For some reason I’m reminded of Don Blair once being asked, “What’s the best portrait you’ve ever done?”   His reply, “I don’t know, I haven’t taken it yet!”    That leads me to somebody’s acceptance speech a few years ago, don’t remember who, but they were accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award, “So does this mean I’m done?  That I’ve hit my peak and there’s nothing left to accomplish or learn?” 

It’s just a quick thought this Saturday morning.   If there’s one common trait with every icon in the industry, it’s that they NEVER stop learning and pushing the edge of the envelope.   There isn’t a day that goes by that there isn’t something new to pick up to help in your business, your marketing skills, photography or communications.  

I’m a prime example this week, as I go through my initiation into Twitter.   Facebook was a dare from my staff and kids who said I was too old to be on Facebook.  My blog was a personal challenge and Twitter is simply a necessity after reading my own Guest Posts from Scott Bourne.  It’s a challenge in itself to just be to the point when you only have 140 characters to work with!

I got into a conversation once with Chris Ranier about whether or not Ansel Adams would have grasped the new technologies and been working in digital.  That night Chris’ exhibit had just opened in Santa Monica.  The images were captured on film with his Hasselblad’s, scanned and digitized and then reprinted on whatever the big Epson was at the time.  The images were incredible with some of the most beautifully printed black and whites I’ve ever seen, all with an unbelievable tonal range.

Chris answered, “Are you kidding me?  I think he would have been one of the pioneers, pushing it to the very edge!”

So, the next time you’re feeling frustrated over new technology and trying to keep up, like I was yesterday, trying to Tweet before my wings were ready,  think about what photography and our world was like just 10 years ago.  Think about the friends you could never stay in touch with, because you only caught up to somebody at a trade show or workshop or the phone call here and there.  Then think about the way you shoot today versus the way you did “way back then”.

Sure, it sounds hoakey and sappy, but what an incredible time to be part of the imaging world, when a picture is still worth a thousand words,  but you can use the words to find old friends, make new ones and literally learn something new every day!