Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Simmons
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My love for photography started when I was in the U.S. Army stationed in Europe. I was in complete awe of my surroundings, Europe had so many amazing buildings and landscapes that were so different from what I was used to in the United States. I can remember the moment that I decided to pursue photography; I was standing in front of the abandoned casino on the shore of the Black Sea in Constanta, Romania just as the sun was coming up. The sky was on fire, and the sun was partially obscured by clouds which caused some dramatic sunrays to shoot across the horizon and illuminate the water and the casino in a breathtaking way. I tried to capture the moment as best as I could with my cell phone, but the results were underwhelming compared to what I was seeing with my eyes. That was the moment where I decided to get my first real camera so that I didn’t have to rely on my cell phone to capture amazing scenes. Once I got my first camera, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been spending much of my free time ever since chasing down architecture and landscapes that interest me, and doing my best to capture them in a way that is full of color and intrigue. My favorite moments in photography are when I am wandering and exploring, waiting to see what subjects and scenes catch my eye, and collecting visuals that are exciting to me in the moment so that I can share them with whoever cares to look. I always hope that the images inspire even a small amount of the wonder I experienced that morning on the shores of the Black Sea.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road in any photographer’s journey is full of bumps and bruises. As creatives, we tend to be our own worst critics. I am no exception, and I have had many moments where I have spent all day full of inspiration and excitement while trying to capture a certain set of images, only to find that whatever I am photographing simply isn’t turning out how I expected it to. I would say that the most frustrating times are when I fail to capture something in a way that is on par with what I see with my eyes. I’ve spent hours and hours in the same spot sometimes, trying to get the photos to speak like I am seeing it in the moment, and falling short over and over again. I would beat myself up and feel like a failure. Over time, I learned that the finished photos aren’t the most important thing for me, rather it’s the attempt and the experience of the hunt. I may have failed to get the exact photograph that I had imagined, but I gained experience and I got the chance to create one way or another. Another challenge that I have faced is of course, COMPARISON. It is true that comparison is the thief of joy. I catch myself online looking at other photographer’s amazing work, and it will inspire me to no end, and just as quickly as the inspiration comes, the comparison sneaks in and tells me that my work is inferior and not worth looking at. I see some of my favorite photos getting little to no attention online, ones that I spent hours and hours working on, ones that I felt were some of my best work. Then I will present a photo that I don’t necessarily like all that much, and people seem to love it! It really is a great reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as long as I enjoy the journey, the attention my art receives is not as important.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love capturing a city in color. I am primarily known for architecture and cityscapes. The fun part about that is I get the chance to explore a city. Every alley, every street, every building that I can get into or on top of. I learn about the city, it’s people, it’s history. I get to experience the life that it has to offer without taking anything from it. Hopefully I get to demonstrate the City’s beauty in a unique and wonderful way that inspires others to go see it in person. San Antonio has so many beautiful and exciting places, it really is an embarrassment of riches everywhere you go. It is so full of culture, it oozes out of every crack and crevice, I really can’t get enough. I am most proud of the moments that sometimes happen when one of my pictures inspire someone to pursue photography themselves. Any time I hear that my art has made someone else want to create art, I am full of pride and joy because the world cannot have enough creatives in it! The thing that sets me apart from others is that I don’t pay attention to trends or how to best curate my instagram page. I don’t follow a formula or try to make my photos cohesive for the benefit of gaining more followers. I simply capture, edit, and post as I see fit without the heavy yolk of trying to get more eyes on my art. It allows me to create freely without pressure or expectation, and I just get to have FUN doing what I love to do!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see photography being heavily influenced by A.I. in the next 5 years. This can be extremely beneficial and detrimental at the same time. A.I. is an extremely useful tool, but I worry that it will infringe on spontaneous creativity. An A.I. image can absolutely take your breath away, but then there is that moment of disappointment when you realize it isn’t real. I find that my favorite photos from other photographers are the ones that make me say “I want to be there right now.”, and it is a real place captured by a real person. I can look at a photograph and instantly appreciate the difficulty of how it was captured. With A.I. I do not have that appreciation. All digital photography is edited and manipulated to look a certain way, color, or vibe, but it took effort and creativity to capture in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlscamera
