#1. The Big Move

An image from my first photographic project in South Africa - Andriesvale, 2013

I have spent my entire photographic career living in South Africa. Although I have worked in dozens of countries around the world, I have never worked in the UK. 

In my formative years as a photographer I was always advised to work on what I know, to document my community. But, after leaving home at 18, I never felt like I had a base, so I used my work as a way to find out about other places.

My personal life led me to living in South Africa for 16 years, and over that time period I explored the vast country, with its problematic history and rich variety of culture and traditions, through my lens.

But I have always longed to work in the UK, always wondered if i can adapt what i do to where i grew up. And always contemplated whether i could feel an even deeper connection to the people I photograph through our shared history and cultural connections. 

So that is the plan, scary as it might seem.

My wife has graciously agreed to come along for the ride. She is a secondary school English teacher, so much in demand. The kids are 2 and 4, young enough to adapt for a couple of years, old enough to enjoy the adventure.

We left Johannesburg on May 1st and have taken a little time off in Jersey with my family to decompress. For the next two and a half years I am going to adapt my work to a UK context and see if I can find a place for my very particular style of social documentary/advocacy.

I will still be working in southern Africa, and many other places around the world, but our base will be in the UK, and I will try to focus much of my work there.

On a recent episode of the TV show Shrinking (Apple TV) they used the word "scarecited" - my wife and i looked at each other and agreed that’s how we feel.

I sincerely believe that there is room for my style of photographic advocacy in almost every country in the world. But, even though I have years of experience, I still feel like i am starting from scratch; having to make new networks, understand new ways of working and learning how to create a sustainable career in a new economic landscape.

Right now i feel a real sense of trepidation and dread. Like a fish out of water,  armed with a great portfolio and a lot of experience, stepping into a whole new world where i have to figure everything out all over again. I did it once in a South Africa, surely I can do it again?

What I Have

A great portfolio

Years of experience 

Confidence that i can make great work in any situation

A unique style, approach and vision

Unerring motivation

What I Don't Have

Networks

Clients and collaborators 

Time to waste

A solid reputation in the UK 

An agent, mentor or business partner

It will be interesting to see where I am in two years time and if i have managed to make ends meet whilst creating work that has purpose and meaning to me in the UK. Only time will tell, but what i know for sure is that i am going to have to get very uncomfortable before I see any progress.

Have you ever started something completely new? Let me know if you have any advice.

next week: why am I terrified of networking?