cole thompson photography

Issue 128 - April 22, 2024

Powerlines No. 72 (Three Sisters)

Don't let this recent flurry of newsletters fool you into thinking that you'll be hearing from me monthly.

I'll soon burn out and resume my "four times a year" pace.

“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”

Shoes, 1970

Anecdotally, there's this phenomenon that many photographers have noticed: the images we love the most, are those the public seems to love the least. I call this the "Inverse Love Rule."

When I create an image that I really love, I find myself thinking, "this probably means others will not like it." Of course there are exceptions, but it often turns out that way.

So many photographers have admitted to me that they often don't submit the images that they love, but rather choose the more common images that will be well received by a juror or social media.

Why does this "Inverse Love Rule" occur? Why don't others appreciate our most loved images as much as we do?

Perhaps it's our emotional attachment to the image that the viewer does not have. Or maybe it's because social media has shortened everyone's attention span so that people spend mere seconds looking at each image? Or maybe people just don't like our work.

We all face this dilemma: create what you love and get a few likes, or create what other's love and get lots of likes. Wouldn't it be nice if we could create images that the public loved as much as we do?

Here are some images that I love, but are less "appreciated" by the public. Now, you may not love them as much as I do, but let's be honest...this newsletter is all about ME!

Bent Grass Against Barn

String of Pearls

Blizzard

Auschwitz No. 4

Seaweed Detail No. 4

They Walk Among Us

Tree Trunks

Melting Giants No. 21

Deep Snow

Faroe Islands No. 33

Ancient Stones No. 31

Rising

Light Poles No. 9

Alphie

Silo Detail No. 51

Wedding Day

Waiting

Broken Window Abstract

Auschwitz No. 13

I recently listened to Brooks Jensen talk about turning your portfolios into PDF's, so that they could shared with others.

It sounded like a great idea and so I've prepared three Portfolios:

These PDF's have high-resolution images that can be viewed on a larger screen, which I hope will allow the nuances of the images to be better appreciated.

Please download, enjoy and share these portfolios with others.

A friend recommended that I watch "At Eternity's Gate" which is the story of Vincent van Gogh, which is magnificently played by Willem Dafoe. There is so much good to be said about this film, but I want to focus on just one particular aspect of the story, which relates to a thought that keeps rolling around in the rock tumbler of my mind.

The painter Paul Gauguin features prominently in this film; he was a contemporary, a friend and roommate of van Gogh, and at that time the more successful of the two. Gauguin tries to help a struggling van Gogh by offering some advice:

But Gauguin's approach to creating was so very different from van Goghs, and his advice is rejected.

"Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers" by Paul Gauguin

What worked for Gauguin, did not work for van Gogh. And what worked for van Gogh, would never have worked for Gauguin. And yet their respective approaches worked perfectly for themselves.

Which brings me to the thought that keeps popping into my mind: there are so many different philosophies and approaches to creating art, which is the "right way?"

I feel so very strongly about my Vision approach to creating, and when I hear someone talk about a different approach, I think: they have it all wrong! And then if I admire their work... that causes me to pause and try to understand how I can have the right answer, and they have the right answer too?

"Paul Gauguin" by Vincent van Gogh

Was Gauguin's approach right or was van Gogh's? Clearly both were right...for themselves.

Imagine what might have happened if van Gogh had acquiesced to Gauguin's advice simply because he was "more successful." He may never have created "The Starry Night" or "Sunflowers" or "van Gogh Self Portrait."

Instead, van Gogh did it his way (I think he actually credited Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" for the inspiration.)

And so what lesson do I take from this story? That we must each find our own "My Way" and not follow another's approach simply because they are successful, have a degree or because we respect their work. If their approach works for them, then there's a good chance it will not work for you!

Find your "My Way." Listen to the different approaches and gravitate towards that which resonates with you. Then take those ideas and make them your own.

Watched

Did you know that my website has a page called "The Story Behind the image?"

I thought not.

There are some pretty cool, oft entertaining and sometimes true stories behind my images.

Go ahead, give a listen:

For this month's print drawing, I'll be giving away "Stone Jetty No 6, Maalaea Harbor" (above).

To enter: send an email to Cole@ColeThompsonPhotography.com and put "Stone Jetty No. 6" in the subject line.