Before becoming an Artist, you begin your journey by emulating your heroes. Maybe going to the same places as them, even copying their compositions. It is in my view, a rite of passage that anyone starting in the creative arts must go through.

As time passes, if you are fortunate enough, your path should divert away from the things you emulate and copy to a place where you find your own voice.

But to create work that is uniquely yours, you have to become an Artist.

Being a Photographic Artist, is much like being any other kind of Artist:

Artists know that having talent alone does not make them an Artist.
Artists find and follow their own path.
Artists understand that following their own path will be a lonely pursuit.
Artists are driven to do what they do. They can’t ‘not’ do it.
Artists seek to express what comes from within.
Artists trust their intuition and judgement.
Artists do not need or seek validation.
Artists know that creating the work is, in itself, the reason for being an Artist.