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Home » Essays and Inspiration » Life is More Interesting with BAGS
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Life is More Interesting with BAGS

Thomas Stirr14 Comments

There’s something about photography that can cause it to become deeply intertwined with our lives. Of course some folks are professional photographers and their image-creating skills, as well as their ability to market those skills, are fundamental contributors to their economic well-being. For many other people who’s livelihood does not depend on earning a living from their images, photography is still an integral part of their lives. The simple fact is that life is far more interesting with BAGS, and photography often plays a key role with them.

What are BAGS? Big, audacious goals. These are the insights, experiences and accomplishments that we pursue in life that give our lives context, meaning, and dare I say – purpose.

bags 1
NIKON 1 V2 + 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 12.2mm, ISO 160, 1/640, f/5.6

For many of us our Big Audacious Goals are directly linked to photography. We yearn to journey to a far off land and participate in a photographic adventure. Perhaps it is a photo safari in Africa. A visit to the Galapagos Islands. Hiking in the Andes Mountains to view Machu Picchu. Or capturing architectural wonders in Europe, Egypt or Angkor Wat.

bags 2
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1400, 1/2500, f/5.6

Others have photographic passions that lead them into natural settings to experience and document birds, flowers and other living things.

bags 3
NIKON 1 V2 + 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 17.5mm, ISO 160, 1/160, f/5.6

Being totally immersed in human-kind in large urban environments and capturing those experiences with street photography is the life-blood of many.

bags 4
NIKON 1 V2 + 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM @ 10mm, ISO 160, 1/500, f/5.6

Not all of our BAGS are photography related, but our images do serve as keepsakes of them. I think the ‘selfie’ phenomenon that rages around us has some foundation in our need to document our experiences through the magic of photography.

bags 5
NIKON 1 V2 + 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 27.2mm, ISO 160, 1/1600, f/5.6

I have fond memories of conducting personal effectiveness seminars and encouraging participants to create BAGS for themselves. Reminding them that it doesn’t take any more time or effort to create a Big Audacious Goal than it does to write down a small, timid one. The goals we choose, create the life we live. If any of us need proof of that, one only has to investigate the adventures of John Goddard and his ‘life list’. Something he created as an inspired 15-year-old boy with 127 items on it.

DSC_6106_DxOsmall
NIKON 1 V3 + 1 NIKKOR VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/1600, f/5.6

None of us need worry about comparing our goals to those of John Goddard, or anyone else for that matter. Our goals are only relevant to us, and their level of personal audacity is defined by where each of us find ourselves today.

bags 7
NIKON 1 J5 + 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm, ISO 400, 1/40, f/8.0

Life is not about wasting precious time with competition and meaningless comparisons to others. Self-discovery is the path of personal growth. Comparisons to others only serves to undermine our ability to reach our personal potential.

bags 8
NIKON 1 J5 + 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7mm, ISO 1600, 1/20, f/8.0

Everything in life comes with a price. And, every goal comes with a simple, personal question, “Am I prepared to pay the price to achieve my goal?” That price may be investing hours of your time to learn and experiment with a certain genre of photography. It may be making fundamental shifts in our personal spending habits so we can save enough money for that photo safari to Africa. Or embarking on a rigorous program to improve our physical fitness so we can make the trek to Machu Picchu.

bags 9
NIKON 1 J5 + 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 84.5mm, ISO 160, 1/800, f/5.6

Nature teaches us that once the process of growth stops, the process of death and decay begins. If our BAGS are ever evolving – each of us will keep growing. We need not concern ourselves in the slightest with the results that we generate. The value is in the doing. In the effort, and in the act of creation. Whether anyone else likes an image we create, or whether anyone is willing to purchase a copy of that image from us, are moot points. Opinions and results are external to us. These transient, external things do not aid in our self-discovery and personal growth.

bags 10
NIKON 1 V2 + 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7mm, ISO 400, 1/25, f/8.0

As we achieve our goals, it is important to take some time to celebrate each one. Then, we need to let each of them go like a leaf falling from an autumn tree, and pay them no more heed. Holding on to them enslaves us to the past. It is time to move on – to keep growing.

Technical Note:
All photographs were captured hand-held using Nikon 1 gear as per the EXIF data. All images were produced from RAW files using my standard process of DxO OpticsPro/PhotoLab, CS6 and the Nik Collection.

Article is Copyright 2018 Thomas Stirr. Images are Copyright 2014-2018 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, duplication or reproduction of any kind is allowed without written permission. Photography Life is the only approved user of this article. If you see it reproduced anywhere else it is an illegal and unauthorized use.

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Filed Under: Essays and Inspiration Tagged With: Photography Tips

About Thomas Stirr

Thomas Stirr is an author, photographer/videographer, and executive coach based in Grimsby Ontario Canada. He specializes in industrial photography, as well as safety/training/corporate videos. His work also includes landscape and nature photography, and experimentation with photo art. Nikon Canada has featured Tom's work numerous times on Facebook and Twitter. To follow Thomas, please visit his photography blog and check out his eBooks.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Oggie Ramos
    February 23, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Hi Tom,

    I read Spencer’s earlier post on “What makes a good photograph” before heading here,
    finding it interesting that you raised what seems a good counterpoint to a third point
    he raised – of making photographs that harmonize with the audience’s vision.
    You wrote “If our BAGS are ever evolving – each of us will keep growing.
    We need not concern ourselves in the slightest with the results that we generate.
    The value is in the doing. In the effort, and in the act of creation. Whether anyone else
    likes an image we create, or whether anyone is willing to purchase a copy of that image from us,
    are moot points. Opinions and results are external to us. These transient, external things
    do not aid in our self-discovery and personal growth.”

    Spencer is making another point entirely, of course, but I somehow make a connection,
    a link, between what he and you wrote separately. A journey of self-discovery and
    a journey to making a good photograph — are they mutually exclusive to each other
    or can we find a common ground or point of intersection for both? Certainly makes
    for interesting thinking and pondering, don’t you think?

    Oggie

    Reply
    • Thomas Stirr
      February 23, 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Hi Oggie,

      When it comes to client paid assignments I take great pains to “harmonize with the audience’s vision” to ensure that I produce the best possible work for my clients. My comments in the article were concerning images that I create outside of client-paid work.

      Tom

      Reply
      • Oggie Ramos
        February 24, 2018 at 6:52 am

        Hi Tom,

        I know your perspective Tom, and my query is concerning personal fulfillment. It goes without saying paid assignments have a well-defined market/audience along with their expectations, et al.

        Oggie

        Reply
        • Thomas Stirr
          February 24, 2018 at 7:46 am

          Hi Oggie,

          I think personal fulfillment is something that is different for everyone and is based on their experiences, where they find themselves in life, and their self-definition. Each of us goes through stages in life where certain aspects are more important to us than others. For example, achieving some initial material and career successes, then looking for more important things in life as we grow older.

          I suppose part of your question goes back to the process of creating photographs and whether I consciously consider whether people will like what I create, and if worrying about what others may think of what I create impacts my creative process. I guess the short answer to that is no.

          The joy for me is in the creation. I do whatever my spirit directs me to do. Whether other people like it or buy it really doesn’t enter into the creative process.

          As you know I’ve been writing a number of eBooks for the past while, with four now finished and published, and a fifth one soon to be completed. As I’ve finished each of them I have briefly celebrated their completion, released them to the Universe so they can do whatever they will do, then moved on to my next goal.

          Tom

          Reply
  2. William Thomson
    February 24, 2018 at 8:22 am

    My mantra for many decades has been “take reasonable risks”. I’ve often been pleasantly surprised and gratified at the outcomes of “risk” scenarios; the ratio of positive to negative is more than 9 to 1.

    A corollary has to do with decision making: If you have 100 units of “decision-making energy”, put 5 into making the decision and 95 into making the decision work, and you will rarely make a bad decision.

    And while we’re at it, how do we handle “obsessive worry”? I believe that at birth, we are allotted 5 units of “obsessive worry”. Once they are used up, no more are available. So in any potential “obsessive worry” situation, you must ask yourself whether or not it would be worthy of one of your allotted five units.

    Reply
    • Thomas Stirr
      February 24, 2018 at 8:31 am

      Thanks for adding to the discussion William – units of ‘obsessive worry’ and units ‘decision-making energy’ strike me as very useful concepts!
      Tom

      Reply
  3. Sai
    February 25, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    Hi Tom,
    You might as well add “philosopher” to your self introduction at the bottom of the blog.
    Your blog made absolute sense to me even without the pictures loaded.

    Thanks for this article.

    Reply
    • Thomas Stirr
      February 25, 2018 at 4:10 pm

      You’re welcome Sai!
      Tom

      Reply
  4. thephotodude1
    March 7, 2018 at 10:57 am

    My BAGS are mostly related to my graduate work but photography has always been an important part of my life. It helps me be more aware of my surroundings and form memories of the present moment through the fast pace of my life. Nice read!

    Reply
  5. Thomas Stirr
    March 7, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Thanks for adding to the discussion!
    Tom

    Reply
  6. Dana
    March 7, 2018 at 9:30 pm

    Tomas I wish to do say to you before I speak another word,,,,,,,,,,,,, Thank You. After reading your story on life lessons in relationship with photography, I quickly bookmarked this page. I had to bookmark your message of hope in the lonely world that make us human. I need to rewind your beautiful message when my shadows become to dark to see. For to many years I have stumbled around the never ending circle of confusion that clouded my mind and tainted my soul. So if you please, I will be going back to the one place that I will see the light though the thick density of the darkest Forrest. We as a society have dreamed since the beginning of time, from the time our brain developed into thoughts of BAGS. Unfortunately , most of us fall into the same deep hole that suck our beautiful minds into the afterworld that we cannot reach. This is where the story ends for most of us, no we are not dead but rather we are a walking testament of our former selves. We become old when we are not, we get hard and stale as we pretend to be ok. But we need not have you to tell me so, for I can see myself in the mirror. What have I become. Thomas your words can do no harm to the hurt. Thank you for giving back the inspiration that not only myself, but all who has a dream.

    Reply
    • Thomas Stirr
      March 8, 2018 at 12:38 am

      Hi Dana,
      Thank you for sharing your perspectives and experiences. May we all dare to dream big dreams.
      Tom

      Reply
  7. Jack Leonard
    April 18, 2018 at 7:59 am

    Hello Tom, I’m glad I found your Blog. I have owned a Nikon 1 J3 for a few years now and was thinking of going to Sony but I have 3 lenses for the Nikon and of course the Sony a5100 would cost $600 to $700 and with one lense only. So after reading your Nikon 1 page I decided to buy a J5 body and found one on Ebay new at a cost of about $370 shipping included. I’ll be using your blog to learn how to get the most out of the J5.
    Thanks
    Jack Leonard

    Reply
    • Thomas Stirr
      April 18, 2018 at 8:03 am

      Hi Jack,

      Since you already have experience with a Nikon 1 J3 you should enjoy the J5. The 20.8MP BSI sensor is noticeably better in terms of dynamic range and colour depth, and the J5 is better ergonomically as well. I still try to write one or two articles a month here at Photography Life as my schedule allows.

      Tom

      Reply

Comment Policy: Although our team at Photography Life encourages all readers to actively participate in discussions, we reserve the right to delete / modify any content that does not comply with our Code of Conduct, or do not meet the high editorial standards of the published material.

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