Tag: introverts

NaBloPoMo15: Introverts and photography

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©Mia Salminen

When I thought about what to write in day 4 of NaBloPoMo, I had nada. Nothing. I’ve written daily before but today it struggled a bit. After surfing the net about other things, I found this blog post about photography and introverts. I thought about myself. It’s exactly like that.

Sometimes I wonder, if photography really is my thing when it come to careers. Like I wrote yesterday (btw, thanks for the likes 🙂 ) I’m an introvert and things are not easy. For starter when I photograph, I usually do it when no one is looking. It’s like I’m ashamed. A lot of other people photograph and they don’t try to hide it. What’s even worse is when you have an assignment to ask people if they could be photographed, I just can’t do it. That’s one of the reason I don’t like taking photos of strangers.

When Princess Victoria of Sweden visited the country in 2011. There was a moment when she stopped where me and mum stood. I was too nervous to take photos. But then again she suddenly appeared quite close so I didn’t have time to react. At least I got one decent one.

Princess Victoria of Sweden 2011
Princess Victoria of Sweden 2011

That’s what I lacked, confidence and boldness. I guess you learn from practise. If I only bothered practising that is. You only become better if you do.

But is it really worth trying if you don’t know of you get better. Even if I know the basics, it just doesn’t stick in my head. Chosing the exposure or shutter speed is a nightmare to me. I get frustrated when I don’t get the result I want. Maybe I’m just not made for becoming a pro. Posting your photos on a blog is a different thing than photographing for a living. It seems to be so much work to get yourself out there. Even if other introverts have made it in the world, doesn’t mean everybody does. As a photographer, you have to stand out but how, that’s another matter.

I’m not only an introvert but also shy and lack of ambitions. That’s the difference between me and that article I mentioned. You hear or read, you can become anything you want as long as you work hard. The only time I worked hard was mental work. It’s not that I haven’t had support. My parents were really good at that. But somehow I’ve just been too sensitive. I just haven’t had the courage to do anything special. I know I can do things but I just don’t know how to do it.

I sound like a jumbled mess in person, but get me in front of a keyboard and my thoughts flow in a far more structured manner. – Alethia Rains

Exactly my thoughts. With that, thank you. Over and out.

My look on introvert myths

Mia7 Comments
Source: https://evilnymphstuff.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/in-the-mind-of-an-introvert/

Here’s myths about introverts that I found on the internet. There’s a lot of myths about introverts out there. But being an introvert shouldn’t be seen as a problem. It’s not like we’re from another planet. Some of the answers to the myths I disagree with. There’s a lot more but these are 10 of the best. This is how I see them.

Introverts don’t like to talk
In a way that’s not true. I only talk when I have something to say. I don’t waste my time on talking nonsense. But talking is not my favorite thing. I just don’t like the sound of my voice. If you give me a subject I really like, don’t even imagine, stopping me. Me, quiet, no, I just think before I speak. That way I won’t say something stupid and hurt someone’s feeling. Confrontation is the worse thing I know. Especially around strangers.

Introverts are shy
I can be shy when it comes to people I don’t know. I do wonder if I’m really introverted or just shy. Obviously they are two different things. It depends in what kind of mood I’m in. I’m also a coward so maybe I’m a cowardly, introverted shy person.

Introverts are rude
Anyone can be rude and it has nothing to do with being an introvert. I try to be nice to people, if they’re nice to me. If they’re not, they can see another thing coming.

Introverts don’t like people
Sometimes that’s true. I do like people but most of the time they’re annoying. I would rather talk to a pet (if I wasn’t afraid of them that is) or to a plant than to people. I just hate repeating myself. Maybe people have wax in their ears or I talk too fast so they don’t hear what I’m saying.

Introverts don’t like to go out in public
How am I suppose to buy food if I don’t go out in public? I’m not afraid of the outdoors. You have to go out sometime to get some fresh air. Seeing other people is good for the mental health as well. You don’t have to interact with them if you don’t want to.

Introverts always want to be alone
Maybe that’s the reason the reason I don’t have any friends. People think that I always want to be alone. I do but sometimes I wish there would be someone to talk to. Even one. I don’t need a lot of friends to keep me happy.

Introverts are weird
Weird are the people who think introverts are weird. Even extroverts can be weird. Being weird makes other people look too ordinary. What a boring place the world would be if no one was weird.

Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun
How can you relax when extroverts are trying to change your personality. And partying and drinking is not the only way to have fun. People just seem to have no imagination when it comes to ways to have fun.

Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts
Or the other way around. Introversion is not a decease, it’s a personality. Some might become more extrovert when they get older but still be introverts. I’ve tried to be extrovert but it just feels unnatural. It’s just not me. I don’t think extroverts are really honest with themselves. There lives an introvert in all of us. If everyone were extroverts there would be no solitude or silence anywhere.

Introvert prefer books to partying
Me, reading a book? Don’t make me laugh 😀 I’ve tried to read Lord of the rings twice but I failed miserably. I rather stay home and watch TV than read a book. Beside I’ve never even been invited to a party. If I did I would say no because the reason people party is the get drunk. At least in Finland. Besides I don’t like alcohol and drunk people. Once a homebody, always a homebody.

In the end we’re all the same. It doesn’t matter what star sign you are or what country you live in. Everybody should be proud of who they are. Why should we label people in the first place? It’s much easier to accept differences than trying to change a person.
I’m proud to be introverted because I know when to shut up 😉