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I recently attended a presentation by a young photojournalist of her photo story on debutante society. Looking at her images, it was obvious she had established an extraordinary trust relationship with her subjects, resulting in a compelling body of work. About half way through the presentation, a few subtle, chiding remarks about the debutantes began to surface from the audience. Soon after, a quiet solidarity against the culture depicted in the pictures took hold, inevitably influencing the way the photos were viewed.

Now the audience was utilizing the presented images, a window to another world, to pass judgment en masse on the people in the photographs. The presenter became noticeably uncomfortable, undoubtedly because the trust relationship that she earned to get access to the debutante world suddenly seemed exploitative — antithetical to journalists sensibilities. Directly admonishing an audience always seems dangerous, like smoking a cigarette while filling the gas tank of your car. And it feels even riskier when you’re coming up through the ranks trying to build your career. Ultimately the photographer did bravely address the audience’s disdain in her comments — a difficult but admirable decision.

There is no more lonely place in the world than the stage. Audiences are amorphous, intimidating beings that are difficult to predict. When they adopt a mood that is contrary to the perspective you’re trying to present, it’s all too easy to fall into league with the prevailing opinion. DO NOT. Fight the good fight and defend your position. That’s more easily written than practiced, but having publicly hung myself to twist in the wind more than once, I don’t regret a single time that I opposed the people to whom I was speaking.

About six months ago I was asked by the Aperture Foundation to defend my not-so-popular position on piracy. Half the audience in the full auditorium was positively hostile towards me. I could feel myself shrinking in fear as the critical voices got more vociferous and the “yas” and “that’s rights” became more numerous. The only reason I was able to hold my ground during the hail storm of harshness is because I decided what my opinion was way before I took the stage.

It also helps to remember, audiences are incredibly reactive and short sighted. Think of how many movies you’ve seen that you initially thought were crap, only to realize you liked them after pondering them for a few days. A negative reaction from an audience is not a death knell for your career, it’s just a story to tell people after a few months have passed. Understanding who you are and what you believe before you go on stage is imperative. Because there is no worse time to sort out your philosophy than when you’re standing under the spotlight, facing an angry mob.