty about my processing choices too and above all to stop feeling guilty to love photography at least so much as I love my real job. This to-stop-doing list allows me to affirm something I already knew. If only one person understand my fascination for language at its paroxysm, even in imperfection... especially in imperfection (I could discourse for hours about blur), that's ok for me. Photography is not my job, it's just a part of me...

http://www.blog.chjaraematteu.com/?p=735

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

On my to-stop-doing list:

• hesitating

[deea]

I think my most authentic work happened when I first picked up a camera, had no idea what I was doing but was thrilling in the wonder of it all. That was when I had no one to impress because no one had ever heard of me, I wasn't for hire and I expected nothing of myself either.

My JUST-STOP-IT! list as a photographer:
* Putting off being trained in aspects of photography that intrigue me
* Printing photos of my work for my walls (I have never printed one of them to hang for me)
* Looking for validation from others when what I really want is to photograph life (even in it's imperfections and disaters)

This is one of the first images I took. I see so many things I could do with it and to it now (5 years later), but I don't, because it touches me - just the way it is. http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepdish/217631751

[AmyG]

to feel the joy in getting just one good shot. not caring if anyone else thinks its good, just knowing that it makes my heart skip a beat when i see it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amygillard/5368966428/

[Jen]

To stop worrying about what my "thing" is. Is it people, food? I have no idea. I need to stop that crap and just take pictures.

[Patti]

To stop thinking "i'm not good enough" - to accept my work as others see it!http://www.flickr.com/photos/22639132@N04/5411563942/

[Deanna]

To let go of constantly comparing myself to others.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djinjoe/5311007058/

[georgia]

my to-stop-doing list...

-thinking my photos have to mean something big, deep, life-changing or world-affecting in order to be post-worthy.

-feeling i am not a purist if i add words to my photo.

-wondering if my photos have any meaning or purpose, when clearly they must, because i took it in the first place... for some reason or another.

-obsessing over whether or not my photos are perfect {technically or otherwise}... i guess i don't really do that, but i sometimes think i should be picky about that, and that is actually what i obsess about. =)

here is my photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/5437066819/

[Jess]

The post today is awesome. I really love the tones in the image, the subject, composition and background. My favorite thing to do is hike locally with my children. I always try to take my camera along and this is something I captured one day doing what I love to do.

http://jessicavescera.blogspot.com/2011/02/hiker.html

[brt44]

for some reason I found this today and it hits home! I feel "good" that a lot of people compare themselves to others, I am guilty of this and I hate it! My desire to improve as fast as possible makes me compare myself, instead of taking it constructively, I start to doubt myself and it is on the top of my "stop doing list"!

[Texan Mama]

I MUST STOP
-comparing my work to people who've been doing this a lot longer (to make myself feel crappy)
-comparing my work to people who've been doing this a lot shorter (to make myself feel superficially better)
-thinking that the "rules" of photography are written in stone.
-listening to people who want me to charge a zillion dollars for my work, just because THEY do.
-spending all my spare time with a camera in my hand. I need my hands to put stickers on construction paper, hold flash card for math practice, and give hugs. The people on the other side of the lens need me, not their photograph.

[Valerie]

I long sometimes for the days when I set up careful still life images, composing each shadow and highlight. Now I find myself snapping quickly to capture a little slice of not-still-at-all life. They aren't great photos. But they mean the world to me. I hope someday they'll mean a lot to my son when he is grown. So these are the photos I need to be doing. I need to stop comparing then and now so I can just enjoy now.

http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/01/scoop-and-pour.html

[Diane]

I love your photo -- and your post. To be honest I can't think of anything to put on my "to stop doing" list. I'm likely too old because I've been around nearly 60 years and am entirely comfortable with myself and how my life is. What I can do is leave a photo of one of the things that brings me joy:

http://tinyurl.com/6hbttyr

[Brooke]

To stop referring to myself as a hobbyist and start calling myself a photographer.

[chipper nelly]

love this new list for my collection. I could add most of the above to it (bar the girl in her 59's....how refreshing to be comfortable. I'm on the slow train to that point)

Here's my picture for Valentines Day - it was taken on a special wedding day morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chippernelly/5441330946/

[Audrey]

To stop comparing. To stop questioning my choices that I make. To feel good about what I 've done. I'm sooo terribly tough on myself. To stop telling myself I need CS5, I need a Mac, I need this, I need that- Wonderful post!!