“Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.”
Good will Hunting
Something that I never thought about when I started this blog was that I might end up inspiring other photographers. I start the blog so that I could showcase my work and put my photos in some context, a story behind the photos if you will, this blog has even helped me focus more on my street photography projects.
So you can imagine my surprise when I started getting messages from other photographers telling me how much they are inspired by my blogs and photos, so why I'm I writing a blog about this
Over the past month, I've had more and more people signing up on my website for updates and even more messaging me, not just via my website but also instagram (the only reason why I still have it)
To be honest, I had no idea how many people followed my blogs, I thought maybe 100 or so each month, boy was I wrong. I get over 1,000 visitors to my blog each month, kind of scary to know this.
About 2 weeks ago I got a message from a photographer saying how much my blogs have not only inspired her but they have also helped with this person's depression and anxiety, the messages I got brought me to tears, I was so shocked that my blogs and photos had inspired this young lady to pick up her camera and shoot more. She had used photography to help her with her anxiety, in the message she had told me that she wished that she had found photography earlier in her life, she was also pleased to know that I had been shooting since the age of 12 and that I still had a passion for it.
This message reminded me so much of Clarence’s line in It’s a wonderful life - “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
I always thought I was alone in the thought that I hated my hometown and that I would only enjoy street photography if I were visiting London or Cambridge, turns out I'm not the only person who thinks and feels like this and I can tell you it's a great feeling for me to know that I’m not alone.
Not only have I inspired others into photographing in small towns but I'm inspiring others to work on street projects of their own.
There have been many days that I've wanted to quit photography and the blog; I still get days like this if I'm honest with myself and with you my reader. I make this promise to you my followers and to myself, I will never quit doing what I do, I love writing about street photography (even if my writing is awful) and I really do enjoy being on the streets with nothing but my camera. I feel relaxed and at ease, the depression and anxiety have no place on the streets when I'm working.
I can't really begin to tell you how much your messages mean to me, they are the driving force behind my photography, my life, and yes my blog. Please keep them coming, I read every message and I'll always send a reply.
Thank you for all your support.
All the photos were taken in my hometown
