When Life Is Grand

Exuberance Is Excellence

There are moments when I’m making photographs when I don’t feel the ground beneath my feet. Or for that matter, my feet. It usually comes when my connection to the subject is strong. When I have a tangible grasp of the emotions and actions and purpose and desires of who’s in front of my camera. When that connection consumes the external and allows only the essence of the moment to participate.

The exuberance of those times, with spirited enthusiasm, is more important than all the technical knowledge about the physics of photography.

Photographers often struggle with worries about not getting the perfect shot or being as good as another photographer. Excellence comes from grasping passion, being persistent, and loving what you do.

If you’ve felt the sting of frustration when making photographs or the nagging doubt that your work just doesn’t measure up, know this: you’re in good company. Every photographer, at some point, has wrestled with these feelings. Every great photographer started somewhere, probably the same place all of us began. But here’s a little secret that’s not really a secret—photography, at its core, is about exuberance, not just technical skill.

Photography is about telling stories and sharing emotions. If there’s magic, it’s in your enthusiasm, your passion, and the energy you put into each photo.

So, next time you pick up your camera, shoot with your heart. Explore what thrills you, capture what moves you, and remember, each photo is another step on your journey—a journey where exuberance leads the way.

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