Chasing Progress

Welcome to the DMV. The place where the only validation we accepted for years, was the way you were received from people that lived elsewhere. What did LA think of you, how did you maneuver the NY streets, does Atlanta rock with you, are you popping in Miami - all questions that the more you hear them, are really kind of necessary. What we do to each other here is no different than that one friend, that no matter how much progress you think you have made, will always say something along the lines of "ehhh, it could be better". It's a form of an indirect challenge & push to be your best, every time. The problem lies when we resent the challenge and find comfort in our current state of creation. The fact of the matter is that if you are creating and are not being recognized for it, chances are that there is something missing that people cannot actually pinpoint. The reality is that you might have more work to put into your craft. But even with that reality, some people move to other places and expect fame to magically appear now that they have ran from the challenge.

As creatives, we should be chasing progress, not acknowledgement. Chasing acknowledgment will always leave you behind the wave instead of in-front, which is one of the worst places to be as a creative. Again, at the end of the day, an audience determines your level of success if you are chasing recognition and you remove your own ability to change it. Moving through LA, I notice so many homeless people that seem to be what society would deem crazy and all I can think of is that they were possibly artists that half-assed chased their dream. But I also see a lot of is non-native Californians, that make it their business to bust their ass grinding, as they take in the scenery and acknowledge that no one is above failure. I had the pleasure of working wit Athena who was a blast to create with on our long-overdue session. Coming from Baltimore and still pushing and challenging herself to chase her dreams was inspiring. We got some really solid, clean shots and I can't wait to create with her again.

Follow Athena's instagram at : @Athenalondyn