How did you know you wanted to be a photographer?
How did I know I wanted to be a photographer? This is a question I get from time to time from students attending the photo school from which I graduated. My answer is something to the effect of, “It’s not something I’ve ever had to question.” …meaning that it’s all I have ever done, I fell into it for the love of the art, and that I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. It’s part of my identity, not a hobby-turned-profession. I would eat photography if it went well with mustard. It’s at the center of everything I do and think and has been from the beginning. Technically, I have drank photography. That’s a funny story, but it basically involves a broken-in-the-middle-of-a-run Wing-Lynch processor, C41 Fix, and me, the only one willing to siphon the chemicals to put the brakes on the development process. You can picture the rest.
Just yesterday, I got back from three weeks in Nigeria to shoot a couple of weddings for a wonderful couple. You will see images and slide shows from Nina and Efiom’s wedding creep in over the coming weeks. I love doing stuff like this. Expanding the range and conditions I shoot in really strengthens the bond I have with the art. It’s how I get my thrills. The image above was taken as I was tagging along on one of their errands to the folks who would be making their wedding day attire.
So it was great to get back and find this gem by Joe McNally among some 500+ unread blog subscriptions. I don’t know him, never met him, but he would be a great photographer to get to know. He is what you would call an Industry Giant. He has quite a way with words, and I love to read his take on the things that drive photographers. Here are some great excerpts from his post, The Best Assignments Are Free.
“They are gifts we give ourselves…..
You already know the ones…the ones that really terrify you. The ones you think you can’t handle. The ones you think are way, way, beyond your capabilities. Gateway assignments. The ones you need to take. They come in on the phone (rarely) or in the email of your imagination as loud as the “TERRAIN! TERRAIN! TERRAIN!” warning in the cockpit. You must respond. You must engage.
Increasingly, these are the ones you give yourself.
On the other side of that job, win, lose or draw, you will be a different photographer, and presumably, absolutely, a better photographer. Like a redwood, you just accumulated another ring. You could liken it to a scar, the way things go in this business. I try not to think about it.
But here’s the beautiful thing about scars. They are on the surface. Not attractive perhaps, but at the end of the day, inconsequential. They don’t affect your core.”
…also:
“Like the boxer in the song, photographers remember every cut. I certainly do. (It’s just that way with the Irish.) Those cuts are the jobs, the frames. I can remember what I said before and after certain rolls went through the camera. I can remember what I had for breakfast that day and whether I was just shy of 5.6 at one twenty fifth. I can remember the smells in the air, and just how miserable, elated or terrified I was. Often, I can’t remember what I did yesterday, but those are yesterdays I didn’t make a picture.”
…and most profoundly:
“We run when others walk. We work when others play. We adjust our schedules to accommodate theirs. We present the flimsiest of reasons to insist that we be allowed to keep doing that which we need to do, something for us that is as necessary as breathing. Paid or not, it is what we do.”
Go back through Joe’s blog and read some of his amazing posts. You’ll be so much better off for it.
Posted on December 17th, 2008 by Climie
Filed under: Destination: Nigeria, Whys and Wherefors
Excellent post my friend. Looking forward to seeing what will undoubtedly be some amazing images from Africa!