'Man's Search For Meaning'

A few days ago, I was speaking to a friend who confessed to me their insecurity of beginning the journey to becoming a photographer, and that sent me down memory lane to when I had first started and barely knew anything about using a camera, and photography in general.

The source of the insecurity and frustration came from comparing her photos with others who have been practicing for years, and what I believe is a common expectation that photography is ‘easy’. So what was my response - aside from advice on learning to use the camera itself, I explained that this is not a race for success. It takes a lot of time and effort to become better, and that is a journey you need to be dedicated to. To evolve we need to be our own critic, to know that there’s always room for improvement, and to understand that this is a journey and not a destination.

Perhaps, goals are simply stepping stones to the next great pursuit in life, but let’s talk about photography. As I was conversing with her, a part of my mind wandered back to something I had read, or heard recently, but I couldn’t remember who had said it. Tonight, reading preface to the 1992 edition of Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning, I rediscovered it in one of the passages which goes like this:

“And so it is both strange and remarkable to me that—among some dozens of books I have authored—precisely this one, which I had intended to be published anonymously so that it could never build up any reputation on the part of the author, did become a success. Again and again I therefore admonish my students both in Europe and America: “Don’t aim at success—the more you at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it.” -

Victor E. Frankl | Vienna, 1992

That idea truly resonated with me, and I’m sure it would with many people. I’m not sure I even believe in the term success—what is it? Is it when society recognizes your contributions? Or when you can sell your work for large sums of money? Or when it is loved by many people?

I think not.

I believe that photography becomes truly fulfilling when we find meaning in the practice. When we move beyond just creating, to creating something truly meaningful to us - not for recognition, or fame, or ‘success’, but because we feel the need to.