Failure is inevitably linked with art – and life for that matter. Well, it’s also linked to success if you think about it. To put it a little harshly; if we don’t experience failures it’s because we don’t live – or we don’t create, when talking about arts. And if we don’t dare to make failure we will never succeed, either.
Life and art is about jumping from an airplane without knowing how a parachute really works, but hoping it will. It’s about taking chances, knowing that often they won’t lead to anything – or at «worst» to failure. I use brackets because failures aren’t necessarily bad. On the contrary; you can use them as stepping stones to learn more, to become better next time, to evolve, to grow. In my post Weakness as Potential Strength I wrote: By figuring out where our weaknesses lie, we can take steps to eliminate them – and thus lift ourselves to a next level.
Not every project we do will survive. As a matter of fact most of them probably won’t. Art is sometimes like putting messages in a bottle and hope that someone will find one of your bottles. And then hope they will write something in return – and that eventually the same bottle will find its way back to you. That’s how art works. You may have to accept that you have to put out hundreds of things for every bottle that wind up coming back.
The analogue of the bottle is taken from a speech given by the author Neil Gaiman when he addressed the class of 2012 at the University of Arts, Philadelphia. One of his points in the speech was that if you don’t break the rules – and thus take the chance of failing – you will not be able to create anything new and original. You won’t find your way as an artist – and you will not have success – whatever that means.
This is how he addressed the new art students (you can find the whole speech here): «When you start out with a career in arts, you have no idea of what you are doing. This is great. People who know what they do, know the rules, and they know what is possible and what is impossible. You do not. And you should not. [By not knowing the rules, you will be able to go beyond them]. And you can. If you don’t know what is impossible, it’s easier to do.»
By not following the rules, though, you are in for some failures. No doubt. It’s of course easy to say one should accept this as part of the creative process. The problems of failure, really, are that you want everything to happen and you want it now. But things go wrong.
When I decided to become a travelling photographer and writer sometime in my twenties I set off through then Soviet Union to Japan and then continued around in Southeast Asia, finally ending up in Nepal. I was travelling for half a year and the plan was to send home articles and stories from wherever I went. The intention was to make a living as I went about. It should have been a success. The articles and photos would make me world famous and the next thing waiting for me was National Geographic.
For some reason editors and the magazines didn’t discover my wonderful talent, though… What did I learn then? I did work that I was proud of. I had half a year of great fun. I lived in the now, in a way I have never done again. I enjoyed every moment of it. And I learn how to travel and get around also when things weren’t necessarily easy – which has been very useful knowledge in my later travels. And I did sell some stories, which eventually took me to where I am today.
The one moment of greatest letdown through the whole trip, came at the end in Nepal. I was trekking alone towards Mount Everest base camp. A couple of days into the trekking, my camera broke down. It was a gorgeous morning. I took one photo of the vast scenery (the one accompanying this post), heard something snap in the camera and that was the last picture I took. Back then there was no camera repair, not even in Kathmandu. What did I learn from this failure? Not ever to travel only with one camera. And also not ever live through the camera. The experience is not by any means less just because you can’t take a photo of it.
If you make mistakes it means you are out there doing something. And the mistakes and failures themselves can be very useful – as in my case. Whatever discipline you are in, you have one thing that is unique, you have the ability to make art. That is a lifesaver. It gets you through good times and it gets you through the other ones.
When we try to avoid failure, it is because of fear. Fear of failure itself. But by so doing, we turn way from all the beauty of art and the intensity of life. In my post Face the Fear I wrote: We all want acceptance and approval for our work, but if the fear for not getting it or the fear of what others might think about our art makes us cater to this fear, we will never find our own voice.
Great advice, as usual, and not just about taking photos – thanks 🙂
I am glad you liked it. Thank you.
Reblogged this on ARTE, SIMPLESMENTE….
Excellent piece. I went through the whole corporate rat race, and now, in my 50’s I decided to jump into photography & writing. I am trying to do some consulting on the side, but I find myself getting sucked into photography and writing more and more. I have no idea where it will lead, but I do hope that someone will find the bottles that I strew around in my path!
As long as you follow your heart, you can’t go wrong. One day I am sure you will find some of the bottles you sent out – but maybe returning with a surprise.
Reblogged this on rajivchopra and commented:
This is an excellent piece of writing, advice with a wonderful photograph thrown in as bonus!
Thank you for celebrating ‘failure’ – I could not agree more! Just wish more would embrace the concept and stop placing undue pressure on themselves and others. No risk, no reward!
Pressure can be OK, too – but not for the wrong reasons, as I think is what you are talking about. I agree with you last statement. 🙂
Agree – of course, positive pressure is good. But too often in certain cultures, the pressure is that the consequences of failure are uniformly negative or ‘punishment’, which can be paralyzing and keep people from trying something perceived as risky
I am fully agreement with you. Thanks again for keeping the important discussion going.
Beautiful motivation for this Monday! I love it and it is so true! I started in printing and publishing in the late 80s. And I’ve slowly worked my way to my dream job. I think along the way I have learned from my failures the most!
I’m not a photographer but I love to take photos so It like starting all over again! Doesn’t matter how old you are you can always learn something new that expands your thinking and gets you excited again about creating!
Beautiful post!
You are never too old – as long as you don’t say to yourself that you are too old to learn. Then it’s over. Keep the positive energy and compassion alive.
OH yes I totally agree! Always! Beautiful post my friend! 😀
Enjoyed reading your post this morning. Thank you for the reminder.
And thank you for the nice feedback, Veronica.
“Life and art is about jumping from an airplane without knowing how a parachute really works, but hoping it will.” – i wasn’t expecting to laugh at such an early hour of the morning.. thanks; you are so right!
a watercolor instructor once stated, ‘you should frame your biggest mistakes and look at them every day— to remind yourself not to ever do that again…’
great post; thanks, as always…
z
I would have any problems filling a gallery if I were to follow your instructors statement. And today I would even be proud of it. Great response, Lisa.
Great insight based on feet-on-the-ground experience, and something I needed to read today. Thanks Otto, for both the amazing photo and the grounding words 🙂
And I am glad it made sense for your. Thank you for the feedback.
hi otto, i really enjoyed reading this post.. i remembered when i graduated from high school and i told my parents i want to enroll in college to take up Fine Arts which is an expensive course because of the materials needed.. i love drawing, in fact one of my drawings when i was in high school (a volcano) was displayed in my school at that time then sent abroad in another high school to showcase beautiful spots in the philippines.. i’ve always loved art.. but then, we were poor, my parents could not afford an expensive course so i took up bachelor of science in commerce course in a state university where tuition is very cheap..so my love of arts was sidelined ever since.. i’ve never drawn or painted since then and it has been that long..(my kids are in their early 20’s now). And recently i bought watercolors etc.. i still haven’t made my first painting yet.. i know that my creative mind is still there in my heart.. but i will paint someday and i hope soon.. I guess it’s never too late.. did i fail as an artist? i guess not, i think it just didn’t blossom.
You can never fail as an artist as long as you are honest with yourself. Sometimes life makes us move away from art or creativity. But as you say; it’s never too late. Just have fun with your watercolours and don’t worry about the result! All it takes is willingness to play.
thank you otto… i will paint.. i will surely paint.
Wow that’s should be etched in gold. Thanks for writing and sharing this.
As usual, Otto, your words resonate, lift and push…
Excellent timing.
R.
I am happy it all made sense for you. Thanks a lot for the feedback.
Wise man. Thank you for sharing your experience.
And thank you for the lovely words, Meredith.
Words to live by! At least you did get one beautiful shot.
It was a beautiful situation, and, yes, at least I got one photo. Thanks for commenting, Linda.
Otto, this heartfelt and personal commentary is probably my favorite of your many insightful pieces. The combination of guidance and self-revelation are pertinent to the human condition–its universality. Fear is a powerful weapon that can be a way to explore the self and the external world for individual growth or a way to exploit the self in a negative way. Both can be life changing.
You are very right about fear, in that it can push you in both direction, to explore the world or make you hide. Thank you for the lovely words, Sally.
Reblogged this on Hadel.
Lovely and eloquent post, Otto. Over time I’ve learned not to let fear of failure direct me, but it’s been a lifelong education and one that’s still difficult to follow at times. It’s so true that you have to take risks, and experience failure sometimes, to create that one piece of art or writing that stands out. It typically takes many deletes to discover that one keeper.
That’s another to put it: Deleting the many tries before coming up with the keeper. And, yes, it does take time to learn not to fear failure, if ever it’s possible to completely get rid of that fear…
wow, needed this today as a I process a “failure.” thank you so much for the encouragement, Otto. your posts are always a gift.
You comment made my day. Thanks Colleen.
Timely post. We are struggling with our art, and are currently looking at new ideas for the art. Failure in one aspect can push you to think outside the box.
If we can encourage each other as artists struggling with our art – we can only benefit all from it. Thank you, Mary.
Otto! I have loved this read: your opinion on arts, failure/success, fear and your stories. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Thank you for the nice words, Montserrat.
The norm in the human condition is struggle and strife…sitting back and being contented is the rarely attained nirvana…we ‘strife’ for and is always just out of reach. Good Story, Otto.
Through struggle and strife we learn to reach higher levels. Thank you for the comment, Paula.
Your words are so encouraging. Thank you.
I am glad you feel encourage by my words. Thank you, Estelle.
Great post… Surely, failure must be the best teacher – and boy, do I have some good lessons 🙂
I believe we have all learned our lessons in life…
And many yet to learn, I hope.
Another great post, Otto. When I just read you describing the the analogue of the bottle, I might have been nodding in agreement and a moment later, when you brought up that wonderful speech made by Neil Gaiman, I most definitely was smiling at the screen. This is not only well put but also very true, your own experience is a very good example. What resonated most with me (enough to mention it when I shared the video on FB) when I discovered Neil’s speech last year was this part: “The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That’s the moment you may be starting to get it right.”
And while I always thought to be a bit too much of a perfectionist when it came to work and/or science, I never was intimitated by any rules others might apply when it comes to photography but always followed my heart or vision. Also, when I began to shoot medium format film about 2 years ago, I always smiled about when I read the ten rules on the Lomography website with the last one being: Forget about the rules. They even print it on the back of their 120 film rolls ‘Don’t think, just shoot.’ and you always see these words moving past when you advance the film. Very easy to remember.
I haven’t used 120 film rolls for a very long time. I like the the words moving past during the advancing of the film. How fun is that! Otherwise I noticed the same statement as you refer to from Gaiman’s speech. It’s something that resonates with me, too. Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Viola.
Great post to start the week, Otto. I agree, if you want to be creative you must brake some rules, and when you break rules you take a risk. Sometimes it works, you get an excellent result, most of times it does not. But in any case you increase your experience and this is positive. Thanks again
robert
You put is so spot on. Robert. You comment says it all – in less words than my post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
This is an inspiring article, Otto, and I love the photo for the layers of mountain ridges and the subtle tones and details. I like the advice about not living through your camera and can empathize with the breakdown of the camera in Nepal.The biggest lesson I have learned in life or at times that I am still learning, is that it is okay to make mistakes.
As soon as you have realized that, it’s all the more easy to live with your mistakes. Isn’t it?! And then take advantage of what they offer us to learn.
Great post! It’s all about perspective and taking failure in stride. If we look at it as a learning experience, as you suggested, we have much to gain from each misstep. It really is the only way to get better…spot on.
As you say, it’s really all about perspective. Thanks for your thoughts, Alex.
Amen! Something I need to be constantly reminded of, Otto. Good post.
Thank you, Elen.
Come sempre è molto interessante leggerti, i tuoi consigli sono sempre preziosi!!
Un caro saluto e grazie. Ciao, Pat
Grazie, Patrizia. E ‘bello sentire che ciò che scrivo ha un senso per gli altri.
i guess most of us learn this the hard way – but it’s worth it. Some things can only be learned that way. It’s a pity it took such a long time…for me and many others at least the first half of our lives.
The hard way is often the most educative way – isn’t it? For me the whole life is a learning process. And I hope it never ends. 🙂
Great advice, Otto!
I always try to look at mistakes, as “nature’s” way of saying, “It’s time to move on.”
Thank you for your always great posts!
I think that’s a good way of looking at failures. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lisa.
Thanks for this post, Otto. Failure – and that’s where the blogging community has endeared itself to me. To see and read how others have tackled this fear of failure (in photos or life) and used it to improve or adapt and move on in their journey.
I think that is one of the greatest benefits of the blogging community; to learn from each other and get encouragement from other bloggers.
A beautifully stunning essay! This lesson isn’t necessary applied to art form. It is true in nearly every thing we do. This post reminds me of once I was told … “if you do not make any mistakes you do not do your job”… Thank you for the great write up.
And, yes, of course you are right. This applies to everything in life – as I wrote to life itself. Thank you for the comment.
Great post Otto, insightful and I think it is something that we all have some experience in (failure that is). Whether it is in business/personal/photography, and you have it right ~ taking something out of the experience (the good/the lesson) makes it worthwhile. Cheers.
I would think we all have experienced failures – one way or another. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Randall.
Every one who has commented here appears so wise and mature. Failures in art are clear; they are visible and can be improved upon down the road. Failures in life are harder to see and more difficult to learn from. I make a concerted effort to learn from my mistakes and even the mistakes of others but oh, this is easier said than done. As they say in baseball, ” three strikes and you’re out.” Thanks for this important reminder.
I agree with you, failures in life are harder to both see and to accept and thus to learn from. But maybe even more valuable in terms of getting wiser. Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Nina.
Reblogged this on Unchained Emporium and commented:
I really needed to hear this right now. Maybe others do, too.
Thank you, Otto, for this wonderful post…one I plan on revisiting often, as it is such needed inspiration!
Thank you, I am glad if this can be a little bit of an inspiration.
Oh Otto, the timeliness and synchronicity of the topics you chose to write about is eerie. I so needed to read what you wrote in this entry. Making mistakes are the only way I pay enough attention to learn. I was surprised and hopeful to read about how long you’ve been shooting and writing. And look at you now. Every post you write carries the message to me in a way I understand and relate to. Thanks for keeping on and on and on!
Well, encouragement from you and others makes it fun to keep on doing this. I think nothing makes to learn better than doing mistakes yourself. And we all do it, fortunately. 🙂
I agree and I also believe that one has to have a bit of a tough skin to keep trying because there are those critics out there, and my own tapes in my head which sometimes can be on the overly sensitive side. Bottom line is that I try for ME and no one else. That helps.
Yes, critics whether other people or yourself, can be a big discouragement. But I think it’s important we create – or live – not for others or for their approval, but because we enjoy the process of creating itself – or living.
100% agreed! Thank you Otto.
It’s like learning to walk. If a child is too afraid of falls it will never learn to walk. Its world will be small and confined. However. when it learns to walk despite the falls this will expand its horizon exponentially. Btw, being successful in art and what that means is an entirely different topic worth exploring.
That is a great analogy to illustrate what I am saying. As for exploring what success in art means, yes, that’s quite a different story – with many disparaging views I would believe. 🙂
Nobody is born knowing how to walk. But everyone over the age of 3 does it routinely without a second thought. In between is not only the single greatest expansion of personal knowledge in our lifetimes, but also a long series of attempts to emulate those around us. Salted with many failures, small trials, and the ambitious determination to try again. How can we laud the successes while so savagely criticizing the failures that built them?
I salute to your insight. Of course you are very right. Every step we take has been learned by many mistakes – and as you point out, we forget how important it is to be willing to fail in order to be able to walk. Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Vernon.
Inspirational and encouraging, thank you. I’m trying to go where my heart takes me but it’s hard to fight the tide. Won’t stop trying though. Looks like you didn’t either when things got tough and made it
We do have to follow our hearts. I am a strong believe of that. But it will lead to failures and mistakes. Though instead of being discourage by the failures we should just accept them as steps towards a bigger insight – just as learning to walk was when we were infant, as others have pointed to.
Thanks for the post – I actually just received my first ever rejection letter from my first ever submission. While I know failure isn’t bad, and that I am likely to receive a lot of rejections, it still hurts. It was nice to read something inspiring and uplifting today to counteract that.
Rejections hurt. I have had my share of them, so I know. And I also know that they suck every breath out of us and makes us want to quit. But the only way is not. Instead keep producing, keep submitting. Don’t ever give up.
Great insight. I love the link to photography.
Thank you, Josh.
So far the best thing I’ve ever read.
You make me blush. Thank very much.
Nice,thanks for sharing.
🙂
Reblogged this on Business Solutions.
Reblogged this on Typing the untyped & Speaking the unspoken.
Hej Otto, så sant, så sant. Man brukar säga att det är av misstagen man lär sig, För egen del försöker jag se om misstagen kanske är en öppning till något nytt och kreativt som går att bygga vidare på (dvs när kraften och styrkan finns).
Bästa hälsningar
Monica
Det er akkurat mitt poeng. At uhell og fiasko er en åpning til noe nytt. Men ofte kan det være vanskelig å se det når du står mitt oppi det. Takk for at du deler dine tanker her.
As always a well written article, Otto. We learn more from mistakes than from success sometimes. We also need to be fearless. Albert Einstein said; ‘Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new’.
A great quote by Einstein – and very relevant to the message of this post. Thank you, Andy.
Reblogged this on unmuchodenada and commented:
So true.
Reblogged this on raresivanoiu94.
Reblogged this on reclaimed & repurposed and commented:
So true. If you have never failed, you have never tried.
How true. I have failed many times, and in the end have won for trying.
I am glad you did not give up. 🙂
For some
🙂
Excellent post! Looks like a lot of others agree! 🙂
Thank you for the thumbs up.
Reblogged this on A Piney Walk About.
Very nice article. I love it
Thank you, Maria.
Reblogged this on columbusohplumbing and commented:
I like this
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Reblogged this on Archaic Sugar and commented:
Great Read For Every Type of Artist
Great post. My family includes a son who is an artist, ceramics, pottery. I am always in love with his failures. And I can see his life in your post. Wonderful words. Wonderful photo. I hope life allows me to successfully fail. Woohoo!
I like that expression; successfully fail. A great way of saying it, Deborah.
This was so encouraging to me tonight.
I am glad my words could be of some encouragement. 🙂
Reblogged this on point1percent and commented:
Keep
Moving
Forward
WiseWords
Reblogged this on thewakeupjournals.
Reblogged this on Explorer Mom.
Well said. Success often makes us complacent, failure strengthens us from within!
Yes, that is my point; failure indeed strengthens us from within – or can if we don’t give up. Thank you for the visit.
Reblogged this on World Evolution in KDM's View and commented:
This is a great piece that can help us grow if we feel it.
Thank you
🙂
Inspiring.
Thank you 🙂
And thank you for the comment.
Reblogged this on PAULLYN GRACE and commented:
Sooo relatable considering I don’t know where I’m actually headed in life (doing science and business in university but still not focused on career path) and the fact that I love photography.. thanks for this post! 🙂
Reblogged this on Apps Lotus's Blog.
Reblogged this on My Blog.
Otto, so right. how could there be success if there was no failure- it wouldn’t exist without it’s binary i am enjoying getting around your blog.
thanks,
esse
Thank you for the nice words, esse.
What a great article! 😀
Thank you, Mark.
I think that there is too much emphasis on getting everything right first time and being satisfied with that, when in fact the art and beauty is in the experimentation and things you learn along the way.
Well said – and I agree with you.
Failure is the door to open the better life,…
Nice article, sir,…
Thanks
Thank you, Harbun.
Reblogged this on JOSE ANTONIO TOVAR.
Falling down the valley and then climbing up is so much fun than just climbing up alone. Great article.
Good point. Thank you.
that’s good news as I seem to have a lot of practice at it
Practise makes perfect – no? 🙂
Very Interesting article… I would really appreciate if you could take a look at my blog 🙂
I certainly will get back to it. 🙂
Reblogged this on jaynehaz's Blog.
Reblogged this on elimejia07's Blog and commented:
And learn from failures
And learn from failures
Indeed! 🙂
This is a great post, very inspiring. Thank you!
Thank you, Jenn.
Absolutely agree! Thank you for sharing it with us!
And thank you for commenting. 🙂
Reblogged this on vincentdo444.
Very nice. Thank you. I am sharing this with my fellow students.
Great to hear that this is something you want to share. Thank you.
In human life there is activity and thought. In each of these there is beneficial and useless. That adds up to four categories. Where do pseudo-science and art fit In? They are useless. Where do genuine science and practical/ergonomic manufacturing fit in? They are useful. This is as close as I (with my limited IQ and education) can define it. But everybody needs help. Keep on trucking guys and gals.
Not sure how to respond to this one. 🙂
That confused me too but I will say how happy I am to see your work Freshly Pressed..Well deserving , Otto!!
lynne
Thank you, Lynne.
Inspirational! I agree 100%. Failure is the driving force to motivate us to be a better version of ourselves. Although failure can put us in a low point, the rewards overcoming it in the end are far greater.
Failure definitely puts us in a low point at first, but then if we are able to climb out of the hole we are heading for a peak. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Renee.
Reblogged this on dibadayana.
Reblogged this on Petite Girls Guide.
Great inspirational post
Thank you, Gentry.
Fear of failure, yes, it’s real. And because it’s real, it can help keep us sharp. If the possibility of success was certain, how boring would that be?
I started a new blog: http://www.paulworthingtonbooks.com in the hopes of writing more from the heart and less for the praise of others and such. I hope to encourage other writers to do more of the same. When you get time, please stop by for a fun greet and meet and a host of enjoyable writing prompts that will tug at your creative mind.
Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog, Paul. And yes, I will stop yours as soon as I get some. Sounds like a good theme for a blog.
Reblogged this on ELI ₦ATHA₦AEL.
Wonderful post! It makes me think about the importance of separating the lack of success (whatever this means to you) and the feeling of being a failure. I’m trying to inhabit the practice of gathering experiences rather than categorize things as successes and failures. It’s mindful work! Thank you for your inspirational words.
Success – or lack of success – is a whole different thing. Not necessarily related to failure, although it may at times feel as such. At least in creative work, it’s the pleasure of actually being creative that I try to make my success criterion, not measured by what others might think of the work or how successful I have become in a traditional sense. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jane.
Dear Otto, I have gone through entire of this this article and I must admit that you have encouraged us in a very smart way to do something new keeping aside the fear of failure. And you have explained very articulately that art making process has a deep connection with failure. Quote of Neil Gaiman is very much relevant – thanks I got to know about it from you. I have already accepted you as my photography teacher and thought guru – whatever you say cultivated from your years of study and realization and I treasure those. Thank you for sharing this with us. Sudarshan
That is quite some encouraging words. You make me blush. But I am glad you feel my words can be of some inspiration. Thank you Sudarshan.
Reblogged this on The Poetic Odyssey.
Reblogged this on dcharli819's Blog and commented:
We you fail, readjust and run fast lol
Reblogged this on Scarlet Rialto.
I agree with you but there are phases. I mean, failure itself isn’t good because it leads to a lot of pain to a lot of people most of the times. Accepting failure is not easy in our society. But failure *leads to good* things. I write more about it here: http://whyislifefullofupsanddowns.com/2014/08/19/why-is-life-full-of-ups-and-downs/
Yes, there is a distinction. But it’s also a matter of perception, I believe. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
Reblogged this on elizairaandes07's Blog and commented:
Failure first then success:)
I really love this ,,thumbs up:)
Thank you, Eliza.
You inspire a lot of your readers including me 🙂
Reblogge this 🙂
Reblogged this on elizairaandes07's Blog.
Nice to hear about your past ‘failures’, Otto. It gives the rest of us hope. 🙂
I’ve got into the habit of carrying a spare battery because a little carelessness caused me to get one damp :(. Just occasionally I forget and the camera doesn’t want to play. I’ve almost reached the point where I can shrug and say ‘remember the moment’. Each one is precious, isn’t it?
Those turning moments when we really learn something valuable are indeed precious. Thank you for sharing your experiences, Jo.
Wonderful piece! Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for the nice words, Caron.
Reblogged this on ARTISTS UNITE.
Bonjour, merci pour votre très intéressant article, et les commenaires enrichissants.
L’expérience montre que, selon l’adage : “- d’un mal, il peut sortir un bien” ; mais il convient d’avoir de la patience, car le bon côté ne se dévoile pas immédiatement. On s’en aperçoit ensuite. Peut-êtr cela a-t-il un nom : providence. On souhaite quelque chose, qui n’a
… suite – envolé !!! … qui ‘arrive pas.Et ensuite, un événement survient, qui apporte le meilleur. Paul Valéry disait que – Si, Sisyphe réussit quelque chose, même si son rocher très lourd tombe tout le temps : il se muscle !! –
Je vous souhaite beaux voyages et photos – ou non, qui vont avec !
Je n’ai jamais entendu l’un sur Sisyphe. Il est tellement bon qu’il peut l’être. Merci pour votre commentaire tankelfulle, René. Et peut-être vous avez raison – il est providentiel.
Reblogged this on Sharkphin1's Blog and commented:
I have been experiencing this for quite sometime now and what i’ve learned was “Once your living a righteous lifestyle all struggles that you encounter are valid and necessary for the needed to growth to reach the Goals we set in life”..
Something I always tell my students. I keep reminding them I started the same way.
We all start the same way, don’t we? 🙂
True words. And a great photo. I really hope, you will go back to the area around the world’s highest mountain again. With two cameras!
I have indeed been back later on – with enough cameras. Thank you, Truels. Good to see you back here.
Reblogged this on SoberShoes.
A friend uses the phrase “failing forward”. It’s one of my favorites because of the enormous potential hiding in both those words. Excellent post! Thanks.
It’s a telling expression. Thanks, Pamela.
Interesting stuff, Otto. “The experience is not by any means less just because you can’t take a photo of it.” I know this logically but to have the photo makes it more special to me, for now, at least.
The process of making a photo of an experience, does make me more aware and is one more way of experience it. But for me the experience still comes first.
Its a great post. I loved it…. May I re-blog this on my Blog “Imagination Breathing”.
Imagination Breathing
Vision: “Inspiring lives”
What we believe: “Your insight may be just what someone else needs to have a breakthrough”.
http://www.imaginationbreathing.com
Plz let me know if I may reblog your post “Failure is GOOD”.
Thank you.
Best wishes:
Paul Fernandes
Imagination Breathing(inspiring lives)
http://www.imaginationbreathing.com
Thank you for the nice words, Paul. And yes, of course you may re-blog the post.
Thank you Otto very much…
check out the my website.
http://www.imaginationbreathing.com
I will. 🙂
Reblogged this on McCormicks Blog and commented:
Sometimes failure could have a positive outcome if you don’t take a risk. You won’t know the outcome.
Reblogged this on BLOGTENDI.
Reblogged this on kamnagoel and commented:
It was really a great, reading something that teaches you lesson for your future path. Loved to read your experience.
One of the greatest post. Thank you and thank you for sharing. So encouraging , I’m so happy I can see a post here that easily talk to me.
I’ll be so happy my friend if you want come and visit my blog.
http://Www.asilentashout.wordpress.com
Thank you again.
No need of thanks, it’s simply a a sharing of ideas.right!
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such nice words. And, yes, I will get back to yours as well – as soon as I get a little more time.
Reblogged this on and commented:
Reminded me again that winning is not possible without failing
Reblogged this on Imagination Breathing and commented:
Thank you Otto Von Munchow.
Reblogged this on publicsquareleadership and commented:
Failure is step just before success. This is a good read.
Reblogged this on TaTUM – Words and inspiration and commented:
Understanding the process. Succinct but resonant.
Reblogged this on Narmeen Naser – Artist.
Great post! It really opened my eyes to seeing the good side of bad situations
Thank you
I am glad my post could help open your eyes. Thanks for the feedback.
I really enjoyed this
Thank you, Francisco.
Reblogged this on Luke. W. Norman – Blog and commented:
“We all want acceptance and approval for our work, but if the fear for not getting it or the fear of what others might think about our art makes us cater to this fear, we will never find our own voice.”
Great to see that other people feel the same. ‘Fail more’ is what I always say. Reblogged, cheers!
Yes, let’s fail more! Thank you!
Great motivation. Thanks for advice, Otto! 🙂
Thank you so much for these really helpful words. I am looking forward to being out there doing something and making all the mistakes I need to.
Good luck with your mistakes! 🙂
Reblogged this on a great mess of stuff and commented:
This wonderful post explores so well an important lesson I am discovering at the moment. I find it very inspirational.
Helpful -Kind words Sir.
I wont forget.
Take care.
Thank you. You, too.
Good words! This is the second thing I have read today on failure. The first one was:
http://lisajakub.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/the-freedom-to-fail/
It is good for us to remember that failure is just a part of attempting anything…especially the really worthy and truly exciting things.
Yes, it is good to remember – but not always as easy to approach it. Thanks for the comment, Delana.
So true, the best thing about falling is that you have to get back up! We need failure to make us stronger 🙂
When you have fallen, there is only one way left, no?! Thanks for the comment, Sabrina.
I completely agree, Otto. I’ve had this conversation numerous times with others. I even add that as failures in the arts, especially art CAREERS, aren’t just risks but inevitabilities an artists really ought to be obstinate in such pursuits. I know that it sounds foolhardy but seriously, being stubborn — even in the determination to appreciate the experiences of creative failure — whether they are your fault or the uncontrollable hindrances of the environment in which you create your work, truly will get you through those failures until you are able to hit one out of the park once in a while:
http://hammerhomestreetphotography.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/landsdale/
Be obstinate. It is necessary.
I think there is much sense in what you write. Foolhardy and stubborn is not bad for anyone working creatively. Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Allan.
Very refreshing article.
Thank you, Ashu.
Reblogged this on Michelle's Hen House.
Failure is not negative,its just another way to recognize how not to do something. Its a lesson learned.
That’s exactly my point. A lesson learned – or can be. Thanks for commenting, Michelle.
Very true indeed.
Thank you, Jazzmin.
My pleasure
Well written! Always good to be reminded of this…
Thank you!
Gave me a few moments of Zen while reading. Thank you.
That is quite a complement. Thank you, Gloria.
I came to your post almost by accident. While scrolling I saw the beautiful blue mountains at the top of the post. I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and clicked on your post thinking it was about this region. I became engrossed in your words and forgot about the mountains completely. When I read they were in Nepal I was genuinely surprised. As for the rest of your post, I found it quite inspirational. I am a writer myself and am still establishing my career. Thank you for your words.
And thank you for the lovely feedback, Kerri.
What a beautiful article and moving advice. I’ve just started my journey towards becoming a photographer. I left the corporate world and plan to take the next year for myself to travel and reflect. Of course, I ask myself every day if this is going to work out in the long run but in the end, it doesn’t really matter if it does. I’m loving the life I’m living right now and know I will forever be thankful I took this time for myself.
Cheers,
Sabrina
http://www.sweetbruno.com
I think whenever you do something that matters for yourself you can never go wrong. Good luck with the journey – and thank you for the nice words, Sabrina.
Reblogged this on gahkuu and commented:
Truly an adpost-shared as happened.
Thank you for this! I really enjoyed it.
🙂
Hi I like the message in this piece of writing. Yes many people are afraid of failure. Me included sometime; but if we don’t fail sometimes we don’t learn. Learning is one of the greatest things. It helps us be who we are and helps others as well.
You are so right about that. Thanks for the nice words.
All of us have heard it time and again. Yet one needs to be reminded again and again to move on in life and stay on the course. Thanks for the timely reminder.
Thank you for commenting, Sudha.
Great post and advice!
Thank you, Stuart.
Good work ..it’s like going to a place which you have lost your way but still hoping you will get there;after struggling to reach in a way you never anticipated #failure
Thank you for the thoughtful comment.
Most welcome..
Reblogged this on brycehockman2.
I was kind of expecting this to be some feel-good, irrelevant posting, but this was a solid bit of thought. I’ll be reading this again. I need to do so.
Thank you, Francis. I am glad you found it interesting.
When we have fear, we have a challenge, that is the beauty of life
That’s a nice way to put it. Thanks.
I love this AND it came at the best possible time in my life. I am taking that leap of faith, and doing something and new. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating. Your words provide even more inspiration!! Thank you!!
I am really glad if the post can be of some sort of inspiration or conciliation. Good luck with big leap – and enjoy it!
That one photo probably means more to you than most. Not having the extra hundreds of photos you would have taken to sift through makes it very valuable. Then you got to just enjoy the view and truly wrap yourself in it. I would say you are spot on about this failure being a good thing.
You are right, this picture does mean a lot – in many ways. Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Michelle.
I love the photo and really enjoyed your writing.
Thanks for a lovely respite.
Evelyn
Here’s to Your Health!
evelynmmaxwell.com
Thank you for those lovely words, Evelyn.
Failure is the highway to success.
Sometimes it may get you going at least. Thank you for commenting, Kelvin.
Reblogged this on Memory-Manufacturer and commented:
Failure is Acceptable …..
wow! seriously very nice!
Thank you, Maria.
Reblogged this on aliciadevon.
Great blog Otto, inspirational words of hope and belief.
Thank you. 🙂
Great post! I agree and think that as artists one of our biggest mistakes is not that we produce bad art (that is inevitable at some point if you’re out there trying), but that we listen to the voice of fear inside of us that says we have nothing of value to offer. That speech by Neil Gaiman has also been a long time favorite of mine.
The biggest mistake is being afraid of mistakes. Like that! Thanks for the comment, Justin.
Great Post! We should discuss our feeling with some one who we knew have an habit of Appreciating things!…you know I mean!!!
http://innovationscreativity.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/no-idea-is-bogus-and-every-idea-is-an-innovation/
Thanks for the feedback and your thoughts.
Reblogged this on playlists.
Interesting post!
The word ‘failure’ is one of those words which seems to have the power to freeze, block, stunt and impact personal growth. ‘Failure’ is judged as the ‘end’ of everything and many people struggle to see past this event. Posts like yours are a reminder that failure is sometimes part of the process but it does not need to deny us ultimate success in achieving what we set our minds on.
Thank you.
You are so right. In the midst of a struggle is seems tough, but in the end it’s “only” part of the process towards success – whatever that is. Thank you for your comment, Jennifer.
Reblogged this on Jennifer's Soul Purpose, the Creative Spirit and commented:
Let’s look ‘failure’ in the face.
I firmly believe that all successful people have failed miserably – multiple times in most cases! You don’t learn from success, you learn from your failed attempts – which are not failures in my eyes, but lessons. Excellent post! So glad I have discovered you, Otto!
You attitude is admirable – and something for everybody to learn. That failure is only failure if you make it into one. Thank you for the encouragement, Dale.
Thank YOU for your thoughtful pieces!
Wow another fab post! Had a few creative failures recently but have picked myself back up and carried on. Weirdly my first ever literary rejection from an agent put me on a high which surprised everyone. I was so proud of myself for getting out there and I felt like I had joined the writer’s club. So failures arw down to how you perceive them. Tough but doable.
Of course, failures or for instance rejections are tough, but it really comes down to how you react and use them to your best, like you obviously did. Thank you for the comment, Lucy.
Nice I agree with you some times we have to break set rules to bring some betterment.
Exactly. Thanks for the comment.
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