Winning!

"I hate to lose" or something like that. Conversely, "I love to win" or "I'm very competitive." That's all the basically the same idea. I've read that in several places on several different sites about photographers and their take on photography. The ones who go down this path more often than not are in photojournalism or sports photography. They have deadlines, they have high pressure clients, and they have a lot of competition to get the shot. Just get it done.

I suppose there are some wedding photographers who have that view- win the client over. Get a great result for a winning response. But that is so loosely viewed through the lens of the person with the job. What is validation for some is not for others- money, clients reaction, being as professional as possible.

It comes down to the person taking the photos- are they happy with the results? Are they happy their photo is on the front page or the back page? Are they happy they have a job? If they enter a contest, if they don't get first, are they happy?

The results in photography are not as clear cut as the score in a baseball game.

Where do emotions mix in with photography?

The statements above in quotes all have a similar theme- emotions. Getting the shot at your own pace is one thing, but getting mad that someone else got it, or did it better is something completely different. I can see reasons for "winning" a photograph:

·         Pride to be the best

·         Motivation to be prepared

·         Knowing your best shot is going to get the job done

·         Motivation to go the extra step

·         Learning from your own failure

·         Expanding to different information and techniques

I've never been competitive in photography. I do it because I like it. Now and then I randomly get a complement I wasn't expecting. It is a nice validation of my results, but I don't go out of my way to do so. Such as submitting a photo to a contest, or selling my photos actively. (ok ok, I have submitted some to micro-stock sites) I do it because I find it fun, interesting, and a way to share. I don't know if I would have that competitive hustle needed to be a professional. I would need motivation, like this is how I am feeding my family now.

Being able to control and harshness that emotion is also very important.

How long can someone keep going like that, to be emotionally invested in the outcome for years before it really gets to them? To know that you will never ALWAYS win, that there is only so much preparation you can achieve would just eat at me. Lastly, to know there are always new people coming in to the field. They might be just as hungry, but the crowd of amateur photographers don't have to be as good as consistently as the professional- they just need to be lucky. That would drive me nuts as a professional- lucky rather than good.

With photography, I have learned that what I thought was a 'whatever' shot can be prized by someone else. It is interpretation. Things I thought that rocked the house, were received with coolness by others. The important thing is to find a client, whether it is a newspaper or school year book, or whomever likes your results.

            I think to be a professional and successful one, you need to be a bit competitive. That provides motivation, that provides focus, and ultimately a method of validation- pay, success, more jobs, whatever makes you tick.

Just don't get eaten by the monster of emotions which could easily be done. There is little difference between love and hate.