Some Peers I Admire

I'm reading "The Ruler" aka "The Prince" by Machiavelli this month. It can be summed up, from my 50-page experience thus far, by watching the way power flows to and through the Corleone's in "The Godfather". Attaining power is not a casual exercise, but requires the absolute annihilation of all of the former ruler's family and loyalists. At the point of takeover, if the ruler is to ascribe major shifts to the law, then he must do so immediately. If he is to kill a number of the old guard, he must do it all at once and at the beginning of his rule. Machiavelli notes that the shock of the death of one will cover over the shock of the death of many, thus allowing for a massive violent maneuver that, once complete, will be much more palpable than a long term multi-phase termination of the old cabinet.

How does this apply to us? For my purposes, it is a useful analogy for personal change. One can change according to gradual, seemingly less painful increments, or go cold turkey from one modus operandi to another. The initial shock of the latter can often deliver better long term results once it is complete. The other, like stretching a bungee cord, can land a person back in square one because of its underlying lack of resolve.

That has nothing to do with the following part of the blog, save that there are other peers in my field that have been much more effective in gaining a foothold in the industry...

My transfer into full time photography was one of gradual maneuvers that has fortunately landed me into a career with a camera and without a debt, thanks to some fortuitous gifts and purchases along the way. There are others my age, however, who are beating the pavement in the world's power broker centrals, making an impression on the photo industry and with prestigious clientele. Perhaps they are more Machiavellian in their strategies, and perhaps they were dictated less by fear than I have been. Their work is superb. Here are a few links to some great work by photographers my age who make me dig in deeper as I strive to be better:

http://kareemblack.com/
http://www.davehillphoto.com/
http://brianniven.com/
http://www.timtadder.com/
http://www.chaskielberg.com/
and fellow Nashvillain http://www.jeremycowart.com/

There are so many others who belong on this list...