As per my normal routine, I was listening to Morning Edition, the NPR show, and heard a story about the 75th anniversary of the first Dr. Seuss book, “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.”
The news story spoke to several points of interest for photographers, or any creative for that matter. First is the author’s ability to draw from his surroundings and use it for inspiration. According to the NPR News story, Theodor Geisel, most widely known as Dr. Seuss, spent 8 days listening to the rhythms of a ship’s engine and used the pace to write the words that would ultimately be his first book. Creativity sometimes lies in the darkest corners of our imagination and sometimes we simply need the time to search, to think, and ultimately make ideas reality. From what might be considered an inconvenience, Geisel found motivation and the beginnings of a legacy were born.
All was not easy for Geisel. Which brings us to the second point brought to light. Guy McLain, a local Dr. Seuss expert working at the Springfield Museum in Massachusetts (Geisel’s hometown), says that the book had been rejected 27 times. Most would give up after 10, 15 or maybe 20 rejections. Unfortunately our work does not appeal to every art buyer or photo editor. Good work often goes unpublished, relegated to the archive or our studio walls. Suck it up, keep pushing, believe in the work.
Ultimately Dr. Seuss’s first book was published by a friend, whom Geisel ran into by chance. The NPR story explains how “the friend had just become an editor at a publishing house in the children’s section.” This should be a reminder for all photographers that they should be keeping in regular contact with their network. As members of a creative industry that sees more access to a broadening pool of talent, personal relationships are as important as ever, and are becoming more so everyday.
Thanks Doc.
