More real talk. I struggled with imposter syndrome, thanks to comparing myself to other Leica photographers. Here's how I battle it. 0:00 - The Problem 4:18 - The Solution Me: dave.online/ / daveherring
Great message. I went through something similar until I realized no one else cares about my photography except me! My wife is super supportive and my kids tolerate me and buy me books and stuff but really, the photos I take are for me. They don’t have to be masterpieces but as long as I enjoy the process and have photos that bring me joy - I am fulfilled.
Something Kevin Mullins says helped me many times with this, he says something along the lines of “a photograph doesn’t necessarily have to be great, it just needs to be important”.
Love, love, love this message! I have zero illusions about being better than anyone else (nor do I want to be) but at the end of the day, if I'm happy with what I've captured for my "time capsule" that's all that matters. I've also upped my POSITIVE comments to support others in the work they do - like this one!!
🎉 heck yea man! Great share 🫡 I took a break from social media 2017-21 because of personal stuff but I’m that time it was awesome time of making art for myself and found true freedom to create without comparing to others since I had no one to compare my self to. Now I’m in same boat as you, being able to support and hype up all the upcoming creatives has been a joy! 🎉
Dave you’re talking about a very familiar feeling to a lot of us. One thing to do is pinch yourself that you’re in Italy, you’re traveling, enjoying your life and family. You’re blessed, your work is good and you’re living your best life. Family first, then job and your job permits you to travel. Real talk, you’re blessed. Great video bud!
Just recently found your channel . . . Really enjoying it. What stood out the most is how genuine you are about the subjects you discuss. Keep up the great job!!
Great message, testimony. We all suffer from this at one time or another, good of you to share your thoughts with us. I appreciate it and I’m positive many will as well. We do what we do, mainly for us and our family, we should enjoy every aspect of sharing our art with them first. Keep up your great channel.
The irony being 1) other people are following you and think the same about you... but will never tell you. 2) the better you get the more you feel like an imposter. So I've had similar things.
Love your thoughts here...I struggle like this as well (in more than just photography) and I very much appreciate your approach to dealing with it. Thank you for sharing!!
Love it! Everything you have mentioned in this video, as a Leica shooter my self, I can relate. This video demonstrates the great empowerment your projecting to others. The words of the month for me is and will definitely be CHAMPIONING OTHERS. Thanks for sharing :)
Awesome message. My wife always reminds me as I'm in a similar struggle in my life and says "your journey is your own." And that snaps me out of it. I love how you mention gratitude and how empowering it is to champion other people. Gold right there.
Wow, thank you Dave! It`s sunday, 9:30 am and I am sitting in my kitchen and had breakfast 30 minutes ago - and i was listening to you video. What should I say ...? Thanks for your honesty! Your content for me actually is 10 out of 10! Dave, you made my day ... Greets from Hamburg, Jann
Great video and message man. I often feel this way too shooting with my Q. Some days the shots line up and it just feels right, some days it doesn’t. Both are okay, experience and wisdom can be drawn any and all kinds of shooting. 📷🤙🏽
The grass is always greener on the other side. I feel the same way all the time, you’re not alone. It’s the curse of being a creative. Do not think about it - keep shooting. The more you keep your mind clear of such thoughts, the better images you will create. There is only one version of you, one person who has your vision. Do not compare with others. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Well said, I often beat myself up too much. It's so easy to suffer from imposter syndrome since it can be difficult to escape any form of media. What I have started to do is listen to music while laying on the couch to clear my thoughts.
Thank you for your encouragement. I am new to Leica Q2 as a 40 year enthusiast- we all have to deal with the ups and downs of our creativity. I completely agree - appreciation and gratefulness have proven helpful for me to recover from the doldrums. Douglas Anderson-Calgary AB.
Hi dave, nice new video you made there. Respect for putting together so much content alongside work and family. Yes, I know the feeling you describe too. I sometimes ask myself why I spend so much time thinking about projects and gear because everything already exists and everything has become so worthless due to the mass of pictures and videos that are created and uploaded at any moment. especially equipment that you need or ask yourself whether you are using the right thing or should buy the latest stuff again...all too much somehow. should i really sell my q2 for a q3, .. which camera should i take with me for the next 3 weeks. should I take photos at all or just go on vacation? this constant looking left and right and comparing with others is not healthy. Luckily I found a way for myself to hide it and just do what I want, and first of all to think about what I think is good and not what might be well received out there. keep it up, respect! and many greetings
Thanks for sharing all of that. It does feel like there's nothing more we can add since everything has been done 10000 times at this point. But then I remember - the experience OF doing it is the most important thing. The photo is second. And if I haven't done it, then it's never been done.
Hi Dave. Great courage making the videos regarding the mental health side. I dont have social media, mainly for some of the pitfalls you have described. I tend to search out art in other ways which is gratifying in its own way, instead of being fed it via algorithm. My photographs are for me and my family which keeps the pressure and expectations low. Every time I go out with my camera, it's all for me and documenting my life. Keep it real brother.
Thanks for sharing! Think more people need to think about why they started photography in the first place. I feel this to the bones. I went to Europe for over a month with my wife and spent the first several weeks trying to take pictures like the amazing ones I saw online. After a while I just felt discouraged cause my photos weren’t coming out like the ones I saw others taking, and then it started to feel like i was playing Pokémon Go, trying to capture the same photos everyone else was. By the end of the trip, the amount of photos I was taking was shrinking, and I started to really focus on capturing what I saw, and my wife saw. I stopped focusing on capturing that amazing vista with a 300mm lens, and using a wide lens to capture environmental shots of me and my wife. The quality and quantity of photos I was happy with increased because I was doing them for me and my memories, and I only share them directly with my closest family and friends directly.
Thanks for all you’ve shared! It’s all a journey. Ultimately we do this art because it connects us to the world around us and to one another. I always keep that in the front of my mind when I’m spiraling! And of course, championing others on their journey is a big part of overcoming it all. When I empower others, I just feel better. That’s why I do this channel, and why I did this video. Best of luck to you!
Man this is golden. I feel the same thing about my photos and other people's photos. In the back of my head I hear this voice saying you keep missing the shot and so and so's is so much better than yours. But, your perspective on the time capsule is very helpful. In a nutshell, I just need to shoot and not worry about being the next HCB or Garry Winogrand. Lol. Thanks for the realness.
Totally agree with supporting others. Daily I share others posts from my own photography account. And will always take time to comment on photos where I can really feel the effort behind it regardless of skill level. I love supporting those who have way more experience than me, and those who are just starting out but have so much passion for it. It feels great to just share good spirit. So good on ya for sharing it too ✌️.
Good points Dave. Right now, I am spending 3 weeks in Brazil. Two weeks on vacation and one week working remotely. I get shots that are unique for me. In fact, I am getting the best shots of my life. Are they better than other people's photos? Maybe yes, maybe no. It really doesn't matter. If others capture the same photos, that's fine, but I judge my work against my own. Just like running, I don't try to win a race, but I try to beat my previous times. F imposter syndrome. Just be you and uniquely you and not worry about other judgements. Be kind to yourself first and let go of comparisons with others.
Great message - we really can only shoot for ourselves, that’s the whole point of picking a camera up. The culture we’re living through doesn’t always appreciate that, but the steps you’re taking to celebrate others is definitely a way to overcome that.
Totally agree with you! We are all unique. We all see things in different ways based on our personal experiences. Someone can be in the same place at the same time with the same gear and the images will be totally different. Nobody can show my perspective. I'm going all in this next year with my Leica gear. I'll be shooting the M6 and the Q2 and sharing it all out! I've been struggling so much over the last year and look forward to breaking out in 24! Thank you for this!
I really like videos like this that show us that we all live those things so that we are not alone and there are solutions for our problems instead of being so negative I like honesty
I really love the message here and I relate a lot! On the subject of "gear doesn't matter," I go back and forth on how I feel. I used a Q2M for a good period of time (about 6 months) and whilst I loved it more than any camera before it, I eventually sold it and went back to my Fuji X-T2 as I can get 98% of the results for quite literally a *tenth* the price. That final few percent is what makes me go back and forth though, sometimes it's impossible to achieve the image you imagine with "sub-par" gear. You just can't fake the dynamic range, sharpness, tonality, and lens characteristics in post. It irks me a little bit when people say "gear fully doesn't matter" whilst holding a $15,000 camera... acknowledge that it DOES with caveats
Thanks for sharing! The point I'm making in this video is gear doesn't matter to feeling like an imposter. Hope that communicated through! Appreciate the comment :-)
I am really struggling with IS. There was a beautiful shot involving people, I froze and could not take it, I feared they might shout. I vividly remember the shot I missed. I will try these advice my friend. Thanks a lot for sharing.
I don't understand how people can get angry about this video, you made me go back and check this video today. I think is very true what you say it's honest and open. Nothing negative about it.
We all go through that dave. And it's simply a sign that we are not conformed with mediocrity, It's the realization that there is a lot more to conquer and go after. Everyone that's amazing today got inspired to excel by someone or something. That's how I take it at least as I used to have the same questioning in the past.
Its a fine balance maintaining sanity nowadays. Now with AI images the pressures will get more intense. Another frustrating thing with Leica, is because the gear is so darn expensive, it creates a low level amount of paranoia about breaking or damaging your camera when you're out shooting. This low level background paranoia takes away some of the gains Leica gives you being more simplistic in nature. I have to get past that by simply saying "F-it" if I break it, I break it and just follow creating images. It works most of the time. Great video and introspective Dave.
You are a talented videographer! There is more life and enjoyment in those small documentaries you make. I sold all my expensive photostuff (Fuji medium format and so on) 3 years ago since I got a canon 40d by accdident plus the kitlens. My photos have improved and I am enjoying myself once again. The kitlens will improve your composition and you are once again free to go were ever you want. That Leica is holding you back. Spend some time and money on your family! (I am 62).
So well said Dave. Since I dipped my toe into Leica and own their cameras I also have these thoughts, specially because I'm a pure beginner hobbiest (had Canon, Fujifilm and Sony before) learning since 3 years photography and don't do anything professional with my gear. My main focus is to capture memories of my family, specially since for 3 months we are a total of 4 people now. When I got my Q3 and made my first video about it, people commented it must be nice to get a Leica as a beginner. Which unfortunately somehow confirmed that imposter syndrome of mine. But as you said, I know why I got that gear - to capture my life and family while enjoying using the tool. I do my best to not compare myself with others and don't listen to the negative voice which come from the dark side of the comment section.
Some good points in your video. I never compare myself to others photographers because there will always be better photographers whatever the time I spend crafting my skills. When someone asked to Jimmy Hendrix what does it feel to be the best guitarist in the world, he replied « I don’t know, ask Rory Gallagher ». Whatever we do, someone out there will do it better, or different. With experience I also understood that I’m never satisfied with my work and feel others are much more talented, but I often get nice feedback on my photos and I probably don’t see them as others do. We often tend to under-estimate ourselves. But what I learnt the hard and costly way is that gear don’t matter. I spend an insane amount of money in camera gear and this never made me a better photographer. I’d even say that my best photographs have been taken when I sold everything to buy a Leica Q alone. Having only this little camera (could have been a Fuji X100 or Ricoh GR btw) improved my photography a lot because I then spent more time composing than dealing with gear and lenses.
I have to admit. I have NEVER, experienced what you did. I LOVE ,photography. Started when i was 17, in the 1960s. 35mm, 2 1/4, 4X5, 8X10. Too busy to have those thoughts. And the internet was NOT around, so no pressure. Shot Advertizing photos,and was one of the few underwater photographers,back then. All on film. Currently sudo retired,at 68 years old. Just shoot, Leica M10R, and M10 mostly. I started in B and W,so it’s the BEST. And my old Friend, Ansel Adams,guided me,with my B and Whites.he even gave me some of his old gear,for my enlarger,for printing. Learned a lot from him. Stay well.
Thank you for this. We all need to know that we are all human beings. We're here for a short time and we should focus on how great it is to be alive and experience the wonder around us: family, friends, photography, a good beer...! And as you say, let's lift all of us up together by taking the time to champion others. Let's take the high road. Thank you!!!!
I was just in Italy myself! I never felt any of this stuff at all... I'm a Leica shooter and don't care really want others are doing. I don't compare myself to anyone really I just focus on what I do and the images I make sure there are others that are better. I have been satisfied with the images I made, but I haven't looked closely at the images I'll process them later probably in the winter time.
The last point I found quite intriguing. It seems counter intuitive but I think it's real. We will like what we like and to champion others in a way is to get into contact with why we ourselves make art, to get in contact with our own motivation. Once we know our own motivation a little more clearly we feel more ourselves and once this there can never be imposter syndrome because only we can be ourselves
Hey Dave! You work for your money, hard, so enjoy yourself. I have two boys, 5 and 6, and M11 and Q2. Whenever we travel, we tend to the kids 99% of the time, so there's no staged street photography or waking up or going out whenever the light is ideal. It's NEVER ideal, I am usually juggling the kids, the wife and trying to snap a shot, and good luck with a rangefinder :) In the end, Leica or not, it's just a piece of metal, enjoy it, you work hard for it, and if you must, get inspired by others but don't think you're the only one to have such feelings.
The moment you arrive at a new place you’re overwhelmed with everything. When a local photographer takes better pictures than a tourist that’s normal. He knows how everything works locally. Thats why a lot of photographers return to same exact places to reshoot everything.
Whilst I generally do not like videos that don't show photos, this video has an important message. Photography is not a competition. If you are not enjoying yourself, have a break from photography or do something that you do enjoy. All creative people have dead periods. John Lennon could not write a song for a 5 year period.
That the difference between fine art photography and being a photographer for hire. Anyone can take great photos technically but to find your voice and take artistically driven photos truly takes an artist. It’s not the gear it’s the vision.
I’ve been shooting on film for well over a decade and a half, yet my main camera as of late has been a Kodak Brownie no.2 that I bought for less than 30 dollars. My prized piece of gear is my Hasselblad 500 c/m, and yet some of my favorite shots I’ve taken in years came from this cheap brownie. Gear really isn’t the deciding factor. When I first even tried medium format it was around 2012 or so, I bought a Holga to try out 120. And to this day some of my most prized memories come from shooting on that cheap plastic thing. It’s funny how that can work out.
This is why i dont follow anyone or compare my photos to others. Just photograph for yourself and do what you want. Social media and this "comparing " with others is just poison, I purged my instagram about 6 months ago, years and years of posts, all gone. Not ot be personal but you should see someone in case you are dealing with depression. Believe me, as a guy, it will hit you hard. Look after yourself and enjoy life. Work is work, but one day it will stop and it all wasn't worth it in the end. Enjoying what you have, who you are is what its all about.
Almost everyone feels like this. I’m worse than most others regardless of the camera/lens I use. It’s not a mental health issue to feel this: it’s normal. There’s a name for people who don’t feel like that. They’re psychopaths and they’re the ones with the mental health issues, it’s just that they don’t know it!
Great video of a touchy topic. I've been a professional photographer for 41 years, we all go through it. I think it is part of being a creative person. I started in medium format film, was one of the first in the country to be a fully digital studio- shot to print. The reinventing is what kept me going. I am now going through the funk again and I bought a used Leica Q2 a couple weeks ago and I am having fun taking images again. And the "funk" is disappearing, until next time. Keep shooting and keep looking forward! 😎
I honestly don't remember who it all was, but if you got to my IG and just see who I follow, you'll see plenty of creators. Many were in Italy this summer.
We should always remember that photographers generally don't post their duds. So comparing what others post to one's entire photo shoot is not a fair comparison.
The thing I run into is feeling guilty. A multi-thousand dollar camera that is pretty much only used and enjoyed by myself, when all of that money could have been used in other ways for the family. No, not go into debt for a camera, but in the sense that I could have gotten a much cheaper camera that does 90% of the same possibilities and used the difference in costs to go take a really nice trip for the family, etc. It's not like it's a car where it can serve the entire family. It's a camera that just serves myself and the pictures I enjoy to take. It's really a difficult spot to be in
I disagree and think a camera IS serving your family in a major way. The photos I have from my childhood are very important to me. I have photos from my parents childhood, and even a handful of my grandparents growing up. These are very precious things, more so than any car or anything else that would have been from the same era. Keep shooting... your family will cherish all of your images.
I sugest you talk with an ART TEACHER composition and color theory in paintings, and use them in photography, you might be surprised how you gonna see the world differently
i don't think it's a mental health issue, it's very common to have a feeling that you are not good enough when actually you are good enough. This is a learning curve which everyone does. it's ture that we may not capable to achieve the level we want to be at this moment but it will be more achievable when we keep the faith and passion about it. Just keep it up
the era of self beating and questioning to ourselves - am i good enough in doing what i'm doing, the era of imposter syndrome, I guess almost everyone (who's not peter mckinnon) here in the comments are feeling the same way
1) Sell the Leicas! 2) Buy some Fujis. 3) Donate the difference saved to a charitable photography youth organization. 4) Guilt resolved, measurable societal good achieved, problem solved, mental health restored!
I don’t “follow” anyone at all. My photographer inspiration and ideation comes from books. I have many many books full of work by great photographers. I can read and digest them at leisure. Social media places too great a pressure by being so relatively instant. I generally ignore it completely, especially if I’m on a trip.
@@davidherring I really recommend it. Books are the ‘analogue’ counterpart to today’s instant digital. You can even look through landscape painter’s work in books for inspiration.
To be honest all the people buying the hyper cars are not the best drivers… shooting whatever camera that makes you happy, enjoy the experience is all that matters
When I use my manual Leica I can be too in my mind, not connected to the deeper creative place. Using my Sony and a fast prime gives me a more joyful experience because I enjoy the entire process from picking up my camera and looking to the completed image... Also, I think it's challenging trying to photograph while being with friends and family, to access the creative flow you can't really have your mind on other things.
I shoot Sony as well, but I experience the opposite haha. I feel better shooting fully manual than I do using my Sony. Funny how we're all so similar and so different!
