Meet Samuel Jackson | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samuel Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samuel, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I believe it’s an internal process you develop over time. As you grow as a person, you make the necessary pivots to better fulfill your own needs. And if you’re anything like me, you have to bump your head against a wall a couple of times to understand when something isn’t working in a way that’ll serve you. My most recent experience was with my portraiture. I pursued it in a way to build my status and involvement within the “photo” community, but I rarely enjoyed the process for a moment lasting long enough to sustain my attachment. This led me to my new approach of prioritizing moments and interactions over the photo itself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At this moment, I’m most excited about my first group show. I was fortunate enough to have friends introduce me to the world of showing my work in a dedicated space, and I set out this year with the intention of participating. You can call it candid, street, or fine art, but nonetheless, my camera is my ally and +1 to any outing. I enjoy the privilege photography provides me to relive my day-to-day experiences. And as I get better, I find that I can also transform and alter them to reflect my internal state alongside them. I’ve reached where I am by showing up for myself, sometimes out of boredom, sometimes with passion behind me. But over time, it has always been something I come back to, always a part of me. These days, I’m embracing a slower pace, and in terms of my own, I’ve learned to accept the ‘negative’ side of things, so to speak. It’s okay not to photograph everything, not to meet everyone, not to go to every event. I’m never late and always show up with myself intact, ready to give and not take. And that’s the most important thing I’ve learned over the last year. If there’s any take away from my story I just want you to know I’m living life first and I’ll save making sense of things for later.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly I’d be the worst tour guide. My favorite place is my backyard yunno. If possible I’d probably spend time downtown. Start with coffee from Vaquero , sit for a bit at Sundance then gallery hop and people watch the rest of the day. And if the night is still earlier we can end it on a pint or two at Joes Pizza.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes I’d like to shoutout the Fort Worth photography club . Their meetups started right around the time I decided to take my work serious . It opened my world to plenty of new faces and perspectives about my relationship with making photos . It really helped me find community within the space .

Website: samjarchive.com

Instagram: 10stages

Image Credits
10Stages (me) Personal photo (@greenlittlecin)(IG)