When Magnum photographers give advice to young photographers, it will surely attract a lot of links. What is so interesting is that the agency didn’t write a list but instead get 35 of their members to write their own personal advice. Aside from
“Get a good pair of walking shoes and…fall in love”
— Abbas
my personal favourite is from Christopher Anderson
“Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after. Don’t be in a rush to make pay your rent with your camera. Jimi Hendrix didn’t decide on the career of professional musician before he learned to play guitar. No, he loved music and and created something beautiful and that THEN became a profession. Larry Towell, for instance, was not a “professional” photographer until he was already a “famous” photographer. Make the pictures you feel compelled to make and perhaps that will lead to a career. But if you try to make the career first, you will just make shitty pictures that you don’t care about.
I guess it’s the most relevant advice for my situation right now. I don’t want to make shitty pictures, you know. But you’ll find others’ advices are equally interesting, like the one from Thomas Hoepker
“Avoid all photo schools and courses. Most will give you lofty ideas and twist your mind in one direction. Find your own way to photography, nobody will ask you later if you have a diploma. Visit as many museums as you possibly can. The images you see (painted, drawn, etched or photographed) will stay with you for the rest of your life. They will help you to discover good pictures in real life. Suppress any silly ambitions of becoming a great artist. Being a good photographer is difficult enough.
or from Alessandra Sanguinetti
“I could use some good advice myself…but first thing that springs to mind is Bob Dylan’s': “keep a good head and always carry a light bulb.”
or from Bruce Gilden
“My advice: “Photograph who you are!”
