Due to my unplanned photo editing downtime, I did some catching up on the backlog that has built up in my feed reader. Thanks to Paul Butzi, I found the wonderful article five stages of development by Gordon McGregor.  What jumped out at me was the journey casually mentioned in stage 4:

At this stage, the photographer is competent with a camera and making photographs. Some go on to become professional photographers, others continue as amateurs and take good pictures purely for the love of it.

I have been fascinated with the decision and journey that we each must choose at stage 4.

Which way are you going?

What unexpected challenges or joys have you found once you started down your path?