Where I’m At.

A creative’s identity is often formed by repetition. You get established by creating a piece of work that ultimately comes to define you and pigeon hole your creative output. Many artists and creators enjoy producing work that is similar in composition to that which got them noticed. There’s nothing wrong with doing that provided it satisfies your artistic needs. Occasionally, an artist will go off on a tangent which scratches that itch to see whether something different is more exciting or satisfying creatively.

I have never settled to one particular style or genre of photography. I enjoy taking street/reportage style photos. I enjoy landscape photography, still life and occasionally, portrait photography. It’s up to others to determine which I do best but I haven’t mastered any of them and I don’t know which I find the most satisfying.

I do know that I get more positive responses to certain photographs than others. The social media algorithms also have a part to play in deciding which engages with the most people but we can’t be slaves to that preposition. All artists and creators want their work to be noticed/liked/admired. These are the hooks that allow the possibility of being paid for your work or gaining accolades for it.

I don’t set out to create a photo with the express intent of making it a print to sell or be included in a book. I can’t be driven by that purpose because it would end in failure. I’m not commercially successful and it would be presumptuous to assume any image would be a banker for me. I go to a location, take a series of images and one or two might stand out.

Often, an artist will produce something they really connect with and it doesn’t have the same effect with their audience. I regularly experience this and find myself inwardly screaming ‘why don’t you like this as much as I do!’ but therein lies the path to madness. Sometimes we have to put out work we know the public will like because we also need that positive affirmation.

My approach can to some, look like a scattergun method but it is in truth, what excites me at a given particular moment in time. I’m not sure whether to be envious or sorry for those who describe themselves as a specific type of photographer. On the one hand I think why pigeon hole yourself to one genre yet on the other hand, wish I had more focus.

I have embarked on my book project, focusing on artists homes and that will take up quite a bit of time in the next few months. I still feel the need to feed the social media beast and I do like to post regular content. It won’t be all the same style because I haven’t settled on what I am or whether I will ever want to do so. If you like my work, acknowledge it. Comments mean so much as long as they won’t all prove to be negative. Leaving a considered comment shows you as a creator, have engaged with someone. You have provoked a reaction, a response. Not all content has to be challenging. Sometimes, it is sufficient to think, I like that, it’s nice. Nice can be good because indifference is the thing that kills creativity. Not every piece of work has to be powerful or thought provoking. Some art can be nourishing, pleasing or bring a smile to your face. So I guess, where I’m at is producing images that you hopefully will like and if you really like them, tell me !