Untitled | April 2012 | Copyright 2012

I remember when I first joined flickr, way back in the olden days of 2005. At that time, it was common practice for a flickr member to announce when his or her photo stream had received 100,000 views. Oh, how that arbitrary number on the screen taunted me, constantly poking at my insecurity about myself as a photographer. Everyone was getting 100,000 views but me.

Seven years later, my flickr stream still hasn’t broken the 100,000 views mark. But this fact no longer bothers me. I have made many great friends on flickr, received a ton of inspiration, and grown as a photographer. Since 2005, I somehow managed to cross an invisible line of photographic maturity, and the number of views or followers or photographic admirers no longer matters to me.

Let’s face it - competition should never have a place in the art world. Competition is the sworn enemy of inspiration.

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