It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you are not." - Denis Waitley
We often second guess our abilities when we're in the presence of prominent people, but we forget they have given us the time and space to be there because they recognise and value our skills
“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” — Anaïs Nin
This quote is written on the top of my easel, and has been there for more than 20 years. It, too, has seeped into my brain and become part of my being.
Hi Wesley, just in case you're looking for an email via Substack, I actually sent the email via your web site address. I hope you're having a lovely weekend!
Fantastic work, Wesley! I too have struggled with combining different facets of my creative output but in recent years have learned to break down the barriers between photography, music, and comedy. It seems more organic to present everything as coming from me as a person which is hopefully what people want to see anyway!
Also, I only just recently saw Hunger, and holy crap, what a film!
It took me a while to get to this post. Knowing how much this series meant to you it was important for me to wanted to give it proper headspace and really take in these amazing portraits. Reading through it, I don't think I could relate more to your website dilemma, in fact I had the same myself about a year ago. I had this dilemma with personal style as well if you can imagine: how can I love sneakers so much wear 13 rings and heavy chains and still want to wear a Versace sky high platform heel with a poofy dress? That makes no sense, and that's only one of many examples. Most of us have complex "dissonances" like this. Dualities, or I would say multiplicities.
I decided to split things and work with what I always considered to be alter egos. Framing it this way helps remind us how multifaceted we are as humans. I don't think we're meant to fit into a box, comedian artist commercial photographer, can all live together or separately in one whole. In the same way you take corporate headshots while cultivating a fine art practice, you will love a Shake Shack burger and a Michelin star dinner. Yes, it is a simple analogy. But it really is that simple.
It's important to cultivate curiosity and experimentation, and neither of these two are or can be curated (contrary to what all of linkedin, instagram and tiktok would have people believe). Through curiosity and experimentation we develop identity. Not through nitpicking what we think the world will like about us.
I will end this thought with the quote that will always stay with me, told by possibly the only french border control police officer with a sense of humour, when he saw my passport photo during my bleach blonde hair and eyebrow phase:
Thank you so much for this thoughtful note, Camille! It means a lot to me. Dualities, multiplicities, yes! I do indeed love a shake shack burger, perhaps more than a Michelin restaurant if I'm being honest though for special occassions that is also an art to enjoy for me (it's just so expensive!!). I love that the border control officer had enough personality to make a little joke in such a stiff environment, and be right as well! ha!
“Do what you can with what you have where you are.”(I heard) attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt. The marriage was over, house was gone. I’ve got what’s left in a couple of cardboard boxes. I’m screaming, “Who am I??” The boxes had clothes, books…art books and watercolor pencils. Oh, watercolor pencils. When I wonder who I am today (still check in with myself occasionally), I don’t need an answer as long as I’m doing what I can with what I have where I am and I’m working with my art supplies.
Beautiful work. Realizing the quote came full circle. I can feel your patience, trust, and recognition of the split second when the public mask drops and the human being shows up. Respect.
Thanks for the posting. I've been a portrait shooter for several years now. I worked for a company who did very boring family portraits and not making very many good sales because the company was caught up in doing typical (safe) poses that were popular in the fifties and beyond. I try to make the portrait comtempory by doing untraditional poses against a plane white seamless backdrop instead of company's usual sky blue background. It seems to work and it a break what people might see in their grandparent's home.
The identity question is where this piece lives for me. I have twenty years in animation, lighting at studios like Pixar and Disney, and a portrait/documentary photography career I'm building in parallel which has become my main drive in the last two or three years.
The same anxiety shows up: will an editor take the photojournalism seriously if they see the lighting film credits? Will a client see my portraiture work and get confused by seeing my past animation career?
But that same background is why I understand light the way I do. Splitting the identities would be technically accurate and also fundamentally dishonest about how the work actually gets made. Thanks for sharing this. And lovely portraits of Steve McQueen!
Thanks Wesley, it has been quite a journey and learning experience, that’s for sure :) Very grateful for all of it, and it’s nice to see how much of the studio work I’ve done over many films has informed my approach to portraiture and documentary photography work now. Appreciate your reply!
“At one point, Duwaji’s parents suggested she go into interior design as a more financially stable career path, but she persisted. “There are successful artists in the world,” she says, “so why wouldn’t it be me?”
It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you are not." - Denis Waitley
We often second guess our abilities when we're in the presence of prominent people, but we forget they have given us the time and space to be there because they recognise and value our skills
Really love this one! Thanks for sharing!
“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” — Anaïs Nin
This quote is written on the top of my easel, and has been there for more than 20 years. It, too, has seeped into my brain and become part of my being.
Marlene! Excellent news, you were picked randomly as this week's winner! Please email me your mailing address!
Oh wow, that’s wonderful, thanks so much! I will be in touch via email.
Hi Wesley, just in case you're looking for an email via Substack, I actually sent the email via your web site address. I hope you're having a lovely weekend!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing Marlene!
Fantastic work, Wesley! I too have struggled with combining different facets of my creative output but in recent years have learned to break down the barriers between photography, music, and comedy. It seems more organic to present everything as coming from me as a person which is hopefully what people want to see anyway!
Also, I only just recently saw Hunger, and holy crap, what a film!
Thanks for sharing Chris! I haven’t seen Hunger yet but I will be watching it soon!
It took me a while to get to this post. Knowing how much this series meant to you it was important for me to wanted to give it proper headspace and really take in these amazing portraits. Reading through it, I don't think I could relate more to your website dilemma, in fact I had the same myself about a year ago. I had this dilemma with personal style as well if you can imagine: how can I love sneakers so much wear 13 rings and heavy chains and still want to wear a Versace sky high platform heel with a poofy dress? That makes no sense, and that's only one of many examples. Most of us have complex "dissonances" like this. Dualities, or I would say multiplicities.
I decided to split things and work with what I always considered to be alter egos. Framing it this way helps remind us how multifaceted we are as humans. I don't think we're meant to fit into a box, comedian artist commercial photographer, can all live together or separately in one whole. In the same way you take corporate headshots while cultivating a fine art practice, you will love a Shake Shack burger and a Michelin star dinner. Yes, it is a simple analogy. But it really is that simple.
It's important to cultivate curiosity and experimentation, and neither of these two are or can be curated (contrary to what all of linkedin, instagram and tiktok would have people believe). Through curiosity and experimentation we develop identity. Not through nitpicking what we think the world will like about us.
I will end this thought with the quote that will always stay with me, told by possibly the only french border control police officer with a sense of humour, when he saw my passport photo during my bleach blonde hair and eyebrow phase:
"Never regret anything"
Thank you so much for this thoughtful note, Camille! It means a lot to me. Dualities, multiplicities, yes! I do indeed love a shake shack burger, perhaps more than a Michelin restaurant if I'm being honest though for special occassions that is also an art to enjoy for me (it's just so expensive!!). I love that the border control officer had enough personality to make a little joke in such a stiff environment, and be right as well! ha!
Shake shack really is unrivaled ;)
Funny the way all the pieces fit together.
isn't it? gotta love it! :)
“Do what you can with what you have where you are.”(I heard) attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt. The marriage was over, house was gone. I’ve got what’s left in a couple of cardboard boxes. I’m screaming, “Who am I??” The boxes had clothes, books…art books and watercolor pencils. Oh, watercolor pencils. When I wonder who I am today (still check in with myself occasionally), I don’t need an answer as long as I’m doing what I can with what I have where I am and I’m working with my art supplies.
I love this Carol, and I relate to it from my own experience after a big breakup. Thank you very much for sharing.
Beautiful work. Realizing the quote came full circle. I can feel your patience, trust, and recognition of the split second when the public mask drops and the human being shows up. Respect.
Thanks so much Juan! I really appreciate your words!
Thanks for the posting. I've been a portrait shooter for several years now. I worked for a company who did very boring family portraits and not making very many good sales because the company was caught up in doing typical (safe) poses that were popular in the fifties and beyond. I try to make the portrait comtempory by doing untraditional poses against a plane white seamless backdrop instead of company's usual sky blue background. It seems to work and it a break what people might see in their grandparent's home.
It’s awesome you took that initiative Mitch! Kudos to you! Thanks for sharing, I bet it will inspire someone to also take a leap.
The identity question is where this piece lives for me. I have twenty years in animation, lighting at studios like Pixar and Disney, and a portrait/documentary photography career I'm building in parallel which has become my main drive in the last two or three years.
The same anxiety shows up: will an editor take the photojournalism seriously if they see the lighting film credits? Will a client see my portraiture work and get confused by seeing my past animation career?
But that same background is why I understand light the way I do. Splitting the identities would be technically accurate and also fundamentally dishonest about how the work actually gets made. Thanks for sharing this. And lovely portraits of Steve McQueen!
Thanks for sharing your story, Afonso! Also, amazing combo of creative careers! Lighting at places like that is SO top notch.
Thanks Wesley, it has been quite a journey and learning experience, that’s for sure :) Very grateful for all of it, and it’s nice to see how much of the studio work I’ve done over many films has informed my approach to portraiture and documentary photography work now. Appreciate your reply!
I haven't carried it for years because I've seen it recently, but I'm going with
Rama Duwaji’s quote in The Cut (https://www.thecut.com/article/rama-duwaji-cut-cover-interview-zohran-mamdani.html):
“At one point, Duwaji’s parents suggested she go into interior design as a more financially stable career path, but she persisted. “There are successful artists in the world,” she says, “so why wouldn’t it be me?”
oooooh why not me, yes!!!
I really enjoy the work of Steve McQueen since a while, his art pieces and his movies. What a luck you had to meet and shoot him !
If I had a leitmotif it would be a sentence painted by Ben, a french painter : "Il n'y a pas de photos râtées" !
Every pictures could be judged bad today, but a few years later could take a whole sense.
love that line!! Thanks for sharing!
I especially love this style of story. And what an incredible opportunity. Thanks for sharing brother ✊🏾
Thanks so much Gajan! This was a special experience for sure