Photography Is Not My Life
I’ve done a number of interviews recently and there is this thought that keeps coming back to me again and again and it has to do with the role photography plays in my life. It is often assumed that I earn a living through my art; I do not, I have a full time job in Education. It is also assumed that my life revolves around my photography; it does not, my life revolves around my family. Photography is a major pursuit in my life, but it is not my life, it is what makes my life better.
I love photography because it brings balance to my life. I live in a business world full of numbers, logic and rational decisions. Photography is the opposite of that, it is creative, irrational and subjective. For many years I had set aside photography as I struggled to earn a living, raise a family and build a career. This produced a life out of balance. When I returned to photography it added a little yin to my yang and helped bring it back into balance.
Having opposites in life is good, those contrasts help us to value what we have. When I go on a 10 day photography trip by myself, it helps me appreciate my family back home. When I must justify decisions at work with facts and logic, it’s then nice to produce a piece of art that just “feels right.”
Opposites in life are not always appreciated in the moment, but they do play an important role in our lives. The storm helps appreciate the sun when it appears, sickness helps us enjoy health, loss helps us value our loved ones and my day job helps me appreciate my photography.
I really love photography and creating images, but not more than my family or my friendships. Photography is not my life, but it makes my life better.
Cole
P.S. Here are links to some of my recent interviews:
April 13th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Well said Cole…… Your posts are always inspiring….. Thank you
April 13th, 2012 at 9:48 am
“Virtue lies between excess and deficiency”. Aristotle.(As long as we’re going philosophical this week)
You are a virtuous man, in an era when there are too few of them.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:29 am
How could Aristotle be so smart? He didn’t have an iPad, couldn’t operate a PlayStation and didn’t have access to the internet?
Odd.
April 13th, 2012 at 10:50 am
A refreshing perspective Cole, especially in this always “on” instant access society that we find ourselves in today.
April 13th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Hello,
thank you very much for this text – I wholeheartedly share your view. I would even say that only family and work and the things we are passionate about are the whole life. I start to appreciate these opposites more and more!
I wish you a good weekend!
Florian.
April 13th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Refreshing indeed!
April 13th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Excellent post Cole! Your photography also makes OUR lives better! Thank you for sharing.
April 14th, 2012 at 7:32 am
Aristotle …. didn’t have access to the internet?
He did have “internet” communication…it just wasn’t very fast!
Yes, family values first.
April 14th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Very well said and so very true…
April 15th, 2012 at 7:10 am
Cole, Thanks for this post. Family is always first.Balance is great.
April 15th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Beautifully expressed Cole
April 15th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Cole, your words resonate with me. Wonderfully said. Cheers, Steve.
April 16th, 2012 at 7:44 am
many thanks for this true words your thinking is good for my mind…..<