there's no crying

whenever i begin to despair about being creative it always helps to remember that i'm not alone. knowing you're not the only one facing a creative struggle always seems to help, but even more powerful is knowing that those who have been professionals for years fight the same battles.

internationally acclaimed photographer joe mcnally makes it clear that doing great work is hard and takes repeated attempts:

"I’ve shot a lot more bad pictures than I’ll ever shoot good ones. I’m quite comfortable admitting this. I have always been compelled by my time behind the camera, my love of actually shooting, no matter if I win, lose, or draw. And boy do I lose a bunch of the time. Every shooter does. The ones who tell you they are always knockin’ on heaven’s door when they take a camera in hand are bullshittin’ ya blind.

We all shoot bad stuff, good stuff, in between stuff. It’s the stuff of the photographic life. Failure is part of it. No shame there. If we knock it back all the time, or feel like we do so, then we’re not trying. As I always say, if the feeling of been there, done that, nothin’ new here, I’ve seen it all, let’s move along overtakes us, then its time to hang the cameras up."