The shift
Recently I have experienced a “shift”. At first I thought, this is just work fatigue, lack of inspiration or assignments or maybe I am starting to get burned out or just need a break — fact is, I have been in the game since 2008 and things have changed in Photoland over these years.
But it wasn’t until I watched Paul Graham’s genius advice to young photographers that it struck me — maybe it is time to try something new and follow a new and different path and “listen to the world, whispering in my ear”.
For many years I have avoided people in all of my architectural work. The fewer people the better and always gone for the minimalistic, the clean and the perfect.
Well the fact is nothing in this world is perfect and ironically I miss people in my work and the “inperfect”.
The urge to try something new and work with people is becoming overwhelming and I feel like I have to listen myself and to that calling. I miss doing more personal work and “contemporary photography”, maybe even portrait photography, making prints etc.
This doesn’t mean that I will give up architectural photography, there are just many other paths of photography that I want to explore.
I think it is healthy to sometimes take a step back and recalibrate. Try something new. We are all trapped in the same repeat (are you old enough to remember “Groundhog Day”?) and sooner or later we all have to press pause and step aside for a while.
Working with Nowhere Diary has also been a part of this. It is a game changer both personally as a photographer, but also in my life. Seeing the incredible work you all make, and reading your stories is forever heartwarming, inspirational and I feel thankful for what I have created. A community of for photographers. A holy grail of memories for years to come.
I have also had the urge to start writing more — not just feature other people’s work but give it my personal thinking and opinion and hopefully be a thoughtful and inspirational voice in the huge ocean of voices.
My love for photography is undying, so is my love for Nowhere Diary.
So this is the first of many newsletters to come where I bring forth my voice.
Hope you stick around :)
Stories
If you haven’t already, check out story 140 featuring the work of Drew Leventhal.
Drew’s story is a beautiful addition to my ever-growing archive of stories on the Nowhere Diary website. They are super enjoyable to make and read and I feel like they are important voices on the scene of photography and will be inspirational for many people for many years to come.
When I started making stories, I had no idea how many amazing stories where out there, the friendsships I would form and the hearts I would touch. I have even brought two amazing photographers together on a personal level and that is really something that made me think that it makes it all worthwhile to work endless hours on Nowhere Diary. And what I do has a purpose and a meaning.
Books
I have recently updated the website with a lot of great books from photographers such as Elena Subach, Thomas Boivin, Mimi Plumb and many more.
I try to keep the website updated with my favorite books but can’t catch them all. Most recently I have also begun featuring books on the Nowhere Diary Instagram, taking on a more intimate view of the books.
You are still more than welcome to send me books that you would like me to feature on Nowhere Diary.
Events
Coming to my attention very recently is this amazing auction by Phillips on original photographs by amazing photographers such as Stephen Shore, Diane Arbus, Emmet Gowin, Robert Adams, Bernd and Hilla Becker, Ansel Adams, Alec Soth and many more.
The auction will be held on October 12th 2022 and is a unique opportunity to collect some amazing photographs.
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter which marks the beginning of a different path.
Maybe it is time for you too, to begin something new. A new photography project. A new beginning.
Remember — life as a photographer is like a long winding mountain road. You never know what you will see, behind the next corner.
Thank you. Kim.
I feel the shift too in my work as a photographer (since 2013 professionally but since 2008-ish unofficially when I shot my first roll of film on my dad's Nikon F2a) I recently stumbled upon that Paul Graham video as well and it really spoke to me. I've been experimenting with cyanotype printing recently and just more printing in general to push myself away from the screen. Collage, sketch, multimedia.... it will come, I am still searching... but I heard the whisper and I am glad to know I am not alone.