Ever had a dream?
A dream that you watched go up in smoke because it took too long, was too hard or required too much in blood, sweat and tears?
It was a few years ago that I first heard my friend Zack Arias say:
If you can do anything else or have any other options,
DO NOT BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.
It took some time before I understood the depth and truth of those words. In the process of building a photography business, the business of photography can break down or crush your love for the art. I know some of you have been there. Some of you are there now. Before you know it, the dream you started out pursuing, is gone like so much smoke.
But the dream doesn’t have to disappear and die. Maybe, like smoke, it’ll twist and change and bend to create something new and different…
…instead of growing a wildly successful photo studio, the dream becomes a $50,000 non profit that fights homelessness.
…instead of becoming an international speaker at photo conferences and touring the world, the dream bends to you volunteering at a local YMCA or Boys and Girls Club teaching kids photography.
…instead of creating a line of photography actions or presets that sell millions, you create a series of portraits that helps raise awareness about a terrible injustice.
If you feel your dreams are going up in smoke, take a step back and watch the smoke. See if it will evolve into something else. Watch it, work with it, and adapt.
Whatever your challenges are, believe your dreams are possible.
When you’re looking at the remains of dying dreams, know that new life may be hiding in the smoke trails.
There may be a great fire in our soul,
yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it,
and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.
~Vincent van Gogh
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Day 15 of 365 Photo Project: Smoke & Mirrors
Photo Equipment
Canon EOS 5D full frame (not Mark II
)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Alien Bee light (set to left of the stool with incense)
Grid Spot
Camera Settings
Shutter Speed: 1/100
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 100
Other Equipment
8 sticks of incense (placed on stool in front of me)
2 wavy mirrors (in front of the incense stool leaning against wall)
. I recently re-took the test they offer when you buy the book and was amazed at the results. I’ll share more later, but it’s all part of an alpha test called Class 0 that I was chosen to participate in with John Saddington at 
