Being the Underdog

Thanks to Brendan Thom for the Behind the Scenes snap.

That saying: "the world is so small" is personified in my home town, Pietermaritzburg. My passion and most loved hobby is photography, and in a small town such as mine where everyone I seem to meet is a photographer too, I am often left feeling like a tiny goldfish in a fishbowl full of cichlids. I don't mind too much... this feeling keeps my passion grounded. It also reassures me that I am on to something good.

Being an underdog in a sea of choice photographers makes me focus on my photography for the love of it more than the return on investment monetarily. I learn something new everyday and this keeps my focus on really just perfecting how I do what I love. If I look back at where I started, and compare it to today, as an underdog, I feel pretty pleased with my accomplishments.

Early on I was told something along the lines of never comparing yourself against what others have achieved but rather what you have. Sometimes we can be sensitive about our work, but this comes from a place of being our own greatest and most feared critic.

Photography is an outlet for me to express myself whether it be with willing subjects or obligated flora and fauna (nature is beautiful, it's meant to be captured in all its glory). I never want to lose that feeling. I will comfortably and gladly sit in my place as the underdog. I will do so with the mindset of sharing my love and knowledge with others who maybe feel the same way.

I want to be able to look back and see how I inspired others from a humble and modest position. I want to encourage others and be the driver for change and empowerment rather than a source of intimidation. Simple things like telling my friends and family when they have taken a great photograph. I want to ignite their spark for photography, keep the spark alight, and keep the fire burning.

I love meeting other photographers, and I especially love it when we all meet at that cool, sharing vantage. Not a place where silent judgement can be heard like a pindrop. I consider myself lucky to know other underdogs like me. I consider myself lucky to know photographers who clearly aren't underdogs but meet you there like they are - that place of no intimidation and really just pure inspiration!

So... In a world filled with the big dogs and us pups, I couldn't be happier because even though I know the end goal might be grand, the steps I take and memories made getting there matter more to me. What I learn and who inspires me is still important from where I'm sitting.