Yes, I purchased a personnal style second hand on ebay last fall.
Exactly, most of us need to focus on our local markets (sections of thought) instead of the entire Internet. Sure if you want to be an Annie or do stock then you have to think about that but for most of us our style need not reach that far. What will help those looking to be different is this... Think up anything, I mean almost anything and be shocked to know that at least 10 people have thought the very same thing and are planning on doing it. Which means it has already been done somewhere but has not traveled to your area of influence yet. When you realize that it has all been done you lose the drive to
be first and instead focus on what you
want to do, whether or not it has been done, you focus on what
satisfies you.
I think as photographers who thrive on praise (to the point of destroying this industry) we need to understand that it is healthy to only have a few Michael Reichmann's otherwise we turn into Hollywood itself which has more stars than they know what to do with. Those poor souls are always showing up in some magazine sitting on their couch in bare feet trying to tell us how special they are...
again...
The future of digital is going to bring about a great shaking... camera's good enough will be practically free, the endless sharing of styles and tips will continue (because of praise) and everything will be known... what will separate us? Here you go...
marketing... not style my friend. Your chasing the wrong rabbit...
A photographer today should find out which type of photographer he wants to be: A famous one? A true artist? A business man? The Bible teaches
moderation in all things. You can be all the above if you just try to be moderate... otherwise you will go insane as most of Hollywood has.
Look at the show American Idol which is cranking out more talent than I knew existed. There is going to be lot of singers on the street corners if those hopefuls don't understand that the world can not place that many famous people. They need to stop chasing international stardom and focus on the good they can do in
their area of influence.