“YOUR FIRST 10,000 PHOTOGRAPHS ARE YOUR WORST”

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst” by Henri Cartier-Bresson is my most favorite photography quote and there cannot be a better occasion to share the quote on the World Photography Day celebrated on Aug 19th every year.

This quote reminds me of Ericsson’s 10,000 hours rule of deliberate practice needed to become world-class in any field. Popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, the principle of 10,000 hours of deliberate practice means practicing in a way that pushes your skill set to achieve excellence.

However, the new research has shown that 10,000 hours practice is woefully inadequate to explain professional success. Some researchers believe that in today’s disrupted world, “10,000 experiments beat 10,000 hours of practice”. However, 10,000 hours rule is important but it applies to fields that do not change much like sports and music. It’s not my intention to debate 10,000 hours of deliberate practice versus 10,000 experiments. You make your decision.   

On the World Photography Day, I want to share some of most favorite photography quotes. I believe these quotes are not only about photography, they apply to life and work as well.

“Which of photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” Imogen Cunningham

“Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” Elliott Erwitt

“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.” Gilles Peress

“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.” Alfred Eisenstaedt

“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” Ansel Adams

“The eye should learn to listen before it looks.” Robert Frank

“Skill in photography is acquired by practice, not by purchase.” Percy W Harris

Photographs freeze cherished moments but there is a deeper truth to it. Photography allows us to experience special moments and any experience that leaves deep impact on us is determined by two factors. 1) how did the experience feel like at its peak? 2) How did the experience end? Daniel Kahneman, psychologist and economist notable for his work on the psychology of judgement and decision-making calls this phenomenon “peak-end” rule.

Milan Kundera articulates this phenomenon beautifully when he says”: “Memory does not make films, it makes photographs”

What memories you want to treasure for yourself and your loved ones?