It would be presumptuous to think that I could add any more to the conversation on what makes a good photographer. Aside from composition, lighting, and gear, learning how to become one these days is as simple as calling yourself one. Which is what I have done.
I am a trained classical guitarist who spent a majority of my young adult life practicing, performing, and finishing school. The rigors of being taught the correct way made me realize I was not bound for Carnegie—I would be nothing more than a competent guitarist.
translation: it means you weren’t good enough.
So I graduated, got a job teaching and the rest is history.
Photography came about as an escape from music. Self taught, I searched out books by the masters of yesteryear, Robert Frank and Cartier-Bresson, and tried to imitate their style. Did I succeed? Not really, but I found the trial and error process invigorating and humbling. It motivated me to pursue the art of photography further without expectation and to appreciate the art as a process.
Dedicating myself to this craft has been one of the many joys of my life. It has served as an extension of myself and has given me moments of bliss.
