I want to introduce to you guys to a photographer you should keep your eye on. His name is Christian J. Sweet. When I first met Christian I was blown away by his photography, and then I learned he's only 21 years old. Ok, 21 years old and with this much talent, can you imagine  what is next?

After talking to him for a while and getting to know him a little better I realized something that he has that is on a dwindle not only in the photography industry but also in humanity in general, that thing is called - humility.

Being grounded, respectful, appreciative and modest is something that we should all try to achieve. I have a lot of respect for Christian and his work and I hope you enjoy his article. Make sure you follow him and keep on eye on him, he's definitely got what it takes.

ROOTS

An Introduction

As artists, we come to an understanding (very quickly) that first impressions are everything. Each moment that passes is a moment we will never gain back, therefore, instead of telling you a tale about what I do, I'll start off by sharing with you what I do not.

To reiterate, I reckon I do not:

• Wish to speak about myself for the entire duration of your stay.

• Want to talk about how great my hair is. (Believe me, it's not news to anyone).

• Care to ramble on about camera gear. (Quite frankly, I couldn't give two flying flips. My beliefs are firmly planted in the fact it's the eye, not the camera).

• Like the idea of Earth being governed by giant pizza aliens.

(If, for some reason, you would be interested in reading a more extensive version of the list above, feel free to ask me on Twitter: @christianjsweet)

There's no denying that the life of a photographer is a treacherous journey. From the first shot to the end of the road, the opportunities never cease to let up, nor do the pitfalls, and the key to survival rests solely on the will and determination of the beholder. Within this vast sea of photographers, everyone is floating in open water. As the ships ("clients", for those who appreciate symbolism) pass, some choose to flail their arms, others are screaming and shouting, while the rest sit back and wait for rescue to come to them (these ones always end up drowning). When I gathered all the courage I could muster and finally dived into the water, I knew at that moment that I couldn't follow the example of the others. To get the attention of the life boats, it wasn't a matter of besting nor outperforming my fellow floatees. I had to do something different. I had to stand out, and I had to act upon it quickly, or sink.

Originality, though increasingly difficult to find, is far from dead. The issue is not that inspiration is running dry. The issue is that people have [tragically] grown comfortable with the idea that it's all been done before for. But for up-and-comers, this is the make-or-break, a chance to either seize the dream by the nips, or conform and settle down into an inescapable pursuit of mediocrity. When in doubt, don't base the model of your business on someone else's successes (or at least refrain from expecting the same results, unless you happen to be a fan of long-term disappointment). You are your own brand. Everything you do, every word you speak is a testament to the flag you wave. Do your work, do it well, and I assure you that it will not go unnoticed.

Background & Eggs, with A Side of Perspective

As for my personal story, I vow to keep it relatively brief. My name is Christian John Sweet, and I was born and bred under the shadow of Mt. Rainier in Washington state. Despite the fact that a large portion of my childhood was spent either exploring the wild, drawing on walls with crayons or burying my imagination between the musty pages of a Brother's Grimm tome, like everyone else, I had always envisioned my future-self as a doctor, or a professional mountain man. However, things turned out to be quite the contrary.

Within a short period of time, I assumed a variety of different roles. High school graduate, graphic design student, college dropout, jobless dropout living with his parents, and unforeseen photographer. Nevertheless, it couldn't have fallen together in a better place. Seattle and the Puget Sound area, mind you, is packed to the brim with wonderful photographers, which made for a fantastically diverse source of inspiration, but when it came to making an income, I had to make my own way entirely. From senior portraits to weddings, I experimented with everything, while simultaneously occupying myself with all manner of odd personal projects. For merely two years now, my life has been set in a motion that I can hardly manage to keep up with. Even after my recent move to Los Angeles, I'm still living off of canned peanut butter and daily lemons from the tree in my backyard, but I came to terms with the starving artist lifestyle long ago.

Amidst my experience thus far, what intrigues me almost as much as the creative aspect of photography is the limitless potential that the rests on the platform itself, and more so, the vast majority of it that is being wasted. In this day and age, our generation is deeply submersed in an overwhelmingly visual culture, and as photographers, providing that supply is our top priority. As the doors open and the work begins to flow out in front of the public eye, exposure grows, and with it, popularity. What one should decide to do with such influence is where I draw the dividing line between an artist and a glorified camera-bearer.

Allow me to clarify that the seeking of recognition and the desire for fame are two entirely separate entities. On one hand, you have a person who's efforts go on to to inspire, to prove that their voice is used purely as an instrument in hopes to bring light to a cause other than themselves. In the opposite hand, an affirmation-starved idiot individual who spews vain self-acclamation and childlike cries for attention that bring only a wave of shame and facepalms upon their ancestors. One is gifted with the capacity to make a positive impact, forever altering the course of photography and the world as we know it. The other, consumed by self-image, will raise up his/her kingdom, unaware that at the end of their days, it will silently vanish with the only trace being a memory of the potential that was thrown to the dust. So, before you decide to plot anything, first ask yourself how the rest of the world would benefit.

In summation, there are two breeds of people: Those who forget where they came from, and those who remember what they are. This isn't about me. This isn't about you. Photography is merely a platform, and in this moment onward, our actions will either inspire or dissuade others to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

Check out more of his work at:

www.christianjsweet.com

Follow him on:

And like always, if you like it share it!