Capturing The Essence

Zach sums it up perfectly

(via @chasejarvis)

I can't stop watching this, it sums everything I've ever wanted to express about life as an aspiring photographer, but for which I've never been able to find the words. Thank Zach.

Beginning of a new chapter

Goodbye Developer

It's a bizarre sensation to be leaving one life behind and stepping into another; at least it is for me as I advertise my copy of Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2008 (Upgrade) for sale and realisation kicks in.

Up until this point I'd always played my cards safe, spreading my various interests around the dependable career of systems developer; the only shift being when setting up Global Studio with the intention of making the transition gradually. However the current economic situation has somewhat forced my hand; not only are sales requiring more time to close but the weakness of the pound against the Euro (against the Yen) has meant it made sense to beat the price hikes and move things forward. I'm also acutely aware that in the absence of large and challenging IT projects my interest in development is weaning.

Hello Photographer

So with excited steps towards the horizon I now tread into the world of full-time professional photography. With this comes the challenge of balancing creativity with longevity, and it's here that my anguish currently lies.

Balancing creativity with longevity

Balancing creativity with longevity is a battle I believe fought by all artists and photographers, or indeed any impassioned professional that combines a creative element with the need to be commercially viable (and profitable).

I recited this kinship to my wife the other evening when identifying the plight of Masterchef contestants who having poured countless hours of creative thought and energy into their creation only to have it destroyed in a matter of seconds by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace as unfit for restaurant consumption.

What am I getting at here? Well that you either conform and suppress your creativity settling, or continue to push ahead with your vision in the hope that it develops into something others see as special and exciting. For me failing to 'stand out from the crowd' and succumb to being 'just another photographer' is not an option. How though do you combine this ambition with longevity?

Dear Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister,

It seems that open letters outlining your current failings are all the trend at the moment, so despite having written formally only some weeks ago about the arrogance that was the Heathrow Expansion decision here I am again shouting from my hill top.

What I think you fail to understand is that as young budding business professionals we are taught that one key principal behind any successful organisation is accountability, a principal that until recently I was sure you must be familiar with.

However in the last six months I have not only been barraged with worsening economic difficulties by your inept management of our country's finances, but your droning voice sprouting what can only be described as verbal diarrhea. You demonstrated this eloquently when interviewed by Ewan Davies on the BBC Radio 4 Today show, where you not only failed to accept any failings on your part, but did a masterful job of trying to drown out Ewan with the same old self-protectionist nonsense.