Well it seems like everyone here is a photographer and a traveller, and everyone wants to do that for a living, with the help of blockchain technology and Steemit.
Yes, me included, this is as much a self-examination as it is for raising conversation, and a wake up call for some people who aspire to do the same.
My question to you is, what differentiates you from all the other travelling photographers and why do you think you'd have a future in that?
In my opinion, having a camera (or a camera phone) and travelling every once in a while doesn’t automatically make you a traveller and a photographer. Just like cooking for yourself and your family doesn’t make you a professional chef. For me, it’s the same as a babysitter saying that she is a mother. You get my point?
How often do you travel for real? Once every year? Are you trying to make changes that allow you to travel more often? Why do you want to travel? Are you running away from something, or running towards something else?
How often do you pick up your camera and shoot? Are you actively trying to get better at it, learn more, teach yourself? What do you want your photographs to tell? Do you evaluate your own work and try to find ways to improve it?
What are the steps you are taking to achieve your goals? How hard are you willing to work for it? Are you praying, hoping and bitching about your current life, or are you taking tangible steps towards your goal?
You want to be free, but what is freedom to you? What is your end game?
What are you going to do if Steemit dies suddenly? Do you have anything to fall back on? Do you like rollercoasters?
Are you a survivor, and not just that, are you going to thrive in what ever you do?
These were the questions I bondered upon for months before I quit my day job, and these are the questions I will keep on asking myself and evaluating as my situation changes.
I am a full time Steemian. I blog, photograph and I get to do that, in theory, from where ever I want to. I worked my ass off to get here, and I will be working even more to make sure this doesn’t end soon. I take nothing for granted. I will never stop progressing.
Surely, Earth as a whole is rapidly heading towards becoming a technology planet. In my next life time I'll be born onto a nature planet where technology will be forbidden in most areas. I love that. I enjoy this life on Earth but am happy to detach from this technology trend the world is going towards, once done here.
Of course, on Earth it is a wonderful development to see decentralized systems coming more and more to the fore. Take Mannabase for example which freely distributes the new cryptocurrency Manna on a weekly basis without further conditions, to create a Universal Basic Income.
I think many are not at all travellers or photographers, because most people predominantly are still stuck in this self-presentation and show-off mode to exemplify how great a life they have. So it's not about the passion for the travel or photos but for attention from others..
Anyways, thanks for your outspoken post!
"In my next life time I'll be born onto a nature planet where technology will be forbidden in most areas. I love that. I enjoy this life on Earth but am happy to detach from this technology trend the world is going towards, once done here."
I concur. Well except for the word "forbidden" implies a top down hierarchy. I believe such a world, people would choose, not to be so distracted with technology.
I was thinking recently, that about the only people who have something approaching true freedom are the old order Amish, and they have their own problems.
Yes, "forbidden" was a bit misleading. It is not that type of forbidding out of disgust and aversion. It is just that the electromagnetic waves emanating from technology is somewhat disturbing the nature-based lifestyle and certain nature-based application 'devices' ;)
hard work has paid of for you and it encourages others . It takes a commitment to succeed in everything that one can do . The questions above are a broad brush of how to succeed if one wishes to .
Self Evaluation is an important and continual step .
thanks for sharing
Self evaluation is something I've had to learn since entering this weird and awesome new journey. It's been good for me.
Personally I HATE people who travel and take photos.
#BasementLife
#NoTanNoFucks
So me your awesome basement life, teach me the way!
1). Find a dark subterranean room.
2). Spend entirely too much time on internet chats.
3). Drink copious amounts of alcohol.
4). Eat too much.
5). Instead of going upstairs just piss in empty bottles.
6). Repeat steps 2-5.
7). Die alone.
Where does one get that food and alcohol?
Hi @eveuncovered Good post. The number one thing for me here is to have fun with it. I'm super happy for you that you're able to live the Steemit life.. can't wait to do the same. Best wishes to you and much love.
Why peoples taking pictures during flying . I can't understand .
To capture INCREDIBLE views like this...
Why people take pictures of anything? I can't understand, that is just so weird.
Some real deep thoughts you just brought forth
I really thought of the last two stanzas and reflected well enough or my reason for spending so much time on Steemit plus what happens should Steemit fall.
I love to travel too though seldomly but hoping to make changes that could see me travel often.
I definitely did got the points
So succinct yet awesome
This post has been upvoted and picked by Daily Picked #14! Thank you for the cool and quality content. Keep going!
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Images of stuff with little or no explanation/elaboration are abundant here. Hopefully the posters are rewarded accordingly. I don't travel...much. Not enough to make it my content focus here. I guess my contribution is posting and commenting to make people aware of my mistakes to help them avoid doing the same. That and wherever I can get a word in edgewise. I certainly am not here to get rich quick.
I actually don't mind if there are a lot of pictures with little text, as long as the pictures are good and tell a story, but it is always better to tell a little something, let people know you.
Commenting is a really important part of Steemit and definitely "blogging" is not for everyone. Hope you don't mind me saying, but your age and life experiences offer a different view from most and that is valuable.
Does the get rich quick ever work? I don't think so.
I did not remember the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words", but as you say if the image does not tell the whole story a few words to help is appreciated. Thanks for the kind words about my experience. A kind word from a pretty girl is always welcome.
Maybe I'm lacking in ambition but I actually don't want to do that at all. I shoot pretty professional standard images and I'm lucky that I have a few clients that pay generously for my abilities. Its not my career though. I manage an IT department as my main source of income and quite happy sticking to it. There so many creative outlets that I'd love to do but I'm used to a certainly income and it would be quite difficult to match that (at least reliably) if I was to change careers. Obviously money isn't everything, and I hope this doesn't sound like I'm overly money focused. Quite the opposite in fact, its not something I ever really have to think about or worry about in the last few years. I get to enjoy a really nice standard of living with some nice creature comforts. That also allows me to enjoy the creative interests I have at my own pace. If I get offered a photography job that I want to shoot and think I'll enjoy then I'll accept it. If I get offered something that I won't enjoy or working with people I don't want to work with, I simply turn it down. I know too many photographers who've "gone pro" and ended up hating photography. Something they used to do out of passion became something they were dependent on to pay bills and put food on the table. Some of them do very well from it but I've also seen this kill off any personal interest they have in it. Even travel.... it sounds like such a dream to travel the world and get paid to record your adventures for others. I've no doubt for some it works out exactly as they hoped. I also know a photographer who worked for an airline for two years travelling the world and shooting for their in flight publication. He makes no pretense that this was a very unhappy and lonely period for him. Of course he had to portray it as a constant fun adventure but he said the reality was very different. I guess everyones experience is going to vary as there's so many circumstances to factor in. I think I'm happy with my lot though. Steemit and all my creative interests have brought a lot of pleasure and benefits to my life, and I'm quite happy to continue enjoying them as a "bonus" instead of something I have any dependency on. That's my take on it anyway.
Well, not everyone does, but it is the current "trend". I always thought you are a professional photographer, I've missed the IT part altogether! People who say that money doesn't matter, are either rich AF or liars. So yeah if you are used to a certain income, it is really hard to cut pack from that. I was "lucky" to have a full time job that paid minimum income so I quite easily make more than that now :D
I've always been interested in blogging, but hated to see people advertising the most random shit in order to blog for a living. That was not the route I ever wanted to take. Though I still think Finnair should definitely sponsor me and fly me to half across the world when ever I want to 😂
Thank you for sharing more about yourself 🤗
My dream too.
I plan to run away when I turn 40, I'm done working 10 hours a day, going home, sleep and then back to work, that isn't living, it's dying slowly.
I'm a children photographer in my free time, so my travelling project is to photograph children around the world, show how similar and different childhood can be. I have no idea if I'm going to succeed financially but since it's something I truly love I don't really mind.
I'm saving money, I have 3 years before I leave, I'm not counting too much with Steemit, I've been here only a week and it's not an easy road. I'm always evaluating my photos and trying to improve. Freeadom to me is being able to feel that you're living your life, it doesn't matter what you do or where you work, freedom is living the present and I'm not doing that I'm always living in the future, waiting for my paycheck so I can pay my debts and then wait again. That's a sad life.
That is an interesting plan, I do hope you succeed in it and are not left in the hamster wheel you currently are in. I totally know the feeling, waiting for that paycheck at the end of the month and using most of it to pay bills, it's not a good feeling. Instead, I kinda have the payday every day, though when the price is like this, I don't actually take it out and I won't know when I will. Scary and exciting :D
I feel like this is directed at me ;) We get to really travel once a year maybe and it's looking like we might not get to this spring.... I like what i do and am trying every day to improve!
Don't flatter yourself ;) This was inspired by a lot of people and reading I have done in the past few days, as well as the thoughts I had when I was thinking of quitting my day job as a chef.
I have no preconceived notions about my abilities. I enjoy Steemit as a full time hobby because I'm a fucked up Veteran on disability trying to find my niche.
I refuse to do anything anymore that I don't want to do, as long as I have the ability to have the choice, which I do. I enjoy playing guitar and singing. Most people say I'm good at it, good enough to make money at it? Probably not.
I enjoy taking photo's and feel as though I am better than your average picture taker , no way I can call myself a photographer.., good enough to make money at it? Probably not, but some people enjoy viewing my photos. (Hey I just took some today, and posted. Would you care to critique me?)
I enjoy writing, but am I good enough to market it and make money off of it? Probably not, and quite honestly, I don't give a flying fuck. Excuse my crudeness of vocabulary, because it irritates me that people complain that they can't make money off their hobbies. If you are not good enough to make money at it, and have dedicated copious amounts of time to getting better at it, but still fall into the hobbyist category, then you must accept that and quit the bitching. So all in all, I certainly agree with you @eveuncovered.
People cry and complain too much. It's a dog eat dog world. Accept it for what it is, and try to find a place at the dinner table, one way or another.
It's great that you have the possibility to choose not to anything you don't want to, it feels pretty great doesn't it? :)
I don't mind the crudeness at all, I curse like a sailor most of the time :D And we need more people here that are willing to speak their mind and not tiptoe around every subject that actually matters.
If you can't find your place at the dinner table, make your own! ;)
These questions are very good to think about.
What makes me different from all the other photographers, who are A LOT better than I am, is the question that almost made me “throw” my camera to the closet and leave it to collect dust. What kept me into photography was the thought that my life and views are different from everyone else. It’s part of my story where I can see my progress where I was when I started to where I am now, trying to understand and get feedbacks: “Is the photo good?”, “What I should change?” and etc. I don’t travel around the world, I’m not professional, but I am still young, I keep learning and maybe one day I can travel around.
Mostly I do this for myself. It’s just one of my hobbies and feels freedom for me, because I can have time for myself, I don’t have to rush on my days off from work. I like to share my works with everyone, including with my friends and family, who always think I’m very good at it, but strangers, who know most about it, give honest opinions. Those opinions give me more hope that I can become better and I put more effort into every next photo I’ll take and post. I'm not gonna give up on photography any time soon like I did with guitar play.
You'll have to learn how to walk first before you can run, that is something I always hate, I'd like to be great in everything I do, instantly!
From the looks of it, you are young, so no hurry. But you should definitely do an introduction post here, people are always curious about the person behind the photographs :)
Nothing is guaranteed and especially employment or means of making money. You can't count on anything so you always have to have a back up plan. My goal is to do as I always do work hard and take care of my family. I would love to travel but my end goal right now is to move to where my son can get the best schooling to give him the best life possible. I will work 10 jobs for that.
Never keep all eggs in one basket, and all that. I can always move to my parents basement if things get really bad :D
Is it going to be a long move? By the way, how many of your kids still live at home?
Lol....let's hope it doesn't come to that :)
We are still waiting on a formal diagnosis and then we will start looking for the best schools. Then figure out which one is the way we want to live. We want open spaces and room enough to garden and have animals. I would love to live internationally and we are going to look but its all research at this point. We get the diagnosis in April.
Currently there are 7 living at home, however 1 is only on school breaks. She is in college full-time and lives there but holidays and summer she comes home. 3 are in high school and 3 are little :)
oh wow.. I guess I need to ask these questions myself today!
Hey, I had never seen you before but from the looks of it, you seem to have a pretty great travel blog going on, have to dig through it more :)
Hey Eve, it's been a while ;) Kudos to you for quitting your job! I'd love to do that one day; maybe when the price of Steem takes of, if at all. Coming up with photo ideas on a daily basis, doing the actual photo shoot, writing a decent post, replying to my comments, and commenting other people's posts is mission impossible for me. I am not sure if I could do that every single day even if I didn't have a full-time job. So, for the time being, I will keep posting every once in a while. Take care!
Hi Dan! How ya doing these day? :)
One of the questions I asked myself when quitting was that will I be okay if/when Steem price drops (it was around 6 dollars at that time), and I made the calculation that yes, I will survive, and so far so good.
Of course this isn't a job for everyone, but it is a ever raising trend to be a blogger. And for me, this definitely takes more time than the old full-time job, this is much more full time all the time than that, but I enjoy it very much :)
Nice post ! I resteemed this post. I can hardly imagine the life without steemit now. I like steemit.
I think there will be a lot of people who see the whole 'making a living off travelling' thing as a far more romantic thing than it really is. The truth is there is just so much work that has to go in to it and it's something that people often want to do to avoid 'work'. I think there has to be a real passion for travel first and foremost, plus clever thinking, networking, working hard on social media. For me the idea of making a living from traveling tires me out just thinking of it!
I'm sure we've all noticed how many different approaches people take to Steemit, I see people who only comment on their own posts - if that - who's numbers are usually pretty low, and people who clearly put in the hours each and every day and are making it work! Obviously a big part of all of this is just what happens to the whole Steem platform and prices of Steem/SBD!
It's definitely going to be a lot of learning and planning if one want's to travel and blog for a living. I noticed that I have problems with how to use my time and when to do everything. I want to go out and explore, take photos of it all, and then I also need the time to work on the photos, posts and publish them. Another thing I noticed is that it definitely depends on the company too, if you are alone, you can time everything just how you want, but if you are travelling in company, you have to include the other person to your plans too.
Can't wait to go to my next trip with a Steemian, who will understand that we will now go out and find the perfect spot to photograph the sunset and then we go back to the hotel to post and then maybe for some drinks :D
Absolutely, fitting in time to keep up with followers, replies, posts etc is a full time job! I think many people pursuing the dream don't really get that!
I know what you mean, it's always a bit awkward because you feel like you're holding someone else up, solo exploration is definitely much easier!
This job actually takes a lot more time than regular job, but it is perfect for me because I like to create stuff and live the online life :D
There is benefits to travelling with someone, you don't have to figure everything out by yourself, and being a tiny white female makes me a great target for all sorts off assaults if I'm roaming in a new city, just me and my camera. That is something I have to take into account.
Absolutely, working for yourself usually involves countless extra hours that people don't realise!
Yeah, definitely good to have company as much for safety as anything else. I think everyone has to be wary of that, especially when you're carrying a gear worth a lot of money! I guess the best thing is to head out with a Steemian like you said originally!
She is also a mean looking bitch so that helps a lot 😝 @escapist
You summoned me?
You are outstanding! That post I have just read gave me the thrill I really need right now. Glad to discover your blog thanks to @anomadsoul's contest. Staying here for longer without doubts!