Picture by Monika7777
Why Did I Changed?
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 – 1948)
Funny, I haven’t posted the Lightroom tutorials or the outdoor photo shoot article yet as my friends requested. But instead, I feel like sharing about “Change”. I have changed a lot as I progress in life. Everybody I met changed me to a varying degree. Some change me much, some change me just a little. My passions also changes me from time to time. I used to dream of getting a gold medal for a major competition since the day I got my first medal at the local Taekwon-do competition. But once I progressed to the National Competition and got my gold there, I don’t feel like fighting for medals anymore. Instead, I enjoy the feel of the competition, where you can do your best to measure up with each other in friendly and honorable manner. If I lose the fight, that means I’m not good enough. If I win, that means I’m worth the win. If I get disqualified, that means I need to reduce my power for the next time I fight again.
The same goes with my photography. Long times ago I still remember my father bought me my first semi-pro camera on our trip to central Java. Yes, I never had a compact camera. I played with the camera for the whole trip. Shooting everything I find, trying different angles. Then we bough another semi-pro (that I still have now) before going to China couple of years ago. I shot around 3000s for the whole trip, and accidentally formatted my computer with the photos on it, haha. Funny how that many things you worked so hard for could be gone in just one second.
Is Change Good or Bad?
“The only constant is change.” – Herakleitos of Ephesus, Greek Philosopher (c.535 BC – 475 BC)
I really can not say whether change is good or bad. It totally depends on you. Your perception of the change is your reality. I’ve read and read about Lance Armstrong on how he won La Tour De France 7 consecutive times after recovering from a deadly cancer. So many people encounter unfortunate events far lesser than cancer, and gave up! So many people quit doing what they love so easily just because of several failures. That’s a bad bad change I tell you!
Me myself, I think the best change that has come to my life is my habit of reading books. In this case, self-development and philosophy books. I haven’t read a single positive books before I came to Australia, and that’s around age 19. I don’t care, my child will have to read good books since the day they can read, haha. That change was weird too, I didn’t just one day decided to “Ok, from now on I’ll read books”, but instead I got told to do so! I joined a network marketing business 2 years ago just out of curiosity. Their education method for the new members includes reading self-development books plus listening to seminar tapes from their speaker. And I can say that it is a very effective way of conducting education! I read several books and fall in love with the habit. Now I have bookshelf full of books. Ranging from photography, martial-arts (I recently purchased the “Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do” by the late General Choi Hong Hi), self-help, philosophy, and variety of magazines. Not to mention the e-books I have in my laptop right now.
So What Does That Change Have Anything To Do With This Photo Blog?
“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” ~W. Edwards Deming
Oh it has to do with a lot of things! Especially on how the change I initiated on the club I belong, the MPC (Monash Photography Club). I’ve been in the club for the last 2 years, but I barely active on the first year because I haven’t discovered my passion for photography yet. Last year, I got my first DSLR and played with it. I attended some workshop by MPC to learn about photography and like some of them. Too bad the method of the workshops didn’t really suit first time user like me back then. Quickly I gain some experience trough helping the club cover events and balls, while shooting my friends at my spare times. And as usual, time flies, and now this year I’m in the committee helping the club to run workshops.
I tried to change the way workshops are run, so instead of a lecture type session with one lecturer, the class is divided to small groups with at least one senior photographer in the group. The students can talk and give feedback to each other, and the senior can answer the questions of the beginners. The only feedback I got from the members are stellar! All positives. Only recently I discovered that one or two members were complaining about my workshop to other committee members, whom apparently doesn’t have the guts to talk directly to me, haha. I guess some of them are intimidated by my choleric personality.
What is your point?
“The man who looks for security, even in the mind, is like a man who would chop off his limbs in order to have artificial ones which will give him no pain or trouble.” ~Henry Miller
I am a firm believer of change. I believe one of the best way to measure people is to observe how they react to change in their lives. They can react negatively, or positively. Remember that those effect can also snowball. One negative change can lead to another negatives.
When you lost a fight in a tournament, or your photos didn’t get to the final of the photography competition, you can either accept that you aren’t good enough (to win that particular fight) or you can start to blame the referee/judge for your loss. Your perception, is your reality.
So how do you think we should face the constant change?
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” ~Confucius
In the end, your life will always change. So why don’t you initiate the change from now on instead of waiting for change to happen? Learn to recognize and maintain your fears. Do not let your fear take control of your life. Instead of looking at an event with fear and defensiveness, try to jump through the obstacle. Take baby steps, do not try to run before you can even walk. Do not try to buy 70-200 f2.8 VR before you even understand the exposure triangle. That’s a lot of “do nots”!
Now I suggest you to find your passion, set your goals, and change your life to fit your passion. Surround yourself with like-minded people, and you will change subconsciously. If you like photography, join your local photography club. If you like sport, join your local sport club. You will meet interesting people along the way.
Again, don’t just wait for the change to happen, be the change! But expect heavy resistance from the conservatives!
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