Developing a Personal Vision

You can read endless blog posts, magazine articles and books about the importance of developing a personal vision for your artwork. While some of these articles are worthwhile, many of them leave you with the impression that the author is just as confused about the process as you are. I've only seen a handful of writings on this topic that were worth saving.

(Photo by Andy Frazer)

Recently, Mark Hobson wrote an interesting piece titled "Most Girls Just Want To Have Fun" on his Landscapist blog. This one is definitely worth saving. He gives a great example of landscape photographers who would give the same response when asked about the meaning in their photographers; "Ain't the grandeur of nature just grand."

Mark replies, "If that's as deep as your vision goes you're not exactly traveling in a rarefied circle of thought." He argues that most photographers photograph because they just want to have fun, not because they're trying to express an artistic vision that has been refined based on personal experience.

I agree with him completely. I only wish it weren't true.