We recently connected with Alexander Wells and have shared our conversation below.
Alexander , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Honestly? My most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is my most recent one; Sound of Silence, a short black and white film about misophonia and mental health, filmed in the style of a poetic documentary.
It may be a short video that was filmed and produced for a school project, but it is without a doubt the most important project I’ve worked on. It’s an emotionally raw depiction a day in the life of someone living with sensory issues (me, in this case). It’s a little piece of my own mental health story, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. My hope is that people find it informative and thought-provoking, and maybe even a little entertaining – I put a lot of effort in to make it as cinematic as possible.
Alexander , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Alex and I’m a photographer currently living and operating in Columbus Ohio. I’ve been into photography for as long as I can remember. Whether I was playing around with a toy camera or snapping random shots on a disposable cam, I wanted nothing more than to capture the moment.
Photography remained a steadfast hobby through the years and within the last few, I finally made the decision to pursue the craft on a more professional scale.
Since then my services as a photographer have been made available. It began with nature photography, eventually expanding into urban. More recently though, I’ve been getting more experience with photographing people and more experience behind a camera in general through my classes at the Ohio Media School here in Columbus, where I’ve been pursuing digital media production.
What I’m most proud of is the steps I’ve taken to becoming a creative professional and I’m especially proud of myself for not giving up in this field that has a tendency to feel like an uphill battle, especially now with the rise of unethical generative technology that, if no protections are put in place, could very likely replace not just photography but every creative profession.
My hope is that potential clients understand the importance of supporting human creativity and how vital it is to maintaining the vast world of the arts as we know it.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being a creative is simply, as the late Bob Ross would say, the joy of it. To allow my imagination to run riot as I nurture my creativity – there’s simply no feeling that can compare. Both as a photographer and now a fledgling filmmaker, there is so much joy in capturing life’s little moments.
It’s also very rewarding to share that with others and perhaps showing them something that prompts them to adjust their focus, to see things that they normally wouldn’t. That’s one of the beautiful advantages of the advent of social media; the ability to share my creative journey with more people than was ever possible before.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Breaking down the notion that there’s something abstract and unattainable that stands between “amateurs” and “professionals.”
In the wide world of photography, there are many pros who act like only they have the golden ticket and they want you to think that too. I was taught the hard way how demotivating it can be as a beginner in photography and between gatekeeping and blatant harassment, I almost gave up on the pursuit of the craft.
Luckily, I learned that those people are, quite often, very wrong. They don’t have all the answers. They certainly don’t have any golden tickets. They’re just stubborn as heck and maybe a bit cynical.
The only difference between a rookie photographer and a professional is the size of their portfolio. That’s it. If you take a rookie and give them the tools to succeed, they’ll perform just as good, if not better than a “pro.”
The big thing that those in the professional world often forget and take for granted is that they started in exactly the same place as everyone else. Level 0.
Image Credits
Alexander Wells (myself).