{"id":326760,"date":"2021-08-31T16:46:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T20:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=326760"},"modified":"2021-08-31T16:51:20","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T20:51:20","slug":"authentic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/authentic\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a More Authentic Photographer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First of all,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cliche isn’t that big of a deal<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It doesn’t matter whether someone has done it or not in the past. What is important is that you enjoy doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, would you not drink coffee because everyone else does it, and everyone else has done it before? Or would you not have a coffee this morning because you’ve “done it before”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Everything is simply a remix or iteration of things in the past<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cindy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Therefore our goal is to be authentic<\/em>, not ‘original’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authenticity means ‘author’, which means — you are the creator. Then the Ancient Greek means ‘authentes<\/a>‘ (lord, master). Even deeper,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auto (self) + anuo (doer, effector, accomplisher).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

An author or an authentic person (in my eyes) means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone who does something or creates things for ‘autotelic’ (self-accomplishing) reasons.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

‘Autotelic photography<\/a>‘. Or solo photography. Creating something because you truly love and care for it, without having to look over your shoulder whether others appreciate it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The simple formula<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"espresso<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
  1. Assume nobody else would ever see your photos. Shoot the photos anyways.<\/li>
  2. When you end up making photos that you are yourself pleased with, THEN<\/em> share it with others!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The big mistake photographers make is that they make photos based on what others haven’t<\/em> done before, rather than thinking whether they like it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Any photo or art nerd will know the great history of photography<\/a>, we will realize everything is a copy or iteration of something which has come before us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is why there is a danger to knowing too much<\/em> about photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You become paralyzed because you know that none of your photos will become truly<\/em> original.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    1. Embrace the cliche<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"street<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    To become a more authentic photographer, I say become a child and embrace the cliche. Better yet, assume the notion ‘cliche’ doesn’t even exist. No child creates something concerned with whether it has been ‘done before’ or not. A child wouldn’t refuse to use crayons, just because ‘other kids’ have used crayons in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Turn off comments, views, and other metrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"leaves<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    On your own blog (wordpress.org), turn off comments, disable views, disable statistics. Then share your photos on your own self hosted blog with the unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, I haven’t enabled my personal statistics on my blog for the last 6+ years and it has been insanely liberating. I have become more reckless and bold in terms of what I create and share, because I care less whether others like it or not. I have better clarity whether I<\/em> like it or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Shoot it because you’re personally curious about it.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n