I’m a big Sharks hockey fan. I’ve haven’t watched every game this season, but definitely try to and if I do happen to miss a game, I’m religiously checking scores online. Being such a big Sharks fan, it pains me to see them play so poorly these last six games, with the playoffs looming ever near. I’m so passionate about Sharks hockey, that it not only pains me, it drives me up the wall when I see them lose so badly, especially against teams that are ranked so low. At times, I want to pull myself away from the TV, but just can’t, believing that they still have a chance and may come back in the third. Lately however, this just hasn’t been the case and the Sharks have clearly derailed.

Derailing is however an unfortunate part of life. The important thing is to figure out what we did wrong and remedy the situation as quickly as possible. In photography and in life, I’ve been derailed more than once. At one point I had to sell all my gear and was left with just a Holga. And just this past year, I’ve had to deal with numerous personal adversities.

The big question is, what can we do to get back on track? One of the most important things is to remember our strengths and work with those first. Secondly, we have to block out the negative thoughts. This is a bit harder to do, but if you focus on your strengths, which are unique to you, it becomes easier. In photography, if I’m having a difficult time getting creative with my shot, I’ll take a break, relax, and then go back to the basics. I try not to focus too much on the technical stuff and just have fun shooting and seeing what’s in front of my lens. There have been a number of times when I was at an event and just couldn’t get comfortable with my point of view, so I’d step way outside of where I’d normally shoot and try again. In photography, it’s important not to get caught up in a routine and become too comfortable. Step outside that comfort zone and more often than not good things will happen. I can admit that I actually need to do this more myself!

Finally, don’t sweat the small stuff and whatever you do, don’t live in your past mistakes. Move on and keep moving. In photography, as in hockey, when the game starts, bring everything you got. Focus, create opportunities, and execute.