Photographers: Welcome Failure

‘Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.’ — Babe Ruth
‘Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.’ — Oprah Winfrey
‘I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’ — Michael Jordan

Photogs: Ever notice how the photos you labored over tend not to perform well, but the snapshots that display your creative eye soar? When we’re in the process of work and effort, we meet failure. Big errors, empty weeks and an unsure horizon that appears filled with setbacks. In skateboarding we say, ‘If you’re not falling you’re not trying hard enough. Skating taught me that picking yourself up is an invaluable skill. You cannot beat someone who will run back to the fight with an undeniable ferocity. These days I welcome failure. Simply because it teaches me the most. Upon success, my ambition looks for the next horizon to tackle. I learn very little when the gold star is affixed to my work. With the redlights in life, and creative photography, I see where I can improve, reaching for another epoch in my journey. My attitude, conversely, is not defeatist. I put my heart and soul into all my work, creative vision. However, the bruises and rejection fuels me. Thus, I keep myself honest and exposed via my aim toward goals that are just out of touch in order to sharpen my skills.

Fail often—and never allow yourself to stay down.

I’ve got your back if you need a pep talk.

Until next time, I’ll see you in the streets.