A Return to Photography
Out with the old…
Chasing Light, Not Likes
“To be the noun, you have to do the verb.”
For almost 20 years, I’ve been playing with cameras. For the last 4 or 5 years, though, I leaned hard into video—learning, experimenting…. And I came to realize something:
I don’t enjoy the video process.
Like, at all.
So why was I spending so much time on a craft that didn’t bring me joy? Because the internet told me to? Because “video is king”? Because that’s what clients were asking for? Would you ask your baker if they could grill you a steak? Would you ask your lawn guy to change your brakes?
None of those reasons felt like enough to keep going in a direction I didn’t truly enjoy.
Back to the Basics
So I’m dropping back to punt. I want to refocus on photography—the thing that puts me in my happy place. I’ve scaled back client work, simplified my gear, and decided to spend more time getting lost in the process: looking for light, chasing composition, catching fleeting moments, and kicking myself when I don’t have a camera on me other than my phone (which is a criminally underrated tool).
I sold about 80% of the gear I’d collected over the years, most of it centered around being video capable. This is a hard return to the basics.
I’ll write a full post on why I sold my Sony kit and switched to Fujifilm, but the short version is this: I wanted something that inspired me to shoot in my style, packed light, and helped me break old habits.
And I think it’s working.
The Dip and the Climb
I can scroll through my archives and literally see the dip. My creative output peaked around 2018, right before I dove headfirst into video. After that, the number of photos plummeted and never really recovered. And my video output? Lackluster.
Until this year.
This year, I’ve taken more photos than in the last five combined. And it feels good. Really good. That’s a signal worth listening to. And I’m finding a camera nearby almost every minute of the day.
Building a Feedback Loop
If I want to keep that spark alive, I need a system.
A habit of reviewing my photos critically
A routine of studying the pros with intention
A practice of implementing what I learn
Dedicated time to do nothing but shoot
That’s what this blog will be. A hub for:
Notes to myself
Reviewing my own work
Sharing experiments
Studying photographers I admire
Exploring the craft without the pressure of likes or algorithms
This isn’t about being an influencer. It’s about becoming a better photographer. Even more than that, refining and honing my style, getting more granular with my editing process, finding a rhythm with importing and organizing, and generally sharpening this part of me that feels natural and intrinsic. I want to take photos. All the time.
What Comes Next
If you’re learning, curious, or just want to follow along as I figure this thing out, I’d love for you to stick around. You can sign up below for updates—maybe even a newsletter, eventually. (Email signups coming soon!)
I don’t have all the answers. But I’m chasing the light. And having fun along the way.
– Cody