No surprise, I’m depressed by the election result and think it portends terrible things for our country. There’s work to be done, art to be made, and a million tiny positive things we can do that will add up to repel darkness and hatred.
“But the thing that got me through that moment, and any other time that I’ve felt stuck, is to remind myself that it’s about the work. … [I]f you can keep it about the work, you’ll always have a path. There’s always something to be done.”
—Barack Obama
Jeff Carlson | Never Enough Coffee Creations 
It IS about the work… only.
While I enjoy your books, and have purchased several of them over the years, the political comments are detracting from your work. Realize that 1/2 of the folks don’t agree with you.
A recent YouTube video by photographer Casey Neistat that said he’s supporting a certain person for President received 355,000 likes and 267,000 dis-likes for his comments.
He later followed up with a video that was very cordial and all-inclusive that supported all people and that he has a tremendous amount of fans from the opposite view.
I am a long time pro-photographer too, but had to unfollow some of my photographer icons for too many upsetting political non-inclusive comments. I came to them for photography. Same for your site and your products. Nothing more.
I know it’s your website, and it’s a free country, but just as a suggestion, it may help your business to not alienate ANY of the possible purchasers. No one’s mind will change by the above comments. I know it’s popular right now to fill the web with political comment,
but some have taken advantage with bigger microphones and bigger commercial audiences, than just a personal page. I just wish that people would do what they do, without involving politics. If you’re a singer, sing. Don’t spend several minutes offending a bunch of your fans who paid to see you. It makes me not what to buy what they are selling, as I’m sure you have felt from the opposite political view. Scott Kelby is a good example of someone that only puts forth what he does and no additional alienating and non-inclusive comment. The election has zero to do with photography or music either.
I came to the site to look at your books, but the first thing I see is a non-inclusive political comment. Many of us often turn to photography to get away from the onslaught of political garbage, and yet it’s there as well. 😦 Just sayin..
Like you quoted above…It’s about the work!
(Please note that I did NOT include a rebuttal to your political view).
Thanks for listening.
Hi Mark,
I appreciate your feedback. I don’t post much political stuff on my blog, but I also think that being honest about who I am with readers is the best way to connect. If that turns people off, it’s unfortunate, and I would hope they’d engage rather than skip on by. But I know some people don’t want to do that. I think that as much as we’d like to (and I would really like to), we can’t compartmentalize politics today the way we used to. It’s affecting everything that we do in more direct ways than in the past. (Scott is a good example, but he’s also pretty upfront about his religious beliefs, which is uncomfortable for some people.)
Ultimately, as you say, it’s the work that counts. If people find my work helpful, my political beliefs shouldn’t matter. And if that’s a consideration for them, they can choose not to buy my products or read my work—I’m fine with that, and wish them well.
Jeff
Everybody’s got the right to their own opinion. If someone wants to talk about their political views, or their feelings about the election, they’re certainly entitled to do so. I also understand why some people choose not to dive into the contentious and very volatile world of politics.
Personally, I don’t mind that Trump got elected. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next. No one can predict the future.