The following day, I spent editing the photos from my shoot. With some new photographic techniques I learned recently and new software I purchased, I became completely engrossed in my work and the day flew by. The new software from Topaz Labs gives me the ability to sharpen, add creative touches, transform a photograph into a painting, and much more. I finished editing and uploaded the new images to my website as my workday ended.
As much as I enjoy photography, that night, doubts started to creep in. I began asking questions, Where will this lead? Will I be able to turn my passion into a lucrative business? Will my work earn recognition? And probably the biggest question of all... Will the photographs I make have an impact?
When I went to bed that night, I picked up a book my daughter gave me for Christmas, “Resisting Your Soul” by Nick Williams. I keep it on my nightstand and read a few pages before going to sleep each night. I like drifting off to sleep with some positive thoughts running through my mind. I opened the book to where I’d left off the night before, and found the next chapter (43) titled, “The Pro Acts Now and Invests in Anticipation of Success.” Serendipity, I believe! The message on that page was exactly what I needed that night:
"We all need to hear encouraging words from time to time and if you’re lucky, they find their way to you at exactly the right time."
Later in the week, I relayed the story to my daughter while we were dining at a local restaurant. We sat listening to a young man playing the keyboard, and from the serious look on his face and his young age, we guessed he didn’t have a lot of experience. My daughter asked if I thought he was paid to play, and I replied, "He probably plays for tips and the experience, paying his dues as we all do when we decide to follow our dreams."
As we were leaving we dropped a few dollars in his tip jar and that serious look... turned into a huge smile and a thank you!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Nick!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Nick!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Seaward is a landscape, nature and travel photographer and owner of Summit to Sea Images. She has been photographing the beauty of the natural landscape since 1995. Her photographs have been used by Coed Sportswear, Portsmouth Hospital, Ristorante Massimo, Outside Magazine and by R. Ann Rousseau for the cover of her novel "Portsmouth A Love Story".
You can view her gallery at: www.SummitToSeaImages.com
Contact Sharon at: Sharon@SummitToSeaImages.com
Other Blog Posts by Sharon Seaward: Next Step, Transitions
Seed Newsvine