Once you get involved in photography, it is all too easy to believe that you will never be a real success. Everywhere you look you will find amazing images taken from all parts of the world.

The internet is awash with success stories of intrepid journeys and amazing images. Every glossy magazine you pick up will be adorned with the best photographs from all parts of the world.

Even photography instruction magazines - designed to encourage and support - will carry pin sharp, intensely colorful and perfectly composed images that will be hard for any of us to emulate.

It is easy to become disillusioned.

Despondency can eat away at your endeavours and stifle your progress. The very activities that we love so much - sharing and producing images - can be the single source of frustration and even despair.

It can sometimes be hard, but it would be wise to use other people's efforts for educational purposes only. Concentrate more on your own efforts and development rather than focus on images which might represent a huge leap in skill and experience.

Recognise your own limitations and the learning you, yourself, have to do. Create small targets which are easy to achieve and reflect on your own progress.

Above all: respect and enjoy your own images.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

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