Today we’d like to introduce you to Sterling Jones
Hi Sterling, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I first got into photography at the age of 14 , with my initial interest in cameras coming from my love of film/movies and evolving from that into my passion for photography. I have always had a love for music and art and originally went down the path of pursuing music instead. It wasn’t until I finished my first year of university studying jazz guitar that my passion for pursuing a career in music waned, and my interest in photography deepened.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The market is saturated with incredible talent, and standing out in the age of social media is incredibly difficult. A lot of the struggle has been learning to market myself and understand how to present my work in a way that resonates with people, especially as an individual that is not particularly interested in the world of social media and constant, meaningless content creation. I don’t think people really “look” at photographs anymore due to social media’s Instantaneousness, which can be frustrating as a photographer. I was stuck in a loop of trying to create what I thought people wanted, rather than what I really wanted to create. It felt like I was constantly second-guessing myself. The feeling of constantly having to stand out on social platforms and create content that goes against the ideas of my own work just to promote my art and acquire more clients has been challenging.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work primarily focuses on fine art documentary photography, where I blend storytelling with an exploration, and critique of contemporary American culture. I am currently working on a large scale project doing just that. I am aiming to visually describe the American ethos in its current state. I feel I have cemented a more personal style to my work, coming off my last project titled, “the way the west was won,” a series documenting the forgotten and the marginalized landscapes of West Texas, photographing sites where time seems to have stalled and history feels suspended in a state of neglect. I am very proud of this last project, however, I am excited about the direction my new project is heading.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think managing risk is very important. I think keeping a balance of not risking enough and risking too much is difficult, especially in a creative field. To me, risk is an opportunity to push myself into new opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sterlingjps.com
- Instagram: @sterlingjps
Image Credits
Sterling Jones
