Comments on: If You Follow My Advice, You Wouldn’t Follow My Advice!

By: David Zlotky

David Zlotky — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:04:52 +0000

The only rule is that there are no rules!

By: Laird

Laird — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:56:29 +0000

A quick note of appreciation to Kevin L. for sharing the advice given by his teacher. That was good advice then… and still is.

By: richard carroll

richard carroll — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:35:20 +0000

Anyone can break the rules. People who make new rules are the ones we remember.

By: Kevin Latham

Kevin Latham — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:00:24 +0000

Hi Cole,

The best advice I was ever given was by a teacher of mine back in the 1960′s. It’s the one bit of advice which I have always held onto. He said…

“Never listen to advice which starts with the words should do, have to, must do or can’t do. That is not advice but someone demanding that you do things their way. Nothing great ever came out of doing things the same way as everyone else.”

I think it’s difficult to follow a different path, especially if you’re trying to make some money by creating something which appeals to the public. That still doesn’t mean creativity has to follow the rules, after all, as any study of the history of art will show what are now rules were once a diversion from the rules…if that makes sense! With so much creativity about one needs to break out to stand out.

Best wishes,
Kevin.

By: richard carroll

richard carroll — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:10:47 +0000

art is thoughtful, so who’s thoughts do you want to follow?

By: Lance

Lance — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:06:19 +0000

Great advice,or non advice , Cole. I wanted to share this with the Fotoblur community too… I posted it here: http://www.fotoblur.com/forum/post/2008

By: Gittan Beheydt

Gittan Beheydt — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 19:17:35 +0000

Hi Cole,

advice and guidance from my mentor use to be very important to me. Still are in some kind of way, but your point of view is also so very right and your post/words give me lots of strength to continue my own path….

Thank you very much for this!

By: Antonio

Antonio — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:37:47 +0000

Learning and teaching. Nice view Cole! My opinion is that there is no danger at all: Teaching is not always so succesful and learning rarely is so perfect )

By: Harold Ross

Harold Ross — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:06:08 +0000

I’m with you, Cole! I will now shoot all of my images square and centered!;-)
I remember being at a gallery show, and standing behind two men, a father and son, both talking about a particular photograph on the wall. The father excitedly said: “This is by far the best image in the show”. The son said: “It’s technically good, but otherwise, there’s nothing good about it”. The father saw something that the son didn’t, and they each felt strongly that they were right and the other was wrong. Following your own vision is the only way, otherwise you are making images for someone else.

By: Laura Kaczmarek

Laura Kaczmarek — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:33:46 +0000

Hi Cole – Another thought-provoking post. This is fantastic! It is rare to hear something as honest and against the grain as what you have said here. Thank you for sharing real thoughts with us. I know I appreciate it!