Cloud Ship
A few weeks ago, I was approached by a young photographer who was a little depressed. She felt like she was being called to create, but was getting no support or respect for what she was doing. "How can I get people to quit looking at my work and saying "It's just clouds."?
Just clouds?
Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrus Uncinus, Contrail, Pileus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Altostratus Undulatus, Altocumulus Undulatus, Stratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus, Cumulis Humilus, Cumulonimbus, Pyrocumulus, Cumulonimbus Incus, Cumulonimbus Calvus, Cumulus Congestus....
Just clouds?
Rain, snow, sleet, hail, shade, tornadoes, hurricanes....
White, gray, black, orange, red, yellow, gold, silver, and pink....
Always present and always changing.
Just clouds, you say?
So what do I say to this aspiring artist?
First of all, stop showing your work to anyone who says "It's just clouds." Secondly, don't let your self worth be determined by outsiders. Your work needs only to be validated by you. Now, if you are subconsciously saying to yourself "It's just clouds", then maybe you need to rethink your subject matter. Sometimes, when negative comments really hurt, it's because you are thinking the same thing and were really hoping for validation as opposed to a confirmation of your own fears. I haven't seen these photographs of "just clouds". Maybe they are poorly done, maybe skill and vision is lacking. I don't know. But any failure can certainly not be placed on the clouds.
It's never "just a kitten" or "just a flower" or just anything else... I've seen beautiful photographs of kittens and flowers and single, solitary rocks. I've also seen horrible photographs of kittens and flowers and single, solitary rocks. Once again, skill and vision trumps the subject.
Remember laying on your back in a field as a kid, looking up at the clouds passing by? Where has that wonderment gone?
It's almost sad that someone could look at this and say "It's just a cloud."
Just clouds?
Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrus Uncinus, Contrail, Pileus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Altostratus Undulatus, Altocumulus Undulatus, Stratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus, Cumulis Humilus, Cumulonimbus, Pyrocumulus, Cumulonimbus Incus, Cumulonimbus Calvus, Cumulus Congestus....
Just clouds?
Rain, snow, sleet, hail, shade, tornadoes, hurricanes....
White, gray, black, orange, red, yellow, gold, silver, and pink....
Always present and always changing.
Just clouds, you say?
So what do I say to this aspiring artist?
First of all, stop showing your work to anyone who says "It's just clouds." Secondly, don't let your self worth be determined by outsiders. Your work needs only to be validated by you. Now, if you are subconsciously saying to yourself "It's just clouds", then maybe you need to rethink your subject matter. Sometimes, when negative comments really hurt, it's because you are thinking the same thing and were really hoping for validation as opposed to a confirmation of your own fears. I haven't seen these photographs of "just clouds". Maybe they are poorly done, maybe skill and vision is lacking. I don't know. But any failure can certainly not be placed on the clouds.
It's never "just a kitten" or "just a flower" or just anything else... I've seen beautiful photographs of kittens and flowers and single, solitary rocks. I've also seen horrible photographs of kittens and flowers and single, solitary rocks. Once again, skill and vision trumps the subject.
Remember laying on your back in a field as a kid, looking up at the clouds passing by? Where has that wonderment gone?
It's almost sad that someone could look at this and say "It's just a cloud."
