Creative: Hong Kong to the Page (Quickly)

Just make something. I’ve been dealing with one gentleman for eight years, but he has yet to make his first test book. He threatens, over and over, but never does it. Never hits prints. Never takes that initial step. Yes, I said “initial” because that’s what it is. When I asked students about social media, one student said “I feel trapped in it.” There were supportive nods from around the room. “I want out, but then I feel myself being pulled back in.” The designers knew precisely what they were doing.

That same morning, while still sitting on my bed in the hotel room, I took my images from the day before and set a timer.

Thirty minutes. Go. Just go. No revision, no overthink, no preciousness to the process. Just make something. I had time to make a decision about each image or spread. I detest the cover. The borders aren’t right. I mixed color and black and white. So? Is this my statement? Is this my final say? Do I care if someone sees it and judges me? Please. These days, most judges are too busy checking their feed.

But let me explain something. I’m practiced. I can edit my daily take in minutes, process it in minutes, and begin to design in minutes. I have a strategy, and I’ve done it for decades. Later that morning, we connected with one of the workshop participants who spent the day with us. (Unreal Lukas, SO generous with your time and endless energy.) I showed him the images I had mocked up. “You have such a system in place,” he said. (Or something along this line.) And he is correct. If I let my work build up, I’d never get to anything. Also remember, I’m dabbling, and my primary goal is help you get to your goal, not realize my own. (That ship sailed.)

Yesterday, I looked through all the images I must judge later today at the photo gathering—about 120 images. Then I must pick one as my favorite. Just one. So, 119 people won’t win that title tonight. That is photography. I’m just one man with one opinion, nothing more, so as photographers, you have to keep that front and center. Another chap comes along, he’ll pick something else. No matter. Remember, Rick told us, “The audience comes last.” This is easy for some of you to say, but much more difficult for some of you to do. Forget the cart and the horse. Go back to basics.