Michael Wickham's Journal

The Taxi drivers of Havana

Cuba | Saturday, January 12, 2013 | 5 photos

I realised I wanted to be a photographer when I was on a rusty cargo ship between the islands of French Polynesia. Fast-forward 8 years and after studying photography I began assisting commercial photographers here in Sydney.
At some point over this time I gave up on the idea of being a photojournalist, believing it was in the too-hard basket
But I have now realised that this desire is still overwhelming. Making beautiful images is one thing but telling a story - that is my real passion - stories that speak to people beyond simply selling them something.
It's a hard step to go from being an assistant to a photographer. In this changing industry and economic climate it's harder than ever. As discouraging as this is, I find it drives me to work harder to succeed because there is nothing I love more than the adrenalin of pursuing the perfect shot, the triumph felt at the moment of the shutter's release.
I believe that photography is a medium of infinite depth; an art form that is an expression of the photographer's mind. To learn from a photographer like Jason who does this so well in an environment like Oman would allow me to develop my own skills of expression and tell real stories.