November 12, 2025
Vision is NOT About Photography!
When I was challenged to find my Vision over 20 years ago, I thought Vision was about photography. But as I found and followed my Vision, other changes came about in my life. I was not just discovering how I saw, but I was changing as a person. I was questioning more, I was examining my beliefs, I was becoming much more independent in my thinking.
At some point, I realized that Vision was not really about photography; it was about life! It was not just seeing for myself, but thinking for myself.
I threw off the shackles of groupthink, of following the crowd, of thinking the way I had been taught, and started questioning everything. I stopped following blindly, examined the rules and norms, and stopped trying to fit in. I defined success for myself. I reexamined everything I thought I knew and believed to be true.
The result: finding my Vision changed not just my photography, but also my life.
And then, when John Barclay and I held our first two Vision Retreats, someone at each event commented that Vision was not just about photography but about how to live your life. Those comments have again brought this idea to the forefront of my thinking.
And here’s another thought about Vision that surfaced a couple of days ago: John said something to me as we were recording our YouTube show. We were talking about my definition of “honest work,” which is:
- It was my idea (not borrowed or stolen)
- It was created for myself, with no thought of how others would receive it
- It was created from my Vision
- It is work that I love, regardless of what others think of it
John said that, if a person were to create honest work following these four points, it would go a long way toward finding their Vision.
That was a good thought, and he’s right.
Vision is not about photography; it’s about how to live your life.
I love those 4 points…they give you the confidence to just be yourself and trust your vision. In my last email from Nancy Rotenberg she told me to trust my vision, that it has always been my own and it has always been wonderful. The journey is truly believing it is worthy. It is so hard to tear yourself away from caring what others think and just following your heart. Someday I would love a Vision Retreat with you and John. Say Hi to him for me…we go way back!!
It is hard to create for yourself, but it’s rewards are much greater than the 15 minutes of fame we get on social media.
Say hi to John??? We put on an act for the Cole and John Photography Show, we can’t stand each other!
My head is spinning! Perhaps the reason I’ve had so much difficulty wrangling the concept of photographic vision to the ground is I have failed to grasp the depth and range of the concept. I need to get my head around this life changing idea (no pun intended). Thank you so much for expanding my view to now understand the playing field, my life!! To free my eye from the limitations and boundaries of my own thinking will truly liberate my vision. I’m not there yet but with your help I can see the mountain I must climb. Thanks to you both!!
I think you’re doing great Tom; keep pondering, examining, questioning, asking, experimenting, playing and follow YOUR Vision!
Wonderful! Your four points are quite valid–and it is regretful that most of us have to wait so long before we arrive at that realization. In the spring I will celebrate 84 years…and I’m still searching,,,still looking…still growing. It is people like you that keep this journey of fulfillment alive. Don’t ever stop….
In Chicago on 11/12 at 11:23 p
Good for you, keep going, it will keep you young!
FOUR EXCELLENT POINTS!
Thanks Marj!
Cole,
Your statement that vision is more about life than photography is correct. Examining our beliefs can be reveled in our thought patterns and the words we speak. In reading the two comments to your article my eyes picked up words that are common to creative peoples thinking. This not intended to be a disrespect of their comments, but an acknowledgment of emotional terrain creatives travel in life.
“Love, Confidence, Trust, Believing, Always, Worthy, Caring, Following, Heart, Difficulty, Wrangling, Failed, Grasp, Depth, Changing, Expanding, Understanding, Limitations, Playing, Boundaries, Life, Thinking, Liberation, Help, Climb, Thanks”.
At 76 years old I’ve learned that the creative mind never stops challenging our questioning itself. Just my thoughts with my morning cup of coffee.
I just wish it didn’t take “advanced age” to learn these things!
Im putting these 4 points on my Wall!!!
I’ve been practicing the idea of personal for a long time, albeit not ALL the time. I succumb now and then to photographing icons and iconic locations, but then I know John B does, too, so it must be okay, lol! We just work on photographing them ‘our way’. These points you share are so valuable for anyone looking to change their life/vision.
We all succumb from time to time! It’s a constant battle between our natural desire to be accepted, and our desire to create something for ourselves, that we love.
Given that at least everything has already been done already, probably many times, Vision as defined above, is essential or you’ll get lost looking for yours.
Everything has already been done, except you. Each of us has a unique Vision.
Unless we discount or reject that the purpose of creating art is in part, communicating and connecting with someone other than ourselves; I’m left with the thought that one part of your definition of honest work “…with no thought of how others receive it” seems contradictory to that purpose.
If one’s primary objective is to get clicks and likes, then that’s not the way for finding or expressing a personal vision. On that we can agree.
Hi Mo, good to hear from you, it’s been too long my friend!
I know that some create art to communicate, but that’s not my purpose. I create to express myself, I think of each piece I create as a diary entry that expresses how I see myself and the world.
I have no control over how someone interprets my art. I create from my Vision, but the viewer interprets from their Vision. They may see something completely different than what I saw, and that’s a good thing, I think.