Is your photography your lifestyle? Or is your lifestyle photography?
What is a “lifestyle”?
We all have different “lifestyles” — the way in which we live our everyday, ordinary lives.
Some of us live “high-pressure” lifestyles; in which we have demanding corporate jobs, insane start-up lives, in which we are tweeting, texting, and emailing every second of the day.
Some of us live more “chill” and “zen” lifestyles; we read paper-back novels, write, meditate, and have 3-hour dinners with friends.
Ultimately there is no “right” or “wrong” lifestyle. A lot of the society in which we live in dictates our lifestyle.
For example, if you live in Spain; it is common to have a “siesta” (short nap in the middle of the day). In NYC, “sleep is for the weak” (or you can “sleep when you’re dead”).
A lot of our lifestyles are beyond our control. If we happen to have a child, our lifestyle will be very different from a single bachelor who is living in the city.
But I do believe that we have some control over our lifestyles. And especially when it comes to photography.
What is photography to me?
For me, I see photography more of a philosophical way to interact and perceive the world. Photography is all about noticing the beauty in everyday things; to make beauty from the mundane and ordinary.
Street photography is also the most democratic form of photography— you can literally do it anywhere. You aren’t dependent on living in a beautiful place, near mountains, or near anything exotic. Shoot, you can even live in the suburbs or some boring residential area and shoot “street photography” (study the urban landscape work of William Eggleston, Lee Friedlander, and Bob Owens. You can also study the ‘new topographic’ photographers).
However I see that there are two types of photographers:
- People who make it their life’s purpose to make photographs
- People who take photographs while living out their life purpose
In the first case, this person might have a boring 9-5 job, but they spend all of their time, attention, and money to make the best damn photos they can. They might take vacation days to travel to somewhere exotic, and upload their photos online, trying to constantly improve their craft and get feedback.
In the second case, people simply live their ordinary lives, and photograph as they go through their days. Their goal isn’t to be a great photographer, or make good photos. The goal is to live a meaningful, exciting, and fulfilling life. Photography comes second.
What is your style or approach?
For me, my old lifestyle was the prior– to become “social media famous” and accrue as many followers and likes as possible.
Nowadays I’m focused more on the latter– I just try to live the most positive, meaningful, and purposeful lifestyle possible. I spend a lot of time reading books, helping Cindy, and interacting with close friends and family. I take photos in the cracks in between my daily life. I also try not to force myself to take photos.
Don’t let your unique voice be drowned out
Please please please, make your “lifestyle” authentic to you— not what other people on Instagram or camera companies expect you to do.
You don’t need to shoot film, you don’t need to drink soy cappuccinos, and you don’t need to be at coffee shops all day with vintage Leica’s.
I feel one of the best ways to shield yourself from the influence of others is to disconnect for a while on social media. Perhaps take a day, two days, or a week (even a month) and once you let all the noise drown out; your unique, authentic voice will finally have some quiet to speak up.
What do you want out of your photography?
Questions you want to think to yourself:
- Why do I make photos?
- Do I like my own photos?
- Do I care what other people think about my photos? If so, why?
- Do I want to become “social media famous”?
- Do I want to have an exhibition, book, or a gallery show? If so, why?
- What does my photography say about me as a human being?
- Am I an image-maker, or an image-taker?
- Does photography enhance my life, empower me, or is it just making me more stressed and miserable?
Photography is life
Nobody has the answers but you.
But at the end of the day, find the lifestyle that is authentic to you.
To be a photographer is to affirm life— are you affirming life, or images?
Always,
Eric
Tuesday, March 10, 2016 @ Berkeley