Past, Present, or Future?

 

This week every year we are inundated with blogs that either relive the last 12 months speculate about the bright positive future and hope we all have for the coming new year.  I have been debating all week what to even write about. How can I have a great blog post that doesn’t mention something that will alienate some of you and exclude others for reasons of politics or religion or anything else? It seems to be the time of year where everyone is either self-righteous, preachy, or with the upcoming 2012 elections, political. There is one other category though that we sometimes hear about.

 

Gratitude. I have so many things to be grateful for and I really don’t want to get mushy on you. You probably hear enough about that this time of year too. The fact is though that I am happy about all that is going on in this world, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I could get into details about this wonderful thing that happened or this horrible thing that affected me this way or that way. I could tell you about all the wonderful people I have met this past year and how they have helped me through the year. If you want to know about them then just hit page down and look at past articles and you will see it all.

 

I could tell you how wonderful the future is going to be and that this next year is going to be the best I have ever had in business. Or I could tell you how much it hurts when a client moves on because my services aren’t needed any more but how their growth has been a positive for both of us. I could write a dissertation about the photojournalism I have been doing lately and how that is continuing on as I write this; how it is taking my business in new and unexpected directions.  I will leave the words “interesting” and “positive” out of that statement for now because that is the future.

 

Speaking of the future, I could also write article upon article on how I plan to grow my business and yours through photography and networking. I could write on how staying positive in difficult times can bring you success and to a positive future. I might even be inclined to write predictions of the next year, who might be the next US President, how the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street have affected our political world. If I really wanted to I could even get a guest blogger that is some type of savant that can predict everything that is going to happen between now and this time next year.

 

Why?  Why would I do any of those things?  The past, my past is all over this blog already. The present is also here and will be here tomorrow too. My images keep you up to date on what I am doing today. As for the future, well, I have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow or even 5 minutes from now. All I know is that whatever happens this year I am going to deal with it as best I can and I am going to use all the tools at my disposal to grow through it.

 

I don’t know what is “the next best thing” to come out in photography, or in business. I just know that I am going to keep working hard for you, my clients, and I am going to try to keep growing as a businessperson and photographer. I am going to continue my personal and business projects. I am not going to project into the future success or failure; I am just going to work hard for you and mostly for myself. I found a long time ago that if I do my best and I never have to ask myself “what if” then it’s all good.

 

But this is a blog about photography and without it is kind of pointless. So let me close with one of my favorite images of the year. No back story, no setup or predictions. Just an image that says so much by itself.

 

3 replies
  1. Beate
    Beate says:

    Like your post Michael. Makes a lot of sense to tie it all together because it interests you and you as a creative artist will continue to grow. You SEE through the camera and what you SEE is what interests you. Keep up hte good work.

  2. Murray Laidlaw
    Murray Laidlaw says:

    Great image and your blogs are always worth a read. I took a picture of people and dogs at the beach on Wednesday, the only difference is they all had big coats on and looked very windswept.

    Best wishes….

  3. Johnny Graham Jr
    Johnny Graham Jr says:

    Michael . . . What great post and picture. Simplicity in text and concept, a brilliant outlook and view on the world around you and what’s happening. I agree with you, what a way to end a story, the picture is the best and it really say’s it all. Best wishes in the New Year!!!

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