Serious (some would say driven) to become a better photographer; that is always striving to take ability and understanding to the next level. I am analytical and artistic, studying both the computational imaging (software and mathematical) aspect of photography as well as the artistic appreciation / visual perception side. The photographer and author I find most relevant and informative for me is Micheal Freeman. He is at ease with both the technical and artistic in his books and I find this very unique and refreshing. I grew up reading National Geographic and have always felt they were the finest photographs taken by the best photographers. I still think this is true today. Time (magazine) is also in this class, especially the front covers. I can only dream of getting in the same city, much less the same ballpark as these players, but as Bob Fosse once said, I can be better relative to myself, and in the end I think that's what really counts. Another quote is from Bob Dylan, "What we have to realize is that we are always in the process of becoming" (meaning we never really "are", we are at best "becoming", and if not we are not alive).