Letter Zero 20
Dear friend,
I once found myself standing next to the Mississippi River wondering what kind of filth was being carried downstream, rolling by, hidden under the waves. Massive flooding had brought the water to the top steps towards the base of the St. Louis Arch. As a photographer I stood in awe of the destruction, wondering how my camera could possibly capture the power of a river.
All it takes to emasculate the mighty Mississippi is a photograph. A flooded river is stunning when you stand on the edge, but the second you put a border on it, freeze it in a still image, the power is gone. There isn't an Instagram filter that can fix that problem. A force of nature is reduced to a dirty pond with twigs poking out of it.
These thoughts were interrupted by a cute couple who asked if I would take their picture. I obliged and to my surprise they began stripping down to their underwear. "Wait, what kind of a picture are you expecting here?" I asked.
"We want you to document us swimming in the river."
"Hey wait, I don’t know how safe it––"
Before any rational thought could kick in they were diving, I kid you not, head-first into the void of muddy water. I obediently documented the spectacle. Nobody died.
Everything you create is a drop of water, an addition to a body of work that grows more powerful with each project you ship. Some of your work will be great, a pure stream of creativity that you can be proud of. Other projects will flop, pollute your reputation, poison the well, cloud the purity of your ambition. Keep doing the work anyway, doing the best you can with every situation. Eventually the work will rise, break the banks, and change the landscape. The river always wins.
It is easy to get discouraged if you focus on the fools in their undies on the edge of the water. But remember why you are here. The real prize is the river, not the tourists nosediving in the filth.
I'll write again next Sunday. Stay creative.
Your friend,
Adrian