Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Norwood.
Hi Michael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am a freelance photographer. I am also a musician. I have been a part of the DFW arts communities in some way for the last 10 years or so. I moved to the area in 2008 with my wife and we started our lives together here. After a while, we got settled in and I began pursuing my love of music. I have always enjoyed creating and collaborating and being a part of a community and music was a way I have been able to do that most of my life. I met a let of really great people in the local music communities. I have had the opportunity to do some really cool things with it as well. I have opened for some moderately successful bands as well as played on stage in a little bar in Singapore while I was travelling for my day job!
I had picked up photography as a focus of my artistic outlet the summer of 2019. I had some experience with photography from a younger age with instant film cameras (Polaroid) as well as plenty of 35mm disposable cameras. My mother had taken some photography classes while I was in high school and I remembered her learning about developing and darkroom type work. I didn’t know how any of that worked but it seemed like a pretty cool thing to do. So, in 2019 I had decided to get outside more, camp, sleep underneath the stars, experience nature. This was something I did a lot when I was a kid and even through high school. It seemed that I had drifted away from it quite a bit. While I had delved into it, I wanted a way to capture some of the things I would experience and started photographing EVERYTHING. I fell in love with it a lot harder than I thought I would have. I started to nerd out a bit on different aspects of it and found a few aspects of photography that I really love. Landscape and Product being the 2 types that I enjoy the most.
Where I am at today is an interesting way to think of myself. I don’t actually run a business. I am a freelance photographer. I take jobs here and there as they come but I also have a regular job that funds my travels and gear. My focus right now is to find small brands and businesses local to DFW and get some quality images of their products for them to share. I have been purchasing some of these products (if none have been donated) and photograph them. I want to be more involved in my community. I want to promote the people out there creating really great products. Photography is my way of being able to engage with people more than any other way. I guess it has been becoming my voice as I continue to grow and develop my skills.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I really feel like a lot of what we do as creators is a challenge. There is nothing you can do, say, or create that every single person will love. Besides the challenges of pushing yourself to always become better at what you do via skills or tools – there is always the challenge of overcoming self-doubt and value. Value of the art you create, the time it takes to create it, the standards you hold yourself to… Whether or not they are realistic. I think it’s something all artists can relate to in some way or another.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a creator of sorts. First, I am a landscape photographer. I have spent the bulk of my time trying to create images of things that I love. I love creating things that others can be as proud of as I am. My photos have been featured on travel sites/blogs around Texas and Oklahoma. I have had some photos from Deep Ellum featured on community Instagram pages. Some businesses have shared my work from downtown Dallas as well. I don’t think I am special. I just love doing what I do.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You are your own worse critic. There was a saying I had heard some years ago. Something like “Perfection is the enemy of progress”. We have to accept where we are in what we do and always build and grow and become better versions of who and what we are. So, the biggest lesson I have learned is to let go of the doubts if only those few seconds that it takes to press that button to share your art with the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: michael.w.norwood@gmail.com
- Website: https://mwnorwood.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/mwnorwood
- Facebook: facebook.com/mwnorwood
Image Credits
Jalisa Bolton
Michael Norwood
