Recap, social media and the hum of engines

It's a slow Sunday morning, and with one eye on the Olympics hoping to see some fencing action, I've been reviewing the work I did at 'Studio Mexico.'

For those new to this website and my work, I was a manager/photographer at 'Studio Mexico', a large photographic studio built by my late friend Peter Beardow who was an exceptional electronic/radio communications engineer - some may even say he was a genius in his field - called on as a consultant by people such as Sir Richard Branson among many other international clients.

The success of his business allowed him to follow his passion for photography by building the studio to his specific design in the grounds of his industrial unit in Surrey. Through his generosity, he allowed his friends to use the studio and its vast array of equipment to practice lighting techniques.

In 2016, I joined the cohort of photographers who had been using the studio, all of whom had a wide range of experience and knowledge from which I was able to draw from. Whilst I learnt a lot about lighting techniques, like in all my work, my photographic intent was not for technical perfection but to be creative with those I photograph. Encouraging them to pause and reflect on their thoughts. I feel this is where the 'real' person rather than a perfectly set up shot can convey the reality of the inner spirit. Yes I know thats a bit deep!

Sadly, Peter died in 2021, and his family asked me to continue to run the studio. I set out a plan to create a studio educational space/theatrical rehearsal facility for hire supported by that cohort. However, the directors of Peter's company undertook a restructure review and decided to sell the industrial unit for development—and as such, the studio closed.

Therefore, whilst I am still in the market for commissioned work for portraits and lifestyle images, I focus on creating photographs for my own set-piece projects, coroborating with my creative friends, many of whom I previously photographed in the studio.

But my photographic philosophy for authenticity and narrative remain central to my work.

I written a lot about this and the use of photoshop, in particular to portrait like work. For your sanity (and mine), I won't repeat my words here!

Which brings me onto why I have reduced my time and posts on social media recently.

The studio closing isn't the only reason for fewer posts. I've a changed perspective to my approach to social media, recognising that I dont need to post constantly for the sake of it. Of course it's not lost on me that you have probably reached this blog via social media!

When I first stepped out into the world as a 'pro photographer' I undertook a number of business seminars. The common theme was that social media was the driving force to promote one's work.

The advice ranged from "Regular posting and engagement in order to be 'relevant", to "Get on the crest of the algorithm wave by actively reponding and liking others work". Stuff like that.

That would explain the sheer amount of, shall we just say, almost minute-to-minute footage of what people are doing every day. Waiting for a bus? Post it. You get the idea.

While social media is a fact of life now, it's not the only thing in life and I certainly won't compromise on my creative way of working to fit in with it. I also recognised, and I'm sure you’ll understand what I mean when I say that I often found myself going down the social media rabbit hole for far too long. Time disappears.

Secondly, while most days I'll take general 'snaps' (which are all brilliant, of course...), I don't think I need to waste your eye time posting them.

Also, now that summer seems to have made an appearance, I've been distracted by two other passions: motorbikes and my ‘Artful Dodgers London’ walking tours, where I lead a bunch of like-minded history and beer lovers around the lesser-seen London. So it's been busy in a good way, keeping me off screen life and more in real life.

You don’t get the same thrill looking for likes as you do when sauntering with mates around English country lanes listening to the hum of Triumph motorbike engines with the fresh smells of nature hitting the nostrils.

You don’t get the same thrill from looking at likes on a screen as you do when walking around historic lanes and pubs and immersing yourself in the culture of the past mixing with the present in a vibrant city.

I follow the ‘create work from your heart for you’ vibe from my friend and fantastic authentic photographer (who articulates this far better than I), Paul Sanders, and also Doug Chinnery, an abstract artist/photographer who produces beautiful work, I'll only be publishing images I feel I want to be out there. Hence my review of images that I once bypassed as not social media 'like' worthy that may now make an appearence.

Like the image of Sam above. Sam is a friend and a very talented pianist. Sam is an extrovert and an uncontainable creative spirit. I could take beautiful pictures all day long of Sam jumping about and being the 'Jester' that would look great.

But I wanted Sam to just be still. To let that energy settle. To be between moments of crazy creative thinking. To present Sam pausing. Thats where I think we see the essence of Sam's nature. I think this is an authentic Sam that if the viewer were to pause and absorb would find a portrait that raises more questions than answers on what it is to be human.

That's the sort of photography I practice.

And that takes us to the central force of our own creative minds and it also happens to be the advice of many highly regarded creative artists across many fields. By creating and sharing work from your heart, for yourself, not for likes is where you'll find true creative satisfaction and it follows further inspiration.

It doesn’t come from constantly posting for likes. That can and does create issues for people when the likes dry up.

So you may also see some images from my London tours and, of course, motorbikes now that the summer has decided to turn up. Because that's the authentic me.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you feel the freedom to create from your heart!

Cheers,

Colin