Why photography? Why not professional chocolate eater or super awkward social dancer guy?
I take photographs as a career because it makes me happy. I guess it pretty much boils down to that.
A taxi driver brings his wife along a three hour journey from Matanzas to Trinidad, Cuba.
I took photos as a growing lad, not too many, and not too good, but I always enjoyed it. Fast forward to high school, where again I took a few, and definitely wasn’t all that good. I was always performing in sports, and photography was at the opposite end of that kinetic spectrum. Fast forward to a senior trip to Italy, producing more of the same. Fast forward to being a sophmore in college, where this time something changed. It was during my photography 101 class in the fine art department and some magical thing roared, clamped down, and hasn’t let up since.
A trio of flamenco dancers in the Columbia Restaurant located in Ybor City, Florida.
After that class in Tampa, I remember standing in my chilly New Hampshire bedroom at my dad’s during Winter break, wondering, “what is it that I would like to do for the rest of my life, that I enjoy and would feel satisfied with?” The immediate response was to take photos. As a kid, I dreamt of being a photographer with National Geographic, although I also dreamt of being a police officer as well as some muscled hero variant with a broadsword, so we of course have to take that with a grain of salt. It was in my blood though, at least a little, from a young age, and when the chemistry finally fused in my chilly bedroom that day, photography seemed like the only thing for me. Couldn’t fully explain it, it just felt right. Maybe the years of obsessive observation led to it? Maybe it was my quick draw skills from years of steady sports and video games?
A flock of birds during a Winter storm in San Simeon, California.
I remember riding in the car in the backseat growing up, I would stare out the window and watch the blur of the railing go up and down alongside the car on the back roads of New Hampshire. Yellows, browns, grays and red. I would take long walks or bike rides across the small town of Jaffrey or to neighboring towns like Rindge or Peterborough, gazing at everything and welcoming the lazy string of tumbling thoughts.
Yep, photography was the way I’d do it, and I’d be happy. It turned out, oddly enough, that I was right. No matter if I’m photographing a politician or a musician, a beaming bride or a pro athlete, I’m having a good time.
There have been things cut out of the practice over the years as I’ve discovered the likes and dislikes. I found out I don’t like printing in the darkroom. I’m proficient at it, and many other photographers love the act, but for me, it means missing the shooting and adventures outside. This crosses to the dry darkroom as well. I also unearthed that I’d much rather photograph in film than digital, which I’ve felt creeping up awhile now… Yes, there’ll definitely be a long post on that.
A saxophonist performs his passion onstage at TT and Bears Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts during a set with Bleu.
Moving forward, I’m excited about the future of taking photographs. In the years leading up to this point, I’ve shot for many people their way, but not necessarily in my own. I liked shooting everything at first, and needed experience to widdle it down, despite fine art professors demands that I immediately specialize. Now the two are aligned, people seek out my style, and spin the wheel.
Although I’ll eat every morsel of chocolate in sight, it looks like for now I’ll stick with taking pictures. Could you even be a professional chocolate eater? And yes, if you’re wondering, I’d definitely want that to be the official title of the job.
