Before becoming an Artist, you begin your journey by emulating your heroes. Maybe going to the same places as them, even copying their compositions.

As time passes, hopefully your path diverges. You find your own voice. But to be able to get to creating work that is uniquely yours, you have to become an artist. And being a Photographic Artist, is like being any other kind of Artist:

Artists find and follow their own path.
Artists understand that following their own path will be a lonely pursuit.
Artists seek to express what comes from within. Not to follow what others are doing.
Artists are driven to do what they do. They can’t ‘not’ do it.
Artists do not need validation.
Creating the work is, in itself, the reason for being an Artist