I was recently asked to travel to the NZIPP photoshow and give a presentation about my work. This 1 hour talk and slideshow was all about building and sustaining a career in photography, and the growing body of fine artwork I create that keeps the spark alive. I found this to be a wonderful experience and a way for me to grow my public speaking skills. I really wanted to share my ideas around photographic artists thinking deeper about the work they create and seeing how far we can push themselves creatively.
It's not about creating work to win awards/medals, or what you think the judges want to see. It's about creating work that means something. It holds weight, and follows your narrative. Use your creative voice to process life, memorie, and approaching subject matters that are difficult to speak out loud, and use your platform to say something. Create art for yourself, and then watch other people enjoy it.