We Get By With a Lot of Help From Our Friends

We get by with a lot of help from our friends!

Intro by Skip Cohen

After I posted a short rant a few weeks ago, which included projects several photographers have been doing, Steven Gotz wrote this as a response on Facebook. It really hit home, especially his last line:

                                             The less time I feel sorry for myself, the better off I am.

I immediately caught up to him on an IM for permission to share what he wrote.

Unless you work for a company like Zoom, there is no silver lining to the challenges the pandemic has created. But there are things to have faith in and a reason for hope as things slowly return to some level of normalcy. Our definition of "normal" will continue to be different, as most of us miss the freedom to simply be out and about.

So, Steven, thanks for today's dose of inspiration. This is good stuff, and maybe it'll spark a few ideas with other photographers about things they can do to start rebuilding their revenue stream. Most important of all, as Mark Toal mentioned, photography is a way to keep his sanity!

---

by Steven Gotz 

It is extremely easy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves. Income streams for many of the best of us have dried up completely. Some may end up giving up on or postponing their lifelong dream of being a full time working photographer. Some may have to go back to the type of jobs they did before they went full time as a photographer.

Some of us are getting mad that we have to wear a mask, some people are outraged at others for not wearing masks. (I am staying in, so far, so no mask for me.)

All this during an election year with many people having to hold their nose to vote.

My personal solution to keeping my sanity is simple. I have been working on projects to help other people. I don't know how creative that is, but it really helps.

• I just finished being one of three judges for a 4-H Club photo contest, Ages 5 through 18 and a ten year old won "Best in Show". Usually done in person but all virtual this year.
• I have turned zoo animal photos into coloring books, and you, Skip, were kind enough to let me guest blog about it. I also provided the zoo with crossword puzzles and word search puzzles.
• Lately it has been all about creating Zoom virtual backgrounds for animal lovers to use. Apparently zookeepers and other zoo staff & volunteers are having zoom meetings and want their favorite animals looking over their shoulders.
• Adding to all that, my wife is teaching elementary school reading classes 7 times each weekday, and I am her technical support, helping her get her virtual classes organized. (I had to move out of my office into the Living Room because apparently she has to get pretty loud to keep a bunch of little kids paying attention.)

As long as it is not about me, I can continue on a lot easier. The less time I have to feel sorry for myself, the better off I am.