The Journey

For me the journey's the thing.  No, I'm talking about the eclectic eighties band, although I do love them as well.  I'm talking about the old adage of means versus the end, of destination versus the journey, and I dearly love the latter.  I'm a deep process person.  I find far more enjoyment in the doing than the achieving.  I've done a myriad of projects over the years and most now sit idly, but during I was consumed with the process.  In photography it is the act of photographing that drives me.  Of course you might say, but it's not that uncommon for photographers to find more enjoyment in the final outcome, the hung print or published magazine.  I could almost care less.  I want to be out shooting, wandering, observing.  When I was younger I had a recurring adventure I would play out on our property.  We had these rotting old stumps, cut old growth, that stood eight to ten feet high.  Being a space nut for as long as I can remember (The Right Stuff was the first movie I remember seeing in the theater) these stumps naturally became spaceships.  But rather than focus on the numerous adventure that this ship could take me on I spent more time building it, perfecting it.  I'm not entirely sure I had full blown adventure at all, I just liked redesigning my ship.  I had to have just the right designed engine, battery compartment and instrument panel.  When you make a declarative statement about yourself it's fun to examine how that thing has culminated in your being.  Two of my deep desires are to walk the length of the Pacific Crest Trail and to sail around the world, both of which are pure journey's at heart.  Books I adore are usually about self-discovery through a journey, either physical or artistic, or both.  Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse being my favorite novel.  If you haven't read it, do, it's beautiful.  Thanks for listening.