Todays blog post is short... very short.
Quite a few people have asked me lately if I have "made it" as a photographer yet. This onset of inquiries got me thinking, and I came up with what I believe is an adequate answer to a complex question. I believe I have "made it" as a photographer, however I would be remiss if I didn't say that I also still have a very long way to go as my photographic journey continues. Meaning? There will always be a photographer out there who is more successful, more well known. However, they will never be me, and in my own space in this infinite universe, I have crafted my vision and used my skills to create lasting pieces of art. Success is a sliding scale and I believe I am somewhere in the middle. As long as I am continuing to inspire my audience and perfect my skill, I will stay successful. This brings me to my next point, which is directed to the younger generation and those new to the industry.
In today's world it is easy to feel lost in the crowd as a landscape photographer. Advancements in technology, the never ending slew of social media posts, and the number of people taking images can easily overwhelm a photographer and make them feel inadequate. It is important as a photographer new to the industry to shut it all out and focus on one thing: Your vision. It is the one aspect of photography that no other individual can recreate. It is unique to you and you alone. And that is what will make you successful as you progress. Keep making your images and get the world to see them your way.
Storm on Shuksan ©Andrew Lockwood 2017
In the above image, I wanted to craft an image at this location unlike any I had seen. There are hundreds of photos from this location with perfect weather and pristine conditions. All showing a gorgeous lake with abundant wildflowers and a majestic peak in the background. While these images are stunning and very good images, they can sometimes seem overdone. I took on the challenge of attempting to photograph the same area during a storm that was battering the mountain. For those of us who spend time in the mountains, we know all to well how quickly weather can become adverse. Showing the mountain scene in these conditions helps portray as realistically as possible, a truth that many overlook. Nature is wild and deserves to be respected accordingly. That was my vision, and so I set out and created the image above.