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“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." – Henri Cartier-Bresson

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Category: Photography & Art

Via: a-macarthur • 11 years ago • 10 comments

Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst."

So why do I still trash more than I publish?

I recently read another quote regarding photography --

I never have taken a picture I've intended. They're always better o...
Diane Arbus

I've taken well over 10,000 photographs -- more like 50,000; at one point I had roughly 20,000 placed in various markets. Several years ago, one of the agencies that represented my images closed with the death of its owner. Some 8,000+ 35mm color transparencies were unrecoverable since the owner's widow and family had no practical, logistical way, nor the time, to separate over 500,000 slides stored in file cabinets by subject, NOT BY PHOTOGRAPHER.

Seems to me, the two quotes I've cited are somewhat contradictory, or, possibly not; maybe they're both on target. I like to think my "worst" photos are back there in the first 10,000 but every now and again I still turn out a real loser! And, if I think about it, very few of my "keepers" are exactly what I saw in the viewfinder they are in fact, either "better" or "worse".

Having confessed all of that, here are some of my most recent 10,000 -- actually, this week's.

Since you didn't see them in my viewfinder, you'll have to decide arbitrarily about that "better or worse" business.

Downy Woodpecker Female in Snow

Male Junco (Snowbird) in Snow

Red-Bellied Woodpecker in Snow, on Feeder

White-throated Sparrow

Winter Wren in Snow

And on to the next 10,000!

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Professor Guide

seeder A. Macarthur 11 years ago

And on to the next 10,000.

Professor Principal

Kavika 11 years ago

''And on to the next 10,000''. Nope, make it on the next billion.

Beautiful once again Mac.

Professor Quiet

Steve Ott 11 years ago

Great shots A Mac. I wouldn't even mind seeing the bad ones really. Here is one that I didn't think much of when I took years ago. But, when I downloaded to the computer, I saw something I didn't see in the viewer. A white hot center.

Sophomore Quiet

Dowser 11 years ago

They are wonderful pictures, dear A. Mac!!!

I still have about 9,000 to go... ;-)

Masters Quiet

Enoch 11 years ago

I have 10,000 to go before my initial 10,000.

I am that close!

Professor Silent

Nona62 11 years ago

I have around 7 million to go! Absolutely gorgeous, as only you can produce. I want to be like you when I grow up !!! Thanks for sharing your amazing talent Mac. :-)