I Don’t Want To Be The Best Photographer Anymore
I want to tell stories that resonate with others.
Photo by Author
When I started my photography journey, all I cared about was having the best images.
The best bokeh.
The best colour tones.
The best techniques.
I spent a lot of time looking at top-tier photographers on Instagram and challenging myself to shoot like them, or even better.
But slowly, as I matured and started working professionally in this industry, I realised something:
The best photograph or photographer is often situational.
Someone living in Norway has access to landscapes and scenes that I simply don't have.
Someone living in Tokyo might approach photography differently because of their culture and surroundings.
And some 10-year-old kid might take better photos than me because they have supportive parents, plenty of time to practise and none of the financial responsibilities that come with being an adult.
So how did I define “the best photographer”?
For a long time, I looked at the views and likes they had on Instagram.
That was how shallow my definition of success was.
That was how I decided who was the BEST PHOTOGRAPHER EVER.
Then I noticed something strange in the neighbourhood. (who you gonna call?)
Why do some photos taken on an iPhone… shaky, slightly out of focus, grainy and sometimes just plain weird, get so much attention?
Why are there hundreds of comments on these photos?
I'm sitting there thinking:
Man, this photo is horrible.
Then I started reading the comments.
And that's when I realised.
People weren't commenting because the photo had beautiful bokeh or perfect colour grading.
They were talking about how the photo reminded them of a memory.
How it made them feel something.
How it brought a community together.
It was the story behind the photograph.
“Thank you for everything. We’ve had fun, right?” — Photo by Author
(Photo above)We were on our way back to the hotel, enjoying a peaceful, slow drive as the sun was setting. Beautiful. As I looked into the rear-view mirror, I suddenly felt sad. It looked as if a nuclear missile had just hit us, and we were driving away as fast as we could… as if these were the final moments of our days, our lives.
“We’re stepping through the door
We’re shooting from the heart
But if we get it wrong
They’ll feed us to the sharks”
(lyrics by Starsailor) photo by Author
(Photo above) I used to perform full-time with a band, playing cover songs every night. Even with years of experience under our belts, once we were on stage, before the lights came on, we were always worried. We never knew who we were going to play for, whether they would like our songs, or whether the management would fire us if we didn’t bring in enough sales.
We were shark food.
That changed the way I look at photography.
Since then, I've been focusing more on creating photographs that resonate and connect with people emotionally.
Something that no amount of bokeh, colour tones or fancy techniques can replicate.
So instead of trying to become the best photographer, I stopped.
Because honestly, I still don't know what “the best photographer” even means.
Instead, I focus on storytelling.
How can my photographs reflect what I want to say?
My philosophy.
My challenges.
My experiences.
My stories.
To me, that's a much more meaningful practice.
I just want to make photographs that mean something.
Something that connects with people.
Something that move others.
Something that I can be proud of.
Thanks for reading!
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.