We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amira Maxwell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amira , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Well I’d say I’ve partly learned the art of photography through repetition. But what I want to highlight the most is that much of my experience has been spiritual. Ok technically I learned camera settings and things like that through YouTube videos and articles online. But where the art comes in, everything I come in contact with in my daily life: light, love, emotions, difficulties, colors, nuances, the sheer beauty and wonder of everything… all contribute to my style and taste— both of which have been refined over time through learning about what sends chills through me. So I’ve learned to pay attention and to do whatever it takes to stay curious. There’s nothing I could’ve done to speed up my learning process because learning is rhythmic, intuitive, I have no say in some of it. It’s a spiritual process. The most essential skills for me have been patience, awareness, and trust. My mind sometimes gets in the way of this process. Overthinking, comparing, and expecting. So the mind can get in the way. But then I also need this brain as I create in order to make sure I’m exposing an image correctly, getting everything in focus, etc. It can be a lot! So many emotions to channel into the work, so many things to be mindful of to make sure the photo actually looks good in a technical sense. I’m still learning.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Some of what I try to do through my offerings (both personal and client work) is to give people something that they never thought they’d have. Images that reveal their beauty, images that remind them of the movies they love, the people they love, and just everything they love and want to do in this life.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I love this question. I think society can appreciate each artist for what they have to offer. To release artists from so many expectations and projections. And, from the pov that we’re all* artists, I think we can all afford to allow ourselves to be exactly who we are, and to make what we each feel excited to make. A friend of mine recently told me that I need to focus more on my integrity as an artist. When I’m creating for other people (client work), I feel this urge to default to my integrity as a business person in order to prepare myself for the reality that my art might not be received well. And when I lose my zeal for my own vision and fall into the tension that arises when navigating client work as an artist, it’s a lot. I acknowledge there’s personal reflection and work to be done in everyone, including me. Generally society could place even more value in trust, wonder, and gratitude. I think it’s about more than art. It’s about feeling more ease overall. We tend to hold on really tightly to things. The work is spiritual and personal and for everyone. The more we all do it, the more everyone benefits. Including artists. I know I’m speaking broadly but I hope this makes sense.
For you, what is the most rewarding aspect about being an artist or creative?
Knowing I’ve inspired someone do something they feel is important— to contribute beauty to the world in their own way, and to see their own creative visions through.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amiraphoto.co/
- Other: Substack: https://onewhospeaks.substack.com/
Image Credits:
The self portrait of me in my car wearing a blue shirt is credited to: Appuni and the rest was taken by me.
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