Somewhere beneath our hopes and inside our dreams lay a buried treasure called purpose.
Those that uncover their purpose are incredibly fortunate. However, unlike the buried treasures in fables, purpose doesn't come with a map. It comes with a gut feeling and a call to action. And when we follow that feeling it generally leads smack dab into a mountain of criticism, opposition, and self doubt. I am reminded of this quote:
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein
I can't say I've encountered violent opposition like some of my mentors or those that challenge the establishment. But, as an artist my ideas are criticized. As a craftsmen my innovations are often challenged. As a man I battle with identity & worth. And so I know what it feels like to stand alone. To not fit in. To think differently. To be told, 'you're not good enough'...
However, for me I often find solace behind the lens. In my career I encounter 'great spirits' and I am often comforted from their stories of struggle and triumph. Usually, if I am photographing someone - it is usually a passionate soul who has done something infamous or in the process doing something magnificent. My subjects are often outsiders that became bench markers and taste makers. I get to hear first hand how they confront and resolve challenges. How they braved the unknown and wound up creating their own path. How they followed their passion and found fortune.
The picture above was taken during a shoot of just such people. This troop of dancers was told at some point in their career that they were not good enough. That they couldn't be ballerinas. And yet, here they were relentlessly rehearsing for an opportunity that quite possibly might never come. But it didn't matter. They danced anyway. And there was a beauty in their defiance that would match any performance, anywhere.
In the end, I find it helpful to remember that there is a thin line between being a madman and a genius. Between being foolish and brave. Between breaking protocol and innovating. Between being persistent and impractical. The difference is winning. So don't quit till you win!
"Men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better then those who try to do nothing and succeed." -Lloyd Jones
