©Jeff Dachowski via PPA.com
©Jeff Dachowski via PPA.com

The other day I wrote about an image by a Diamond POTY (see HERE ) and yesterday’s mail brought the January 2015 issue of Professional Photographer Magazine, which featured all the Diamond Photographers of the Year. Diamonds must be in the air – so we’ll just continue along that theme.

Not too long ago, I was exchanging messages with a fellow competitor, when she confided in me that her goal for next year was to “go Diamond.” She seemed somewhat embarrassed at such a huge goal to pursue – but I, too, have that on my goal list, so I can really relate to it.

Now, part of me is a psychology geek and I understand that some of the behavioral theories suggest that setting a big boss hogging goal so completely out of our reach insulates us from criticism and feeling truly bad when we don’t hit it.

I’m not talking about that kind of goal-setting. No flippancy, here.

Let’s go Diamond. For reals.

Yes, it’s a huge chunk of goal to bite off, but if we don’t challenge ourselves to do great things, who will?

It’s the big daddy placement. Aside from the GIA’s that are awarded to only a handful of the best of the best of the best – Diamond POTY is the highest level that can be reached by multiple photographers. Every single competitor has the same opportunity to reach it.

Why such a big goal?

I’m going to blame that on a photographer-kin-soul of mine, Robert Hughes. Robert critiqued an image of mine at my very first image competition in 2009. He asked me what it scored and then he asked my what my goal was for it. I had told him that my goal was to score a 70. Anything below a 70 was not allowed to be hung in the exhibit and that would have just been too embarrassing for me.

Yes, I know. I was new. Just leave it be.

Robert very nicely explained that 100 should be my goal. And why. If I didn’t hit the 100, I was going to land a whole lot closer to a 100 than I was to a 70. Or an 80.

There’s a smarmy little line about aiming for the moon and landing among the stars. You’ve probably heard it.

If we aim too low at the bare minimum – the 80 (let’s just forget about that 70 silliness) – we are setting ourselves up for some major disappointment if we fall even a tiny bit short. By aiming towards the 100, and doing everything within our power to hit it, we are maximizing our efforts, and hopefully our results. And if our results happen to fall a tiny bit short – well, it’s not the train-wreck it might have been.

So, the next time you think about how you might do, how you hope you do, how you wish to do at IPC 2015 – toss over those thoughts and turn to some determination and grit – suck it up and do everything possible to submit the most solid work you are capable of. The goal for every image you work on should be “loan.” Cull, refine, reshoot, retouch – do it all with the goal of “loan” in mind for each and every image.

And four loans = Diamond POTY.

Let’s do this! Ignore the chuckling and the rolling of eyes around you – I’m not gonna do either, so let me in on your goal, I’ll keep it between us and after IPC 2015, check back in and let me know how you’ve done. Heck, keep in touch with me during your competition year and let me know how you’re doing. Write me, call me, email me – I’ve never been a Diamond, but maybe we can help each other out a little and find some other Diamonds who would be willing to help us join their group while they work to stay in it.

And if it just so happens we fall a little short – we’ll still be among the stars – and we’ll try it all over again the next year.

That would be pretty Wootnessy, wouldn’t it?

GO!

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