We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eddie Herena a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Eddie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
My heros are the people that refused to give up on me. People that took a chance on me in spite of my worst decision or popular opinion. My heros are people that care and want to see me succeed. People I can count on. People that understand me an my trauma. People that wan that want to help, and not take.
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.
I got my start in photography while serving a life sentence in prison. The San Quentin News was looking for a new photographer for the news paper so I applied and was hired. What the News needs was a dedicated person that was serious about creating good content for the paper. I was that person. Ever day I tried to improve my craft. On the the days I did not have the camera (which was most days ) I read books on photography or analyzed other people’s work. My commitment to team and desire to learn about photography set me a part from others. I most proud of my dedications to something bigger than me.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
sharing my work with people.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
At the age of 21, I was sentenced to life in prison for a murder I committed. Up until that point, I had lead a life of crime and was associated with a street gang. Nobody mattered to me but people from my neighborhood. Not even when my brother was shot and killed. Death was a part of, I’d think to my self and that this is what we singed up for, I was 13 years old. But all that changed when I knew that I would be going away for life. I no longer wanted to be the person I was that committed that horrible crime. I made the decision to step away from the gang life and focus on becoming a better person. But of course, there were member that wanted me hurt for turning my back on them. And others that tried to discourage me by telling me stories on how other prisoner would going to take advantage of me. I didn’t care anymore. I just wanted to start fresh and if people were going to hurt me for turning my life around, I was okay with it. I committed myself to being a positive person in spite of my life term and in spite of such a desolate were so many lost hope.
Image Credits
Eddie Herena