Be Open to New Opportunities

Look for opportunities in places you normally wouldn’t go.

Many of us are feeling stifled during this difficult time. Many are unable to do the things they are passionate about. Athletes are without competition. Musicians are without crowds to play for. Creatives are shut in and confined. As a sports and concert photographer I am missing out on the busiest time of the year for me. I should be shooting baseball 4 to 5 nights a week. I should be shooting concerts. None of this is possible for me right now. I have hope for it starting in the months ahead but that is probably not as realistic as hopeful. My passion for running has seen an upswing as I am able to get out for longer and better runs than I would be if I was shooting every night. My passion for photography was built on my love of baseball and sport. Shooting concerts was an easy offshoot from sports because of the spirit of the musician’s performances. I’ve told others that I will never learn all I want to about photography. There are so many areas to be creative. Some of the most rewarding experiences come from stepping out of our comfort zone and trying something new. We just need to be open to the opportunities when life presents them to us. We may not always have a say when that time is. Such is the time I am experiencing now. I can not shoot what I most want to shoot and be where I most want to be to shoot. That doesn’t mean I should bag up all my gear and store it away until I am able to step onto a field or into a concert pit. The flame of passion you have for something will die out if it isn’t fueled. A musician’s love for music will smother under the dust of his guitar sitting silent in the corner or in the closet. An athlete’s love for his sport will wither without the training he puts into his sport. I can’t put my camera away and be angry that there is not sport or music for me to shoot. I can’t feel sorry for myself and think about next year. I need to test myself, step out of my comfort zone, and look at what is there in front of me. I’ve always loved looking at other photographers work. I’ve always watched videos of other photographers and creatives to see what they do with the style they have created for themselves. As I watch others. I wondered what could I do with that to add my own style. When I had my sports and shows, that is pretty much where the wonder ended. Now, I need to do more than wonder. It’s been nearly 2 months since I last shot a sporting event. It will probably be much longer than that before I shoot another. I have been going out as much as possible and shooting what ever presents itself, mostly nature and landscapes. Not every attempt we take at something has to be a success. Not everything we do will be the best we want it to be every time. So, I am testing my skills in ways I never imagined I would do on a regular basis. Now, I will be looking to do more documentary and street photography work. Documenting the times we are going through. I plan on doing some photo stories about people and businesses that intrigue me. I am going to work with other creatives that will add to my style and what I do. I want to do more glamour photography and shoot photos of people with a variety of loves and interests to capture who they are. If you are someone with a unique style or passion contact me and let’s see if it’s something we can collaborate on. There is a lot that can be done. I will focus on that rather than what can not be done. Long lenses are perfect for social distancing. I have some projects that are in the planning stages and I am always open to new opportunities.