I greatly appreciate being able to put my work up on this forum. I love the feedback. Especially since it is impossible for me to see my work through fresh eyes.
I have set a limit to not fuss over a single image. When it's finished, it is finished. If it is not quite right, so be it. I take constructive criticism very seriously. I rarely go back and try to fix gross mistakes. Generally, I think it's better to move on, make new pictures, and be mindful enough to avoid repeating mistakes.
I have a mental illness: OCD. Over the past twenty years, I have managed to keep it in check with medication and therapy. Still, there is a lingering 20% aspect of the illness that alters judgment and behavior. As a sole proprietor of a photography business, I obsessed over projects. Every deliverable had to be 105% flawless before I'd ship it out. That killed my profit margins and wasted the time I could have used to market my services.
I closed my studio last September due to physical health. Among other ailments, I have a degenerative autoimmune disease. So the proverb: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" is now my mantra. Aiming for perfection is hazardous to my health--both physical and mental.
I've made a decision to adopt a laissez-faire approach to photography. I now strive to see a forest rather than fixate on a single tree.
An afterthought: Many of us are deeply saddened over Simon Harper's suicide. Surly, the man was overwhelmed and unable to cope with his demons--real or imagined. Mental illness carries along a lot of cultural stigma. I realize this topic is not entirely relevant to this forum. However, Simon gave a lot of himself to the LL community. He freely shared his knowledge and offered many of us great advice. I miss his posts. Although I never met Simon face-to-face or talked to him on the phone, I've lost a friend.
