The Great Social Media Hoax

A Street Photographers Take

The Dream Ain’t Real

There’s a whole lot of bs on social media. Often it’s pure undiluted delusion. It’s not that people are even lying consciously, they just buy into their own bollocks. You see these photographers or influencers posting their pristine, curated lives like they’ve got it all sorted. The truth is their lives are just as messy as the rest of us. It’s an act.

You know why so many people never attain the dream? It’s because what they wan’t don’t exist. Aspirations built on shaky ground are a false promise. This is what my Dare workshops and community is about - bulldozing the nonsense being spouted right left and centre.

Midweek Flick

I’ve got a new midweek Street Photography video. I’m still creating the usual Sunday video which is me out in the field demonstrating my approach. But the midweek, Wednesday video, is a challenge to myself to inspire people in the middle of the week with a no nonsense chat about something photography or creativity related.

Because let me tell you, people are sick of the bullshit. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook—it’s all an endless loop of people selling you a dream that doesn’t exist. “Look at my life.” No, mate, that’s not your life. That’s a highlights reel. And people lap it up, thinking they need to measure up, thinking they’ll never be good enough.

This shift started with COVID. People had time to stop, to listen, to see. And when we’re confronted with a little reality, i.e. our own mortality, our bullshit antenna is on red alert.

Authenticity

Authenticity is making a comeback. People are sniffing out baloney a mile off.

Disclaimer; You may think, after watching my YouTube videos, that I walk these streets, camera in hand, fearless and untouchable? Bollocks. I’m always nervous. Always thinking, what if today’s the day someone kicks off? But the difference is, I don’t let that fear get the better of me.

Heroes are great and …

Everyone’s got something to bring to the table, but most people are too busy trying to be someone else. They copy the trends, the edits, the styles, until they’re just another carbon copy of a million other carbon copies. Originality doesn’t come from imitation—it comes from putting yourself out there, raw and uncomfortable, and owning it. Be inspired, sure, take a little something from your heroes, it’s fine, everyone does that, but never be afraid to experiment. Don’t be afraid to get it wrong. Look to yourself. Nobody is you. What can you bring to the table?

If you’re not at least a little uncomfortable when out on the streets then you’re probably not creating anything of much substance. That might sound a little harsh and it’s meant to be.

A Shift

It’s tough to be ourselves in this day and age. It can feel like walking into the desert looking for water with no map. But if you push through, if you use fear rather than let it use you, you will see a massive shift in your work.

Stop trying to be them. Be you. And don’t be afraid to look like an idiot doing it—because if history has taught us anything, it’s that the greatest ideas always sound ridiculous at first.

There was a time, a few years back, if someone had said they were inventing a phone that takes photos you’d have thought they were barmy.

Don’t buy into the BS

Check out the latest YouTube video. Listen to the podcast. And whatever you do—don’t buy into the bullshit. The world’s got enough of that already.

Be real and be great.

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