In Hangzhou, a renowned photographer gave a class to journalists, showing over a hundred photos on his laptop. During more than two hours of teaching, he didn't discuss photography theory but shared the stories behind each of the photos he had brought.
He had spent over a decade photographing traffic issues at a railway crossing. The nearly thousand photos he displayed, arranged in chronological order, depicted the 'life cycle' of the crossing. While any photographer could take single photos, maintaining this work over ten years with consistent angles is challenging. The difference between mediocrity and excellence lies in persistence. Anyone who continues shooting in this manner can achieve similar accomplishments. Yet, perhaps he is the only one in all of Hangzhou photographing this railway crossing.
Another story he shared involved photographing the Three Gorges dam diversion project, which was initially off-limits to journalists. Most were stopped by guards at the boundary. When his striking photo appeared in the media, many peers were astonished: "How did he capture this?" He explained that he had made a small deal with a local fisherman, who smuggled him across the river at night, and he hid under an engineering vehicle for more than twenty hours to get the shot.
This story is moving. During the Three Gorges diversion, many journalists were present nationwide, but only a few captured the scene. The reason was an almost obsessive dedication to the craft. In his eyes, as long as he could capture a remarkable photo, he was willing to risk his safety and everything else.
Sometimes, success is a state of mind, so close yet so distant for everyone, and not everyone can attain it. Your photography skills may surpass his, your physical strength may be greater, but lacking even a fraction of his mindset can mean missing success for a lifetime.
