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What is a Mentor?

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 06:37:36 GMT

A mentor acts as an advisor to a less experienced individual, known as their mentee.

Typically, individuals seek mentors who work in their same or desired field. The mentor helps this individual grow and develop as a professional, often offering advice based on their more advanced knowledge or experience.

Mentorship for me is a relationship built through networking, personal connections or formal mentorship programs. A mentor can help focus their efforts by setting goals and giving feedback.

Most successful photographers have many people who help them and whom they help.

A successful mentor will likely have the experience and confidence you may need to help you to accomplish your ambitions. Mentors help expand your vision, help you see new possibilities for action, help increase your knowledge and skills in photography.

Mentors can also share the mistakes they made along their journeys. The mentee benefits because they learn lessons about the mistakes' negative impacts but do not have to suffer the consequences themselves. Learning about these experiences can also help prepare the mentee for the challenges they can expect to face and provide demonstrable advice on how to overcome them.

Mentors serve as a source of knowledge.

Mentors can provide specific insights and information that enable the mentee's success. For example, they offer instructions on how to perform particular tasks or develop valuable skills. Individuals starting their careers in photography can benefit from such guidance, as it helps them gain experience under supervision.

Mentors can offer constructive feedback.

A trusting mentorship relationship enables honest feedback; by establishing trust, the mentee understands that constructive criticism aims to build professional growth rather than make them feel bad. Mentors can identify weaknesses and advise them on ways to improve.

Mentors offer encouragement.

When the mentee finds themselves struggling to perform their better images or reach a goal, they can turn to their mentor for support. This encouragement can motivate them to keep moving forward despite

challenges. A mentor can also identify and express their mentee's strengths to instil confidence which I find most photographers struggling at first. Having a solid sense of confidence can make the mentee less likely to give up on their goals.

What is your attitude as a mentee?

Do you recognise (give credit) to your mentor who helped you become the photographer you are today? or do you choose to take the credit yourself?

Why Mentors Mentor

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 06:28:32 GMT

In this article, I want to discuss why I think mentorship is essential, why mentors mentor, what mentors gain and what they expect from their mentees.

For me, mentorship can provide numerous benefits for mentors and their mentees. Developing this relationship can help both to learn new things, build networks and grow as professionals.

Good mentors usually do not seek payment. They offer to serve this role because they genuinely believe that the mentee wants to become a successful photographer. The lack of payment also opens up mentorship for all types, rather than restricting this resource to only those who can afford it. In other words, mentors are a free resource.

For mentors, the achievements of the mentees who follow them are equally essential to bring in business. Mentors expect mentees to acknowledge their effort and their role in making a success in their own career as a photographer. Proper attitudes would include recognition of the value of mentoring, and gratitude for mentoring. Far too often, I have seen mentees take their mentor for granted in the photography industry.

The Brave Wildebeest

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:27:49 GMT

To protect our Rhinos, I will refrain from disclosing the location.

I have enjoyed capturing many memorable moments in nature; however, only a few stand out; I would like to share some of them with you in this series. This image is one of them.

This happened way back in 2014, whilst waiting for action at a waterhole. I planned to spend

the entire day next to a mud-pool of water as it was significantly hot outside in the middle of summer.

Most animals covered themselves in mud and spent the day lying in the muddy water to cool themselves down. I, however, had to make do with a portable fan inside my car. Towards my right, a herd of Wildebeest minded their own business, trying to cool themselves down. Nothing interesting happened, and I nearly fell asleep when a herd (crash) of Rhinos arrived to enjoy the comfort of cooling down in the pool of mud.

There were three calves amongst them. The adults who made themselves comfortable in the mud took no notice of the somewhat playful youngsters. The youngsters were kicking up dust and chasing everything that was moving, birds included. One of the Wildebeest got up

and looked irritable. He did not enjoy this kind of behavior of the rhino calves. After a view warning sign for the calves to stop, he suddenly charged one of the older Rhino calves in full force attached the Rhino Calf.

The adult mother, Rhino, noticed this and had to put a stop to it. I thought the Wildebeest would back off once the powerful mother got involved, but to my surprise, the Wildebeest carried on fighting, now with the adult Rhino. He didn't stop attacking her and gave it everything he had! This fight between the Rhino and the Wildebeest lasted for quite a while.

Eventually, the mother Rhino pushed the Wildebeest into the bushes; he finally gave up and casually walked back to his herd.

What a sighting! Unfortunately, the light was already harsh; however, I managed to capture this exciting moment of the bravest Wildebeest I have ever come across on camera, and I am delighted to share.