I don't want that much organization in my life
I don't want other people thinking for me.
-Jimmy Buffett
I'm gonna make a personal Declaration of Independence here.
It's more than that, though. I have a feeling there are many of you who, like me, are ready to make such a declaration. Frankly, it's long overdue.
This one is for all of us.
I realize we exist at a time when social media, blogging, websites, SEO, and all-things online are not what they used to be. That's a good thing. I'd rather not remain stagnant.
That being said, I think so many of us are exhausted. It's all become overwhelming and too much.
Used to be that we'd write blogs or jump on social media with relative ease. We'd share our thoughts, our images, like and comment on other people's posts.
You know, it was fun.
Now, we're trapped in algorithms. In keyword search optimization. In some tech CEO I've never met condescendingly telling me in a video what I want to see (without ever asking me personally). In having to pick the exact right time to post to maximize "reach." In vanity metrics that suggest to someone's computer that your amazing sunset pic from La Jolla isn't worth showing to many others because only two people liked it during its first hour.
Lemme stipulate something. I'm all for it.
Really, I am. I operate an athlete portrait business, and the work that goes into content marketing - and I do mean WORK - helps separate the true contenders from the wannabe photo business owners.
As photo business owners, adapting and evolving to changing trends while remaining true to ourselves and our artistic vision is crucial to long-term success.
But I'm tired.
When you're a solopreneur doing all the things, it's wonderful ... and draining.
Which brings me to Pidgeon's-Eye View.
I have for the better part of 15 years ... yeah, 15 years ... been trying to develop a vision for this blog.
It's gone from content about outdoor adventure to Dad Life to helping fellow parents become better photographers to helping writers improve their image making skills and on and on.
Enough.
No really. To quote the great catcher-philosopher Crash Davis from the most excellent movie Bull Durham:
Now I'm tired and I don't want to think about baseball and I don't want to think about quantum physics and I don't want to think about nothin'. I just wanna be.
"I just wanna be."
We're told by the tech gods out there that no one cares about our personal stories, so why share them on a blog or in the captions of your social post? We should only write things like 7 Secrets the Pros Know or 3 Tips for Better Pictures or some other kind of formulaic service journalism (that has been replicated thousands upon thousands of times, so we're not suffering from a lack of education on things like the exposure triangle).
You can read my thoughts about this here.
Then there's the promotion of the blog. When you spend hours every week promoting your actual business, how much do we have left in the heart-and-soul batteries to also promote a personal passion project?
You know the answer.
Oh, and it oughta to be video. Apparently.
I love video. But it's a lot of friggin' work.
I have no interest in spending my time on this post or in my life as a grumpy mid-life curmudgeon shaking his fist at the online kids and demanding you get off my digital lawn.
Not without a solution. Otherwise it's nothing more than complaining.
My solution? Here goes:
I just want to live and write and photograph and share it with you here. That's all.
Just write the best way I can. Just make photographs the best way I can. Just live the best way I can.
And share it here.
Maybe some day this blog will evolve into something more. But right now, in my heart of hearts, I don't want it to be anything more than a place to share stories, images, inspiration.
Something tells me that if you made it this far into the blog, you feel the same way too.
Here's my declaration:
I'm not going to waste time overthinking and planning every little part of this blog, even if the Internet world demands that I do. I'm not going to buy into the demand that whatever I share on this must be service-oriented journalism and not personal storytelling.
I'm going to find joy in the spontaneity of it all. I'm going to share my stories and images in the way I'd want you to share your stories and images. I'm going to let friends and family and strangers who happen upon this blog know what it means to be on a personal photography journey. As I do, I hope to inspire readers and myself.
Dave Pidgeon is a seasoned writer and photographer. He lives in Lancaster, Pa., with his three sons. You can contact him at dave@pidgeonseyeview.com.