Bill Jay

Bill Jay's article, "the Thing Itself", delves into how aspiring photographers should view and create their work. On some levels I agree with what he is saying, but I also think that what I enjoy in photography is the free flowing aspects of viewing life through the lens. It takes a great deal of work and vigilance, but for me personally, I have to balance the work with fun and play. What I am taking from his article is the focus on trying to make one's work genuine and honest. I will also make it a point to focus on developing a better perception so that I can start seeing things in terms of photography. He uses the violinist as an example of how hard work and time are crucial to building a skill. I have also read about outliers in society that are successful and a big part of their success is how much time they put into their skill or craft. In order to be proficient at what you do, the skills and a careful eye need to be developed over time. This takes intent and focus. It's one thing to take a photo, but another thing to capture something of impact. Bill Jay is guiding us into the direction that will allow us to accomplish this or have a better understanding on how this is done effectively.