Stages of a photographer <- clicken Sie here ...

I found this beautiful diagram of a photographer´s life on Robert Benson´s Blog. It is very funny but also very true.

That "dammit I suck" dip is awesome. I first got aware of this magical moment in the development of any skill - photography or otherwise - when I read "Pragmatic Thinking and Learning", a book aimed at professional software developers. One chapter is about the the five stages in the journey from novice to expert, and how to recognize which stage you are in. The model described there is also universal, not just for professional software developers. Interesting enough it mirrors the graph shown above.

One clear sign that you are in stage 2 - advanced beginner - is that you think you are an expert in your field. Once you figure out "dammit I suck": Congratulations!  You are not an advanced beginner anymore. Beware, though:  The journey to expert is still long.

The book states that most people never leave the advanced beginner stage in their profession, or any other skill for that matter. Makes sense: To them the journey is over because they already are experts! I just love that insight. Been there ...

Beware: Just saying "I suck" just to feel you are in the next stage does not count. It has to be a revelation!

Dried Lemons

Flickr stuff from Cookie Rebel

Color Flash

Floating through the hands of God - Schweben in Aachen

My first Leica

Buying this Leica camera was all emotions, no prudence at all: The camera is much more expensive than comparable models, but Leica is style, Leica is sexy, and Leica makes arguably some of the best cameras in the world.

Now I am the proud owner of a Leica D-Lux 4. My first Leica! I just had to have her, even at the enormous price, but let me tell you: She is all worth it. You can take a picture of the sidewalk, and that goddam boring sidewalk will look mysterious, warm, and gorgeous all at the same time with this camera.

Here are some of the pictures I have taken with my D-Lux in the last few days:

BTW: I didn´t post-process any of these pics: no cropping, no color enhancement, nothing.

Always imagined it that way ... <- clicken Sie here ...

I have yet to meet the Queen of England, but I am sure she is a lovely, approachable lady, that lives an astoundingly normal life ... at least that´s what it looks like to me here.

[via rebel art]