The Only Thing We Have to Fear.......

Liz Kuball announced on her blog that December was Portrait month. I like Liz's blog because she is so open and honest about her journey as a photographer. She wants to get over her fear of approaching strangers and asking to make a portrait. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his speech in 1933, ...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.


Liz is using that quote to get herself past her fear of doing what she wants to do but is paralyzed with fear about doing....Making portraits of Strangers. And just to be sure that she is committed, she has announced before God and fellow bloggers that she is going to make and post a portrait everyday during the month of December. I'm in awe of her commitment and my first thought was that I should do the same thing....Commit on the blog to making a portrait everyday during December because this ties in with a portrait project that I've been thinking about for a couple of years. Sometimes I think I'm just procrastinating but maybe it is fear. I started asking myself what is the fear.

Afraid I'll fail?

Afraid people will think I'm crazy?

Afraid they will say "No?"

Afraid I can't stick with the plan?

Afraid my portraits will be copycat, be bland, have no soul?

Afraid to try it with the Holga camera?


Well this list could go on but I think you get the idea. I'm not as brave as Liz. I'm not committing to making the portrait of a stranger everyday during December but I am going to try to make more portraits of strangers, family and friends this month. So when you visit you might see some of them posted.