Why Make Photographs?

BUOYS IN SNOW Hokkaido, Japan | Stillness Speaks Portfolio

Why make photographs?

It's not just about the camera or the thrill of exploration. It's about expressing and communicating something profound within us, something that words alone cannot convey. It's about tapping into our innate creativity as humans and sharing our unique perspective with the world.

Think about it. When we feel the urge to pick up a guitar and strum its strings, it's because we want to express ourselves in a way that words cannot. When we step into the kitchen and cook a delicious meal, we want to communicate our love and care through the flavors and aromas that waft from our creations. Similarly, as photographers, we are compelled to capture depth, mood, and compelling imagery that resonates with others. Why? To express and communicate something deeply personal about who we are and how we perceive the world.

Once we acknowledge this, the following questions become clearer: What do we want to express? What do we want to communicate? The more we pay attention to these questions, the more our work becomes personal and expressive. Our images become dynamic, heartfelt, soulful, and alive.

Being a photographer means becoming a keen observer of life. It's not just about capturing external elements like skies, seas, forests, fields, and cities. It's also about delving into the internal aspects of the world and ourselves - our thoughts, feelings, emotions, habits, and tendencies. It's about looking at things with awareness and mindfulness as if each frame is a window into our inner selves. Being a photographer is a journey of self-discovery, a path of self-awareness that enriches our art and lives.

Through the photographic process, we learn more about ourselves and our place in the world. We evolve as individuals, and this evolution is reflected in our work. Our photography becomes more lush and full as we grow and become more self-aware. It's a reciprocal relationship, where each aspect of our being serves the other, and our images reflect our innermost thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

So, why make photographs? Because it's about more than just capturing pretty pictures. It's about expressing and communicating the depths of our soul, about embarking on a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness. It's about becoming more alive, more connected, and more authentic. It's about sharing our unique perspective with the world in a way that words alone cannot. It's about creating images that go beyond mere pictures, but rather pieces of our heart and soul, frozen in time and shared with the world.