Doubt sucks. Self-doubt can kill. How does one overcome it? You don’t have to look far to find all sorts of “help”, but we are all different. So, too, are the methods by which we can deal with doubt. Lately, it has become clear to me that I will never be able to overcome doubt, so maybe I should start feathering doubt instead.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
– Voltaire
When a 17th century quote seems to apply directly to your current state of mind, things get interesting. If you know what I mean by “feathering doubt” before I explain, it becomes even more so.
Getting Into the Weeds
Times are strange and I find myself not wanting to waste so much of it. Instead of soaring through the skies, having fun creating images, I find myself perched on a cattail watching others soar past. I’ve got the wings. I know the general direction in which I want to go. For some reason, though, I’m paralyzed by the thought of what lies between me and that tall grass everyone else seems to be enjoying.
Then again, do I really want to join the party? Maybe it isn’t what is between that concerns me so much as the weeds. Why those weeds? Why not the taller grass across the road? Or the wheat field? And, thus, the seeds of doubt overwhelm and lead to inaction.
I stare into the face of doubt and I end up doing nothing.
Feathering Doubt Like We Feather Light
In photography, we often “feather” the light. Rather than light a subject directly, the light is turned slightly away. In this way, the light dances across the surface of the subject rather than hitting it in the nose, so to speak. The end result is an image with depth, shadows, and a softer quality. It is a classic approach to artistic portraits. Put simply, for most people, it makes everything look better.
What if, instead of facing my doubt head on, I start feathering doubt, then? As I write these words, I realize that my favorite creative activities do exactly this. I always have the doubts. When I am able to push doubt slightly to one side, allowing it to dance cross the surface of my creativity, things work out better.
Let’s tackle doubt together! Check my work at https://markgunterphotography.com and http://www.questionmarkphoto.com. Like what you see? I’m always for hire, but I’m also considering trade. You’ll need to jump through one simple hoop, though. Visit my mood board and mark any images that inspire you by clicking the star just below it. Then, shoot me a message so I know you are ready to talk about working together. Yes, you’ll need to enter an email address to get in. That’s just to help keep out the wildlife. The same goes for that locked gallery. Just ask me for the password if you’re interested in that genre.
