The value of observation

Many years ago I met with Georgy Pinkhasov, where he shared this story: he takes a lot of photographs, and often the works that have not been critically selected are put aside and lay there, gathering dust. And once he was sorting through this archive of old, already many years old culled photos, and noticed that he likes many of them, talented and beautiful photos. Which suggests that appreciation of work is our internal dialog and our current state of being. The photos as were talented, and remained so, the author himself has changed — now he is experienced enough to recognize this beauty.

I see wisdom in this — to try to be open to surprises, accidents and something that is not according to the plan. Because by dismissing the "unsuitable," the things that don't meet expectations (what, where and why did they come from?) in the moment, we deprive ourselves of experience, beauty and points of growth. But it often only comes with life experience and practice.

As a designer and fanatic I say — nag, be rigorous, don't feel sorry for yourself, work hard. As a human being I say let go of the perfectionist, relax and look at life judiciously and freely — beauty will reveal itself.

Such is the dichotomy.