 Feedback: The Courage to Grow
Recently, our art chat group spent nearly forty-five minutes discussing one word: feedback. It became one of those conversations that seemed to strike a nerve. Artists who normally say little opened up and shared their thoughts and feelings. The discussion reminded me that feedback is not merely about criticism—it is about growth. Dr. Sonke Ahrens writes in How to Take Smarter Notes: “Nothing motivates us more than the experience of becoming better at what we do. And the only chance to improve in something is getting timely and concrete feedback.” As artists, we often put pieces of ourselves into our work. A photograph, painting, poem, or sculpture is rarely just an object. It carries our time, our effort, our experiences, and sometimes even our vulnerabilities. Because of that, feedback can feel personal. Yet, feedback is one of the greatest gifts an artist can receive. Psychologist Carol Dweck refers to this willingness to learn as having a growth mindset. People with a growth mindset understand that abilities are not fixed. Skills can be developed, creativity can expand, and artistic vision can mature. They actively seek feedback because they see it as information, not judgment. The opposite is what Dweck calls a fixed mindset. In this mindset, feedback can feel threatening. Critiques are avoided because they may challenge our self-image or reveal weaknesses we would rather not see. It may feel safer in the short term, but it often limits our progress. I have found that some of my most meaningful improvements as a photographer came from moments when someone pointed out something I had overlooked. Sometimes it was a technical issue. Other times it was an observation that made me see my work in an entirely new way. At the time, I may not have fully appreciated the comments, but looking back, those moments often became stepping stones. Perhaps the lesson is this: Feedback is not a verdict. It is a conversation. It does not diminish our work; it invites us to see it from another perspective. Every comment does not need to be accepted, but every comment deserves consideration. Even feedback we ultimately reject can sharpen our understanding of our own intentions. As artists, we should seek opportunities to hear honest responses to our work and be willing to offer thoughtful feedback to others. In doing so, we create something larger than individual improvement—we build a community where learning and growth become shared experiences. The artist who continues to grow is not necessarily the most talented person in the room. More often, it is the person who remains curious enough and humble enough to ask: “What can we learn from this?” Feel free to chime in !
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 Three Old Men and Their Cameras
Arts & Heritage Center, North Augusta, SC April 6–30 One of the things I’ve tried to do in this exhibit is not just photograph places, but moments—those brief instances where something shifts, and if you’re paying attention, you catch it. As “Mr. Landscape,” most of my work leans toward the quiet side of black & white, but every so often, a scene demands a different kind of attention. I’ll be sharing more from the show throughout the month. All works are available for purchase. IGNITION This is a moment you don’t ease into—you feel it. The sudden burst of flame cuts through the stillness, turning a controlled process into something that feels almost primal. There’s a tension between precision and power here—human hands guiding something that could easily take on a life of its own. The surrounding lines and structure frame the scene, but it’s the fire that commands everything. For an instant, it becomes the center of gravity, pulling the eye and the moment toward it. In black & white, the contrast intensifies that experience. The flame becomes pure light—uncontained, unsoftened—set against the darker tones that try to hold it in place. “Ignition” is about that split second where intention meets action… and everything changes. NORTH AUGUSTA ARTIST GUILD 2025 NAAG "FALL INTO ART" ANNUAL SHOW & SALE FROM NOV 10 - DEC 18TH 2025 @ ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER IN NORTH AUGUSTA, SC I’m honored to have three of my photographs included in this show, and the piece below received 1st Place in Photography. With this award — and after a long career of exhibiting and earning 96 ribbons along the way — I’ve decided to step back from most future exhibitions. I’ve been extremely blessed throughout this journey, and I feel it’s time to make room for the next generation of up-and-coming photographers.   This image, taken around 6 or 7 years ago, captures a serene and almost magical moment in time—a quiet grove of pecan trees bathing in golden light, their canopy casting dappled shadows over an old wooden cabin. It’s one of those scenes that you might miss if you simply drive by. But with a photographer’s eye, you see more than just trees and an old building—you see composition, color, emotion, and story.
Today, this very spot looks nothing like it once did. The cabin has collapsed, the grass and weeds have overtaken the landscape, and the once-stately pecan trees are now scarred with broken limbs. The beauty of that moment is gone—except in this photograph. That’s the power of photography. It preserves a place not just as it was, but as it felt. Moments like this remind us why it’s so important to take the shot when your gut tells you to. Photography isn’t just about documenting—it’s about elevating the everyday. And when people see this image hanging in a gallery and ask, “Where was this taken?”—and you answer, “Right here in your hometown”—they realize what they’ve been overlooking. That’s what photographers do: we help people see. --DS A 18 x 24 framed matted print of this is now available at Aiken Center For the Arts, This is a little different take from my normal type of shooting, but it's good to step out once in a while. Title for this one is "AN ILLUSION OF REALITY " A percentage of the sale goes to the Aiken Center to help support them, their are a real treasure for Aiken.  #BODIELIGHTHOUSE,#BOOKCOVER,#IMPRESSIONSTIC, #ANILLUSIONOFREALITY#MINDSEYEPHOTOGRAPHY, #DSOWENS, #MINDSEYE,#FINEARTPHOTOGRAPHY, #BLACKANDWHITEPHOTOGRAPHY, #BOOKCOVER,#DSOWENSCOM,#HOTELART, #ARTDECO, #BNW, #FINEEYEPHOTOGRAPHY,#OUTBANKS,#EDISTO,#LANDSCAPES, #FORREST, #TREES, #PATHWAYS, #INTERIORDESIGN, #INTERIORDECO,#MINDSEYEPHOTOGRAPHY, #DSOWENS, #MINDSEYE,#FINEARTPHOTOGRAPHY, #BLACKANDWHITEPHOTOGRAPHY, #BOOKCOVER,#DSOWENSCOM,#HOTELART, #ARTDECO, #BNW, #FINEEYEPHOTOGRAPHY,#OUTBANKS,#EDISTO,#LANDSCAPES, #FORREST, #TREES, #PATHWAYS, #INTERIORDESIGN, #INTERIORDECO,
Found this flower blooming on the Edisto River at Aiken State Park, in May of this year, and thought how unusual it looked, something like a bottle brush, but different, so took some pics, and found out it's a "Itea virginica" commonly known as "Virginia Willow", or "Virginia Sweetspire". Photo # (state park-62)  #edistoriver,#aikenstatepark,#virginiawillow,#flowers, #blackandwhitephotography, #mindseyephotography,
IT'S MAYBE EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN MY HUMBLE OPINION (#LOTUS B&W 61) #FINEARTPHOTOGRAPHY,#MINDSEYEPHOTOGRAPHY,#BNW,#BLACKANDWHITEPHOTOGRAPHY,#DSOWENS, #LOTUSFLOWER,#INDIANLOTUS,#SACREDLOTUS,#NELUMBONUCIFERA,#FINEEYEPHOTOGRAPHY, #BNWFLOWERS  |
