To Be Satisfied

An example of an image with which I was very satisfied.  This was a grab shot as this surfer was walking by
but behind me. I turned toward the water and there he was.  I raised my camera and pressed the shutter twice.  This
is the better of the two images.  It has been one of my favorites since I made it.  No one else may care a bit about it,
but I like it and it is a satisfying image to me. I like the contrasting diagonals as well as the contrasting orange
and teal colors.  In the original, you can clearly see the minute detail of the drops of water on the surfer's arm as well.
(click to enlarge)
Nikon D200, 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 120mm; 1/125th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

I've been photographing for a long, long time.  I can't tell you how many years I wasted trying to make sure that other people liked or approved of my photographs.  I can't tell you how many times over those years I thought that I wanted to be considered a "good" photographer.  I spent years and years of worrying about what others thought about my photography.

At some point in time, many years ago, I quit worrying about what others thought of my photographs or whether or not I was considered any good as a photographer.  I finally came to the conclusion that it really didn't matter to me what others thought.  What mattered to me was what I thought.  What mattered to me was what I felt about myself and my work.  I came to the conclusion that, from that point on, I would photograph for myself.  Not for others, but to please myself.  If others thought my work was mediocre, so be it. I photograph because I derive pleasure from making photographs that satisfy me.

At the end of a day of photography, if I can look at my images on my computer, find one that evokes an emotion in me and think to myself, "I like that.  That photograph makes me feel good.  That photograph pleases me. That image is satisfying."  Well, then, I'm happy.  Most likely, for the rest of the day, I'll have a bit of a smile on my face and think how worthwhile the day had been.

Another image that has become one of my favorites.  I'm not even sure why.  I'm sure it strikes no chord with you.
I suspect part of it has to do with the experience of being in Promontory, Utah.  I was standing at the spot where the "Golden Spike" was driven to join the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads creating the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. This image is not only colorfully pleasing to me but it also sparks my imagination of what it was like in 1869, where the rails go and where they have been—and why there?  If you scan the horizon 360 degrees, there is nothing around at all.  But I really like this image. (Note: there were actually 4 golden spikes driven! The railroad executives and politicians got to take the spikes with them.)
Pentax 6X7 film camera; 90mm f/2.8 lens; Kodak Vericolor III film; aperture and shutter speed unknown

When was a chief of police, I tried had to make the best decisions I could based upon all of the facts and circumstances I could analyze—from a lot of people and places.  Input from many points of view resulted in good decisions.  I never made decisions to make people happy.  I never made decisions to anger or get back at others.  I tried hard to make the right decisions for the right reasons.  I could have easily made decisions that would have people liking me or making more popular with my officers or the citizens I served.  That is a dangerous path to travel.  

I learned early on in my life as a man, husband and father as well as in my career as a young supervisor that a decision I make today will be liked by some and not liked by others.  Tomorrow, my next decision may now be liked by that second group and disliked by the first.  So, the best thing to do was make the right decision based upon all of the information you can muster and let the chips fall as they may.  Same thing with photography.  If you try to make photographs to please others you just might.  But some will not like what work you've created.  If you change your photography to try to please that second group, you may alienate the first group.  The best photographs to make are the ones that please you.

My best advice.  Unless you are employed as a photographer or are photographing for someone else, only photograph to please yourself.  Make images that you like.  Make images that fulfill your ambitions as a photographer.  Make images that make you smile.  Most of all, make images that satisfy you.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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