On a recent photoshoot I let my emotions get the better of me. No I did not lash out or act inappropriately, but I let my emotions get in the way what I was supposed to do -- objectively photograph an event. It was the first time I have ever experienced this and I have been photographing events for several years. I should know better. One of my colleagues asked me if I was okay and I told him how I felt. He told me something I needed to hear again. We can control aperture, shutter speed, ISO settings, and which equipment we want to use; but we have no control over what is happening in the moment. It is our job to photograph it. Not emotionally react to it.

I have always been one to show my emotions, it's part of who I am. Sometimes this can be a good thing. Other times? Definitely not. Yes, I cry at movies. I love to give hugs (when appropriate). I am one that can easily empathize with another person. Yet, I can detach myself from a situation when required. When my youngest daughter accidentally put a sewing machine needle through her finger when she was a little girl, I remained calm and removed it. There have been similar events in my life when I had to detach myself from a situation. And that's the key. 

When you are a journalist, or in my case a photojournalist, you must detach yourself from the situation to photograph it objectively, truthfully, and without spin. Emotions cannot come into play. Period.

I detached myself from the situation and did what I was supposed to do.

Until next time,

Paul