Excellence, Commitment To

I had a great experience today. I can’t say much about it until the story runs in a few months, so I’ll just tell you what I can. Sorry, no photos this time. I was sent to a small business with an international reputation for its commitment to excellence and hard work. (No, it wasn’t the Oakland Raiders.) This company does not advertise and does not accept walk-in customers. It succeeds by being singularly focused on perfection and quality. It is so high-end that even its clients are at the top of their respective fields. At this business there are no excuses. Only hard work that pays off in tangible results. That really fired me up. Their mentality was infectious and I jumped right into it, starting to shoot. I cleared my mind of everything but the process, putting all distractions aside. I didn’t check my e-mail, I didn’t answer my phone, and whenever my aging equipment caused me to miss a shot I simply moved on to the next moment putting aside anything beyond my control. When it was over I walked out feeling… no… realizing that anything is possible. For the first time in a while I waded into the edit taking my time and looking at each photograph as if it had the chance to be a masterpiece. I wish you could have been there to see these people who take life by the throat and never compromise or surrender. I left the place feeling invigorated and refreshed, and ready once again to focus on quality over quantity. Let’s hope my regained sense of pride in the craft can survive exposure to the real world. I guess that’s up to me, isn’t it?