#1. Is there a space for my work?

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 i never felt like i had one where I lived, so I used my work as a way to find out about other places, but never really my own home.

My personal life led me to living in South Africa for 16 years, and over that time period I learnt about this wild country, with its problematic history and rich variety of culture and traditions. 

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 this 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 3 (at time of writing), young enough to adapt for a couple of years, old enough to enjoy the adventure.

We are leaving Johannesburg on May 1st and for the next two and a half years i am going to see if i can adapt my work to a UK context. On Shrinking (Apple TV) last week 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 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.

I am going to write about this journey because I think that this new challenge could be really interesting. Right now i feel a real sense of trepidation and dread. I feel 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 making 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?