There are all kinds of things we can talk about when it comes to photography. Multitudes of techniques, basic to advanced camera controls, compositional rules, lighting, gear and even the artistic eye. There is post processing, software, file storage and all of the other technical details. You can boil it down further and talk about papers and inks. There are many different elements and all of them work together to create works of art in much the same way that a jigsaw puzzle’s pieces work together to form a whole. Without one element, one piece, the whole picture loses something.

But there is one part of photography that is very rarely talked about even though this piece of the puzzle is the key to everything. That element is determination. Gear, techniques, knowledge – these aren’t the things that get you out and learning, thinking and creating. In fact, you could have the gear of your dreams along with an entire library of knowledge at your fingertips but without determination, it would all be for nothing. Determination is the driving force behind everything that we do. Let me show you how determination is key to a long and successful photographic career...

“With the daguerreotype,” Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “everyone will be able to have their portrait taken – formerly it was only the prominent – and at the same time everything is being done to make us all look exactly the same, so we shall only need one portrait.” Kierkegaard said this of photography in the early 19th century, and in some respects, he was right. In other respects, he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Kierkegaard was right in that everyone can now have his or her portrait taken. However, photography has changed the world in a fundamental way. Instead of underscoring the sameness of life around the world, photography has highlighted the rich diversity.

It wasn't always a tool for exploring diversity, however. In the beginning...