Over the years, I have entered many art competitions, including calls for public art projects. It’s a risky business. Each time, I put the expressions of my creativity “out there” for judgement. Rejections are common. Even acceptances come with some anxiety - I can’t help but compare my art to the other pieces in the show. How does it stack up against the other art? Could it win a prize from the juror?

Rejections greatly outweigh successes. But the decades of creating art - photography, handmade paper, fused glass - have taught me that you must love your art enough for everybody, because you have no guarantee that anyone else will like it or be drawn to it, or get it. And photography has the additional hurdle that many in the art world do not consider it “art” - instead photography sometimes is thought of as a technical craft. I disagree vigorously, but realize that the perception exists.

Today’s photograph shows Baby Yoda and a glass heart sitting on a sign at a park I walk by often. Baby Yoda has an arm extended - exerting the Force. What does this photograph have to do with art and competitions? I think of my photography as my version of The Force that I put out into the world. It may find a receptive audience, or just pass through the universe ignored. Although I prefer the former, I am OK with the latter. Neither will stop me from continuing to load film into a pinhole camera and go out in search of unique images that represent my vision.

As Yoda says, “Do or do not. There is no try.“