Yes another entry but not quite the same. Not another of my “favorite top black and white analog photographers” but just my favorite photographer. And whom you ask might that person be?  Shocker alert … it’s me! That’s right! And why not? I really like my own work and if I didn’t why would I make it? I love making my photographs and I get tremendous pleasure when I look at them. And if I didn’t there would certainly be a problem, wouldn’t there?

Think about it. I work hard to think about making my photographs that interest me of subjects I find interesting and/or entertaining. Then I put myself into position to make them.  And of course I then take the time to decide which photos to print.  Then I print them to the best of my ability. Lastly, I determine which of the prints will survive my editing process.

Am I comparing myself to Adams, Strand, Weston or Cartier-Bresson? Of course not – those and all the others I love so much inspire me to keep working at it! Nevertheless, does all of this make me someone with an oversized hubris problem, or worse, an egomaniac nutcase? I don’t think so.  Because for everything I do to get to the finish line with a print that has survived the final editing process and is now framed and on my wall or in a nice clamshell box mounted and matted to pull out and look at … I get tremendous satisfaction and a true sense of reward.

And guess what … another shocker alert … you should feel the same way about your own work if you care enough about it … if you put the time and effort in to make it the very best it can be.

Stay well,

Michael