Excellence

This being my first blog, I would want to post something that I have kept in my mind since I first heard it.

I was watching the final of the popular Taiwanese singing competition One Million Star Season 2 (超級星光大道第二屆). One of the judges, Wang Wei Zhong (王偉忠) made a remark which I find very useful to my photography.

He says that to excel, a singer has to hone his/her Techniques (技术). The mastery of the techniques will become Art (艺术), from art it will evolve into Magic (魔术), and from magic it will elevate to Witchcraft (巫术).

I agree with what he has mentioned in the pursuit of excellence for one’s craft. However, I don’t like the ring to the word witchcraft.

Collins Cobuild defines witchcraft as the skill of using magic powers, especially evil ones. Merriam Webster online dictionary goes further and describes it as an irresistible influence or fascination. For lack of a better word and I have to use the word Witchcraft, I would favour the description of Merriam Webster online dictionary. It carries a positive connotations of appeal.

Being a photographer, I hope that the images I produced has that ‘irresistible influence and fascination’ over the viewer.