Uncertain future

[glorybound]

I'm confident things will pick up. I have been very busy because the owners are requesting high-end stuff from the architects. I think you are more valued then you think you are.

[simmsimaging]

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle of it all. There's that old saying about making buggy whips in the era of the car.... So I think you need to adapt to what may be permanent changes in the market, but at the same time there is always room for a good eye, solid talent, and professionalism. It may pay more or less, and you may need to things differently, for different people and markets etc., but there is always going to be some work if you are ready to adapt. (hard times do tend to clear out the middle ground though: the best tend to survive, and the really cheap tend to thrive as well).

I started my career as a straight photographer, shifted quickly to doing retouching and photography, and then within a few years moved over to doing exclusively retouching. I was reading the writing on the wall as I went, in my opinion. My shift to doing CG in the last several years is following that same trend. Just keep yourself current and as close to the top of your game as you can, keep an eye on the trends and tides, and you'll do okay.

It's a mistake to think you can do the same things, the same way, in a different climate (economically and socially) and expect to have things work out the same as before, or that they will eventually "come around". That's how I see it anyway.
/b

[stevesideas]

All very good advice. I think you are right about adapting. I think most of us here are always trying to improve...I guess we are all artists that will never be 100% happy with our work but of course 100% driven to improve.