What makes me an artist?
Yesterday, I met up with some old work colleagues. They were asking me about my photography and what I am doing. My former assistant asked me very directly “What make you an artist?”
At first, I was a bit puzzled by the question, it was very direct and took me by surprise. I honestly don’t remember anyone ever asking me that before. So, I gave it a bit of thought, and this is what I remember saying…
There are many people who can take beautiful photos. Some people do it for fun, some for money, some do it for other reasons. I take beautiful photos, because I have to. Somewhere inside me is a motivation, a burning need to capture beauty. I don’t do it for other people, I only do it for myself. I feel somehow that I have to do it. What makes me an artist, is the fact that I take the risk that, perhaps, nobody likes my images, and still, I will keep doing creating them. If I did it only to make money or to please other people, then it wouldn’t mean anything, it would just be a nice photo.
I don’t ever want to be someone who creates for the sake of creating. I take joy and pleasure in capturing my own memories and my own understanding of what I see. It is up to the viewer to decide if they enjoy what I show them or not. But whether someone buys my work or not, I still will keep doing it. I have to. That’s what makes me an artist.
Bryon Paul McCartney
