What this goal means most of all for me is that I will dedicate a very large portion of my life to creating art. It means that my life will be intertwined with photography in a significant and meaningful way until I die. It’s a discipline to ensure that I live my life in such a way that art will play a significant and prominent role in it.
-Thomas Hawk
(from interview on Chris Guillebeau blog)
I wanted to title this post “I hate Thomas Hawk” because of his goal of 1 million photographs. I didn’t want anyone to think that I seriously hate the dude though. His ambitious goal to take and process 1 million photographs is one of those ideas I wish I thought of!
Hawk has a wicked legacy goal. I see what he’s doing and I can 1000% appreciate it. The goal even inspires me, as indicated by the post on it. The greatest part of something so ambitious is that it should open our mind to start thinking about our own photographic quest in life. Hawk does just that, at least for me!
What is Your 1 Million Photographs Goal?
Life is short and it’s likely that you’re well into life now. I really like Thomas Hawks goal of 1 Million finished and processed images. Could you beat him to it? Is there anyone else attempting to beat him to it? I say that as if it’s a guy trying to run the 4 minute mile – I don’t mean to. The goal is a huge amount of work and becomes a life dedication. Currently, Hawk is uploading 50 finished and processed images per day. These images can serve as other works of art in the future.
So the photographs that I’m making today are the RAW material for these projects that I hope to complete later in life.
Here is where I start to resonate with the idea of taking many photographs. I am a massive fan of personal photography projects, and while 1 million photographs is the mother of all photo projects, I would say why put a metric on it. Life can be about a series of stories and moments.
Why not make your legacy goal to be something more idealistic than measurable. In Rockstar Business by Adii, he talks about specific measurable goals as outdated and to apply a more Rockstar approach:
I have realized that life and its ambitions are less about the attain-able and measurable goals and more about challenging oneself, one’s views and dreams within an idealistic setting.
This point of view aligns with the desire to have a reason why you do everything. The creation of idealistic goals can then be carried out in any way, but you just so happen to use photography for how you go about the goal achievement. As I write and think about the concept, I am presented with a number of new ideas within my own head. I know that you’ve got them too.
Why not mix metrics and idealism? Look, no matter what, you are the one that can set your own rules and write your own goals. I know that photography is a great passion but just being “passionate about photography” means nothing anymore. Ask yourself why you’re passionate about photography. Passion is easy, right?
Challenge the mediocrity of the day to day lifestyle. You’re welcome to join me.
I’m still digging deep for locate how I convey my own legacy, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. What’s your quest? What can your camera help you do? Who’s up for challenging Thomas Hawk? *wink
Hey Scotty, thanks much for the encouragement man.
The goal is ambitious for sure. Also the ultimate goal has several sub goals as well. For instance I’m trying to shoot the 100 largest cities of America right now (I’ve shot 24/100 so far and am going to Boston next month to do #25).
I’m a huge believer in goals, both big gigantic powerful long term goals and short term projects or even weekly, monthly, or daily goals.
This weekend a goal of mine was to process 750 photos from a trip to Toronto that I took last month. I took 4,000 photos on that day and distilled the final production down to 750 and it was tremendously hard actually getting that done.
But big goals are made of bite sized pieces.
Looking forward to learning more about your projects and thanks for blogging about this one of mine. :)
I had been meaning to write about it for a long time. I mean I’ve known about the 1 million goal for a while but just never go to writing. It’s more as I do my own reflection that I found writing about such an ambitious goal to try and relate to.
It’s awesome you mention the bit sized pieces and sub goals because that’s more along the lines as I’ve been thinking – via projects. I started my company under the name Embryo – which is all about small ideas becoming something massive. I am working on a giant list of small ideas that can sit under the umbrella goal.
I didn’t know about the 100 largest cities in America, but I was previously talking to Chris Guillebeau about trying to shoot his unconventional tour (atleast in Canada). The simple thought of that goal felt insanely wild inside. Wild in such a good way. I can online imagine the goals you set.
This kind of work you’re doing is encouraging to the community of photography and I am sure it overflows into many other areas too.
Thanks for dropping by with the comment. Massively appreciated.