I'm so glad you found me! I'm a San Francisco photographer, and this blog charts my journey in the ever-evolving world of photography. One of the things I love about photography is that it's a journey, not a destination. I'm constantly learning and meeting wonderful people. Please peruse the blog to your heart's content, then check out my website and feel free to contact me! (I love hearing from you.)

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

“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” – Edward Steichen

Late Bloomer or Prodigy: What's Your Pick?

Look! It's an artist over there. But what kind??
While reading the featured comments on TOP, I came across this Malcolm Gladwell article from the New Yorker about two different kinds of artists. Prodigies have talents that manifest early, and these are often the most talked about kinds of artists, but there are many who have talent that matures late.

And Gladwell makes an interesting distinction between the two: the Mozarts of this world aren't spending a lot of time searching for their masterpieces. They've already found them, and written them at the age of 21. And then they moved on to the next. While the Robert Frosts and (dare I say) Clint Eastwoods continue to experiment again and again before they finally get it right.

Which method is better is clearly beside the point. If you are given the talent of a Picasso, you shouldn't squander it by trying to emulate Cezanne. And if you aren't a Picasso, there's not much you can do about it.

Still, I found the idea that there is no visible difference between people who will always suck and those who are geniuses late in life very interesting. How do you know you're a Cezanne? And how does anyone else? The only way to find out is to wait and see. And keep at your art, whatever it is.