Doubt, Indecision and Attachment

The title of this blog/voice is in relation to the words above.

These words, Doubt, Indecision and Attachment from a Buddhist perspective would be known as the ‘Hindrances’ because they prevent progress and potentially invite stagnation/procrastination.

Of course from a creative perspective they do the same and as an artist/photographer is a familiar place to find myself in.

A recent picture I took, ‘Tension in the Corridor of Uncerntainty’ (ArtCity) left.

Viewing this image at first gave me a positive, visceral feeling, but over time doubt—like the 'Corridor of Uncertainty'—emerged, echoing tensions common among creatives.

A quote from Kurt Vonnegut, "To practise any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it," helped me overcome that doubt and indecision.

Like Vonnegut says, the best way to deal with doubt or indecision, is not question one’s initial reaction but just do it.

Equally the idea of being too attached to an image because of its resonance to me emotionally also has the potential to blunt progress. Often it’s the words that I attach to the image that have the true value and compliment the image, but perhaps a solution might be, to retain the words and find an alternative image that fits those words, that way one can feel a shift and movment to progress?

Without wishing to sound arrogant, I’ve been taking pictures for a very long time, I know what I like and in truth I create for myself, and of course if in that creation I connect with others, then that’s wonderful but I shouldn’t necessarily need others to validate my work, I’m my best critic and should trust my own immediate reaction because to have no reaction is more likely a truer barometer of an images worth.