We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Manuel Abreu Swanston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Manuel, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’m not a happy person, and I already know that photography and arts doesn’t really have anything to do with it, is just my way to deal with life in general, is a way of life. I have work in everything, to be honest, from a college professor to a valet, personal trainer, landscaper, everything! And I always knew that was temporary, I was gonna be an artist, no doubt about it. At the same time, I never conditioned my happiness to that, happiness is a really deep word.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was studying journalism back in Venezuela when I took my first photography class. I was amazed by the craft, I love how difficult it was, something clicked in me and I knew I was doing photography for the rest of my life. I barely passed that class, by the way. Since then I’ve been shooting nonstop, obsessed with learning the craft. Lightning, posing, retouching, composition, colours, I am deep into every aspect of it. Just to learn that in the end, the most important thing is to go out and shoot.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My only goal is to master my craft, I believe in human development through growing skills. I want to be old and look at work and say “Damn, that guy is good”.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

That is not a straight line. Conventional career paths are usually very steady and reward is mostly immediately, you work and you get paid and if you do a good job, you’ll probably get promoted. As an artist, you can put your whole time, soul, tears and blood into it and have nothing coming back to you, the sacrifice is unmeasurable. The only way to go through is to really fall involve with your art.

Contact Info:

• Website: abreuswanston.com
• Instagram: @abreuswanston

Image Credits
Maelyn Roland Loreta Alvarez Daniela Luchau Bella Blasbichler