SP w3 Where do I see myself?

I had my own practice 10 years long and I stopped it because it was a bit too much work to combine with teaching and making my own work. I made the decision earn money teaching so that I would have time for my own photography. I have to confess that I didn’t miss the commercial work too much. The thing I liked most and actually did miss was making photographic illustrations with articles. I got 3 to 4 articles and had to make 3 different images with each article in one week. That made 9 to 12 images a week. I had to read the article, do some research by myself, think of concept for the illustrations and make sketches. Than I talked with the magazine to present my ideas and they told me if it was good to proceed. This was also about the budget. If I thought of things to build, or experiment, that cost extra money they had to be willing to pay extra. The visual freedom was enormous and they liked my experiments with technics and shape. If they liked the idea I could make the image and they paid the extra costs for materials. Often if I was experimenting with technics and showed it they came with a way to use it in the next magazine. If I could make a living by making 3 to 6 illustrations a week I would do so and stop teaching.

The work of Hans Withoos reminds me of the baroque. He studied fine arts, worked as a fashion photographer and nowadays does his own projects most of the times. The commissions he does are all in his own style and under his conditions. I admire that.

Tina Touli and I have a lot in common; the way we experiment to make work and see where it brings me. She is more of a grahic designer but get asked partly because of the process and unsure outcome.

With Stephan Vanfleteren I can’t see the different between commissioned work and own projects.

The work I have chosen is all very different and I admire it all for the composition, use of light and the relationship with the subject but what these 3 people mainly have in common is the dedication to their work. The drive to want to make and show their work.

Conclusion and goal;

I have my income through education. That gives me the freedom to create my own work and do projects without bothering about a client. The problem is that I have no deadlines. This is one of many reasons to do the MA. After having worked commercially for 10 years, I know that I would give up my work in education like that for making photographic illustrations. The financial hassle is what I least liked, but I still have that problem because I still have a company for which I mainly provide training.

I would, however, like to get more attention for my own projects in the form of publications and exhibitions.