Ignore the Naysayers: Criticism, Creativity and Commitment

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of **Street Life**, John and Mark dive into a lively discussion about their recent experiences in street photography and the broader photography community.  We chat about Mark's recent appearance on the Eyeshot 50mm podcast and YouTube channel. We touch on the sometimes contentious nature of artist statements in photography competitions, with John expressing his frustration over how much weight is placed on them compared to the actual images. We both agree that photographs should speak for themselves, and that the focus should be on the work rather than the words that accompany it. As we discuss the reactions to the Eyeshot interview, we reflect on the importance of respectful dialogue in the photography community, even when opinions differ. We also celebrate Mark's recent success in getting a photo into the finals of the Canberra Contemporary Photography Prize, which has prompted him to think about branching out from street photography into other genres. The conversation shifts to the recent Worldwide Streets exhibition, where we both had our work displayed. Finally, we discuss the upcoming Fujifilm X-T6 rumours and the excitement surrounding new gear in the photography world.  Overall, this episode is a mix of personal anecdotes, industry insights and a celebration of the vibrant community of photographers we are proud to be a part of. Follow us on Instagram and leave us a review!