Bouquet is a free monthly newsletter. If you love it, consider supporting it financially, or share it with a friend. Thank you!
Hello, friends. We’ve made it to September, the true first month of the year.
I’ve had thoughts on photography and success lately. I recognize these as the still falling breadcrumbs from when I stopped using Instagram almost 4 months ago. Now that I’m more emotionally distant from it, I have access to all these new insights I was blind to before. It started with a tweet from a photographer who was lamenting what I lamented myself in the past: the reach on Instagram is getting lower and lower, and that’s not fair. I could understand the frustration, only this time I thought to myself: so what? Not in a cynical or derisive way, just genuinely wondering why that piece of information feels so important to so many.
Sure, it’s about the likes. But what does it mean to receive likes? Do they bring any value to a photographer’s life? As a disclaimer, I have the privilege of not having to rely solely on photography to make a living. Maybe for a working professional photographer, likes and exposure on social media are important and even necessary. From my experience though, the number of likes I received didn't amount to anything.
Likes may be a means of showing appreciation, that’s fair. But are we entitled to receive it? Given that it is lacking on IG, thus making photographers frustrated, how much appreciation do we need? To what end?
Many photographers aspire to be successful, or a variation of that word. Famous, recognized, idolized, etc. It’s in our human nature, but it is being exploited by social media’s business model. Being externally validated became the only goal, not the result of hard work, and it’s causing pain to even hobbyist beginners.
I’ve come to the realization that I’m not working towards being successful, at least the common definition of it. I used to. That desire took the reins sometime two years ago. It made me miserable to fight against my nature, which simply wants to share pictures with those who find my corner of the Internet. Granted, the handful of photographers I check regularly these days all have reached some level of success, so there’s definitely value in high-quality work being seen by many. I just don’t want to make it my end goal anymore.
It’s not that I completely distanced myself from the photography world. I am reading up on NFTs as much as the next person. It’s a struggle to stay content! On days I’m feeling low, my views take a 180-degree turn and all I want is some sweet dopamine delivered by a notification.
I may not be a successful photographer. So what?
Greenery
I haven’t been taking a lot of photos. I’ve been busy finishing my Google UX Design course! Yup. Who would have thought? (I did). If you’re looking for a junior UX designer, I am now on the job hunt. I promise to show you my UX portfolio if you promise not to judge me too harshly.
I put together some clips from the time I spent in Italy this summer. I will try taking more horizontal videos like our lord intended.
A bunch of links
Less doesn’t have to be more. It can just be less. Christopher Butler wrote this from a design perspective, but I think it applies just as well to photography.
The way I would have known my website was “working” back then would have been to measure its traffic; the more people looked at it, the more of a success I would have declared it to be. But is taking a portion of person’s attention and time a worthy goal? Is the validation I get worth the intrusion of my thing on other peoples’ attention?
I recently read How to make writing less hard by Oliver Burkeman, unfortunately it was too late in the month for me to fully embrace its teachings. However, you can rest assured that next month’s newsletter will knock your socks off. Seriously, it’s good advice.
How many times can I share immersive videos of cities around the world? VidEarth features even my hometown Chișinău, Moldova. I have not visited it since 2016 and I’ve noticed some changes in the video. There’s something giddy about recognizing a street.
The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine? I’m only a social coffee drinker, but this was fascinating to learn. Can’t believe I didn’t read any of Michael Pollan’s books yet.
The Book of Tasty and Healthy Food by 99% invisible (podcast). Food from the Soviet Union that defined my childhood. I cooked the Russian salad Olivye the other day at a dinner party and it was a success! Won’t hear the haters.
I’ve been loving Lorde’s new album Solar Power. It feels just like the sun, God knows I will need it in the English months to come. On a much much smaller scale, Stoned At The Nail Salon speaks about my indecisiveness. To be online or not to be online.
Got a wishbone dryin' on the windowsill in my kitchen
Just in case I wake up and realize I've chosen wrong
I love this life that I have, the vine hangin' over the door
And the dog who comes when I call, but I wonder sometimes what I'm missin'
Thank you for reading. Writing this newsletter and hearing from you makes me truly happy. I’d love to hear your thoughts on success.
Have a great day,
Alina
Portfolio · Twitter · Tumblr · Support me