You are an artist.
You don’t need to earn no ‘stripes.’
You were born an artist. You just happen to prefer to make art with a camera.
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So stop calling yourself a photographer. Just call yourself an artist. Better yet, just call yourself a big kid with a camera.
You don’t make art, you just play on the streets. You follow your cuirosity, and you go whever your heart takes you.
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When it comes to making photos, simply photograph anything that interests you. Never self-censor yourself before you hit the shutter.
What I do recommend is this:
- Don’t censor yourself when you’re out making photos.
- Only judge your best photos after you go home, and have some time to reflect, to let your photos ‘marinate‘ and choose your favorite photos based on your emotion, soul, and how your photos make you feel.
If you don’t like your own photos, why do you care what others think?
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If you drop the label of ‘photographer’ — you will be able to creatively flourish as an artist.
To me, art is everything. To me, art can solve the problems of the world.
The best art is that which is personal, and political. The more political you make your photos, and assert your opinion and perspective about the world, the more you can change the world.
For example, let’s say you photograph a starving child with a vulture next to it. This will change the world by evoking empathy in the child, and therefore cause more money to be donated to starving children all around the world.
Or on a more everyday basis– let’s say you photograph your mom’s funeral. Then, when you share these photos with others, they will feel empathy for you. They will feel your pain and sorrow and loss. Then, they will start to be more grateful for their friends, family, and loved ones (who are still alive).
Be strong,
Eric
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