There is something to be said for becoming technically proficient in photography: great photos are impossible without a good grasp of it. Then the hard part begins: going beyond technique and composition to create a photo that has something to say, that isn't simply a record of what happened, but stirs the soul. I don't pretend that I'm there yet, but I hope that is where I'm headed.

The closest parallel I can think of in pursuing this goal is in music performance. I've been working at instrumental guitar for a long time now and am only now beginning to appreciate how excellent technique only opens the way to that much more difficult avenue of creative expression. What will make the performance and the music memorable?