Having two jobs, jobs that are similar, but different, I have to be true to myself. If I am not, I have too many forces pulling on me.

My first job is very free and creatively open, but it did not start out that way or to be honest have any real “shape” at all. Originally, I took too many images, too many images that were person specific not generic or contextural enough and spent much of my time trying to “perfect” my images to a level beyond what was needed. I was trying to take images I felt people would like, based on my past successes.

Guess what happenned.

The school started to adopt and accept my files, often using the ones I would not have thought were subject specific enough. basically, we met in the middle. If I supplied what was needed, then I could also supply what I wanted and the school would use them as they wanted, often as fillers or mood setters for publication, sometimes the image even made a place for itself simply by being.

This was not a normal dynamic.

My style has developed from my street shooting days. I do not set up many shots, almost always relying on fly-on-the-wall candids and everyone has started to adjust to that. “Just do what you do” was my mantra and now it seems it is theirs. If a set image is needed, it is taken, but generally speaking, they are seldomly needed if I get what I am chasing.

I had to be true to myself and to them. I had to supply the images in good faith, meaning I had to take the best shots I could without hubris, without ulterior motive and without expectation. I have to give of myself freely, otherwise the whole thing would fall apart.

If, in the example above, you have to go the next level and attempt to get genuinely tense sports images, the rewards can be great or little, but they will have an effect over time. The next level is then open to add in humanity. The shot above is of the the two team captains, in a final and losing (overall), but still able to share a moment of humour with the opposition as the shuttle clips the net and shoots straight up on a critical point. Getting “just what was asked for” would have resulted in me leaving half an hour before.

Trust begets trust.

Mutual trust allows a freedom of creativity.

This happens in sport, drama, events, the list goes on.

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In my new job, I need to find my balance point. The expectation is for a more creative set shot, a better standard of image from the get-go taken from fewer overall. There will be expectations from journalists and editors for a choice, but not a flood and candids, if taken, need to genuinely replace set shots in relevance and content.

Basically I need to do the above, but more deliberately.

Take what is needed, take it well and deliberatley. Then as time allows, take some more, but maybe experiment a little as I go and find my balance.

Nobody can bring you to what you do, so there is little pointtrying to be someone else. If you do not fit, adapt, but never let your inner talent be silenced. You got here using it, so do not abandon your true self, or you may one day find you do not know who you are anymore.