“Nobody ever mentions that Babe Ruth had the most strikeouts in baseball history.”
~ Jason Stewart

Picasso did it, Jordan did it, Edison did it, Warhol did it, and even Babe Ruth did it. Yes, all of them over did whatever it was that they did best and that is part of the reason why what did so poorly was overlooked in light of what they did so well.

For it is a truism that the best often err the most upon their path towards greatness. And most importantly, they get back up and try again.

Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Albeit slightly exaggerating, he may have very well been referring to his perfection of the light bulb. It took him more than 2000 tests to find the right filament for something he did not invent, but for which he often gets the credit for nonetheless.

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...It always reminds me of the story about the woman who approached Picasso in a restaurant, asked him to scribble something on a napkin, and said she would be happy to pay whatever he felt it was worth. Picasso complied and then said, “That will be $10, 000.” “But you did that in thirty seconds,” the astonished woman replied. “No,” Picasso said. “It has taken me forty years to do that.”

~ Mark H. McCormack, What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School

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So, don’t be afraid to take a thousands of portraits or create hundreds of cut-outs or photograph the same city over and over and over again, despite the tired commentary from the gallery. You’re perfecting your art, and along the way you’re bound to take a lot more fantastic fotos than others will ever boast.

“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. Lost more than 300 games. 26 times I was trusted to take the game winning shot and failed. I have failed over and over again and that is why I succeed.”

~ Michael Jordan, Nike Commercial

*a stupendous example!: 7-how-7's some of my friends at work are dummies

*please note: the photographer and the photograph cited do not necessarily reflect the views of the lesson or any other random thoughts of the writer.

Watch Your Step Photographing Strangers