Thoughts on the past year- I have just begun to realize that over the past year my attention to the photography I have posted on line has been along two lines almost exclusively. With the beginning of 2010 I have been actively exploring the path commercial photography. This has entailed my continuing work with Church Hill Photography and other Mid-Atlantic commercial photographers as a photographer’s assistant as well as helping out with and seeking further information of the ASMP. Mostly these activities have been to benefit my further knowledge and education of photography as well as the business of photography. Outside of this I have been shooting in much the same ways that I have been in a cultural documentary/promotional sort of way. In many respects my record of personal work has been buried. It is not exactly fair to say all of my personal work so to speak, rather in the way it has been represented. Over the past five years or so I have existed in the Richmond, Virginia area immersing myself in the art scene. One way that I perused exploring my new town was through the art of photography. It seems that photography is the one art form that seems to be in a high demand for documenting work, events, and representational headshots. Web design is close but even still web design requires the photography to convey an accurate façade to any business, performance or art practice. I have dealt heavily in trade and good will, which has allowed me access and the freedom to play and experiment. My output has largely found its home on Flickr.com as a way for others to quickly view my work and perhaps to many, more importantly what happened. Thus my perceived “possible” audience has shaped my online offering. Certain images, certainly interesting and entertaining to me may not see the light of day based on the “average” viewer’s disposition to wonder “what the fu-?” The esoteric and fuzzy photos where image and grain remain intimate lovers. This is not to say however that all of my odd and secret photos are gems. I have learned to discern for myself what in fact makes for a compelling photograph in my own mind, and have learned that evolution means looking back and saying ‘ewwe…I thought that was good?” Such is the life of learning.
Still the result that I now look at is the idea of being on photographic autopilot with in a community of artist, musicians and promoters, which in great. I know that I have a lot of really great photos that I am proud of and I feel represent periods of time depicting who, what and how. The tough part is in contextualizing to myself and synthesizing it into representative chunks of my work in this vein.
My life has always found a way to manifest itself through my artwork and these photos are no exception. They are a culmination of an effort to both improve in my photography as well as engage a social and art scene offering myself in service and in friendship. It represents my connection and attention to what transpires and what potential symbiosis might evolve out of the mutual beneficial relationships. Perhaps not all the time have things panned out where careers have been made or fortunes been founded, however I can look into my photos and see the intention, the drive, the dreams and the continuity of life amongst a varying group of creative and aspiring individuals who converge and diverge forming one facet of the Richmond cultural animal.
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