This is what I did in my outrageous (as I thought) bid to become a documentary photographer.
Step #1: I explored different photography offerings in my city. I found the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Studies. The school offered classes that worked well with my half-line of emergency medicine.
Step #2: I decided to learn digital photography instead of the analog stream.
Step #3: I signed up for the certificate option. I had 6 years to complete my requisite courses (or not). I liked the accountability of a timeline to keep me on track.
Step #4: I took my first introduction class. Night classes. I learned how to use my DLSR camera. My teacher, Henry, assigned us the task of creating 1000 photographs during the class. I panicked.
Step #5: I photographed a LOT. I received feedback on my photographs. I panicked.
Step #6: I learned the technical aspects of photography. I learned about papers, inks, archival printing.
Step #7: I explored different types of photography during my certificate. I tried documentary (awesome!), portrait (meaningful), wedding (stressful), architectural (my neck hurts), food (lighting can be magical), and historical processes (wow–Paris) etc.
Step #8: I proposed a photo essay on the theme of “implied action without people”. My hospital’s PR team wonders who I am, but thankfully gives the okay for the project since I won’t include logos, faces, patients, confidential information. My colleagues wonder what I’m doing.
Step #9: The photo essay was shared with my photography class. Their reaction? “What is that?!!” The photo essay was shared with the health care team and hospital. Their reaction? “This is what life is like in the emergency department. We feel seen.”
Step #10: I chose the photo that was most commented upon (that of the resuscitation bay after a prolonged code) and submitted it to National Geographic. “Aftermath” was chosen as a digital award winner. Hurray! Best birthday present ever!
Step #11: I returned to the hospital setting and tried another photo essay, this time with the PR team trusting me to photograph patients and healthcare staff with respect. I am no longer the emergency doctor with wacky ideas. People take my pitch seriously.
Step #12: The pandemic was declared. I was mentally preparing for the 10% mortality rate of Covid. I decided to channel my fear into photography. The hospital PR team trusted me. The healthcare team trusted me. National Geographic gave me a grant.
Step #13: Maclean’s magazine heard that I was photographing the pandemic experience in my hospital. They reached out.
Step #14: Maclean’s photo essay published. I wrote the text and cutlines (because I’ve been taking writing classes at night too).
Step #15: My photo essay wins the National Magazine Award’s Grand Prix. One silver lining of the pandemic–I get to connect with people even while we are isolated.
Step #16: The University of Toronto creates a photographer-in-residence position. I am asked to be the inaugural photographer. I am forever amazed that I am teaching photography to other healthcare students in my role as an associate professor of medicine…it defies all rules of what I ever believed was possible.
From the time I asked my coach how to make the jump to photography to the year I won the award was about 6 years. Six years of hard work, small steps, and being curious about the process.
Each step was fueled by curiosity. Basically, I followed my intuition. If I thought “hey, this sounds fun!”– I gave it a try. I know, right? I followed FUN. How…unusual.
What step might you follow?
Can you surrender and just let your interest guide you?
It might just be the bend in the road that you were waiting for all this time.
Question: “What sparks an interest? What raises your energy and makes you happy?”
