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I Am My Biggest Critic and My Own Worst Enemy

5/27/2014

An African woman makes a purchase at Klongtoey market

In the Canon CPS feature Seeking the Light, famed photographer Don McCullin is introduced to shooting with a Canon digital camera. He is always interesting and his sharp wit is never boring. But is what he says at the end of the video that struck a chord.

"One must not think about doing things in life, one must do them."

I spend an awful lot of time thinking and planning what I want to do and what I am going to do and not enough time doing.

Mark Twain once said, "I was born lazy."

Living in Filth

One of the cleaner alleyways

I, like many people, was also was born lazy, however, boredom normally forces me out of this state. My laziness can last for a day or two, but eventually, I realize I am wasting time. Wasting my life. Time is a precious commodity. When we are young, we feel time is endless.

At the end of every day, I ask myself if the day has been productive. When I am writing, taking photos, or making videos, I always answer with a yes. Rarely do I answer no, but I almost always wish I had done more.

As I said in a video a week or so ago, I recently made a commitment to photograph at least three times a week. Yesterday, I began the first of several days of photographing the Klongtoey slums. Photographing these slums is adventurous but if can be depressing if you allow it to be. I prefer to take my time when

photographing people, and I dislike the snap and go style some photographers employ. Tomorrow I go back. Why? To take more photos, of course, but also to give prints to the people I photographed. Several of those I photographed, especially the children, immediately asked, "Now you give me photo?" At least with a digital camera I can show them what they look like. Film takes longer.

When I arrived home, I stunk of garbage, dirt, and poverty. But it came off after showering. Those I photographed live in it and have nowhere to go. That, is a sobering thought, and seeing life in Klongtoey reminded me just how lucky I am.

If you enjoy photography, especially older photography before digital was the norm, set aside time to watch the BBC Imagine's McCullin at the bottom of the page. McCullin is my favorite photographer, bar none, and one of the greatest photographers ever.