We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Derek Keaton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Derek, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned my craft by perseverance and mistakes. Now, I try to focus on one thing at a time and use what I have, which in the past created barriers

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

There’s always been an interest in photography and art. It’s when I got into shooting larger cameras and slower processes that I really found my voice. Finding new ways to further craft came the more I went back in the history of photography. Learning older photographic processes, especially from the 19th century, made me realize the endlessness of the craft. There’s always more to learn and new processes to attempt.

I strive to produce work made with my hands, not something always associated with a camera. A lot of my work is labor intensive, chemical based techniques, dating back to the infancy of photography. I like making the photograph or print tangible and handmade. Mistakes and all.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Creating my vision and having that vision in front of me as an end result is most rewarding. Whether it will be seen or not is to little interest of me. Just the whole process and everything that goes into it. It is truly a labor of love

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Keeping physical works in the world is big. Buying prints, originals, and showcasing work helps to keep us thriving

Contact Info:

• Website: https://derekkeatonphoto.com
• Instagram: @derekkeatonphoto
• Other: https://flickr.com/derek_animal

Image Credits

Michael Eldred