There are a lot of ways to learn things.

I’ve been reading a lot of articles on photography.

A lot of photographers have given me a lot of different advice. Good advice.

I haven’t read the manual on my camera yet, but that’s on my to-do list. I should probably get to that.

And I’ve been taking a lot of pictures.

I’ve read a book or two on writing.

I’ve read blogs about blogging.

I’m taking a writing workshop in the fall. I’m excited about that.

And I’ve been writing in a journal since ninth grade. And I’ve been writing blog posts for a couple of years now.

I think that garnering advice from people you admire who are good at what you want to do (phew) can be helpful. I have definitely gained knowledge that has helped me. Learn from the people who have gone before you. There’s no reason to make the mistakes of your forefathers if they’ve already made them for you.

But then again, there’s something about learning things on your own that tastes a bit sweeter. And there’s a difference between learning from others and imitating others.

I’m trying to find a balance.

I don’t like making mistakes, so it’s hard for me not to run to the well of “knowledge” on the internet every time I want to try something new. But what’s the fun in that, really?

I have to decide why I do what I do, and that will dictate how I do things. I’m still working all of that out.

I want to learn from others, but I want to learn from myself, as well. I want to make my own way, blaze my own path.

Maybe you feel the same way, maybe you don’t. But what’s cool is, that’s what all of this is about. We weren’t all made to be the exact same person, do to the exact same thing, to create identical art. If someone doesn’t like what I’m doing, someone else probably will. And if no one likes what I’m doing, I better make sure I like doing it. Because that’s all that matters in the end anyway.

I’m still learning.

-me