Choosing Who to Learn From

Base this on who you wish to become.

On Craft…

In my quest to make better pictures and writer better pieces, I’ve chosen to learn from a select few—Yoh, William Eggleston, Matt Day, Craig Jenkins, Sage Sohier, Ivie Ani, etc.—creatives who not only inspire me, but partly embody what I wish to become as an artist. That last part is critical. If you want to study someone’s work, do it not because they’re popping on Twitter, but because their work unlocks something in you. Your goal should always be to get yourself to the next level within yourself, and finding great at-a-distance mentors is key.

From Yoh, I’ve learned the art of critical thinking. I could extend this to the other writers listed as well, but I really want to hammer home the magic of reading a Yoh piece for the first time. It was on Faces and suicidal ideation, and it was made for me. I read the piece a few times over and realized, “Here’s someone who actively thinks like me, but can articulate themselves in ways I am struggle to. What can I take away from this masterful writer?” Yoh made me want to write, and write well. I’d always been a writer, but Yoh’s work showed me there was a way forward for my voice in the professional sphere.

Eggleston, Day, and Sohier, all show me the magic of documenting the most mundane and obvious-to-me aspects of my life. Their work centers around privileging the fine details of your own world. It also helps that Eggleston and I have the same Polaroid camera, but beyond that and in my digital work, I learn from these photographers based on their zeal for living in their prints. Each book I consume from these artists gives me a better understanding of the voice I could have if I just apply myself and trust my knowledge of what matters to me. The things that matter, that which makes you happy, that is what you should be documenting.

Now, as for Craig Jenkins and Ivie Ani… There’s so much to say. Not only are these writers beloved and incredibly skilled at profiles, simpler interviews, cultural criticism, and archiving culture overall, but they’re also solid people who have extended nothing but kindness to me. Never underestimate the power of being kind. From Craig, I’ve learned how to inject my own voice into critique without souring the critique itself. I’ve learned how to interview with flavor. From Ivie, I’ve learned how to pick out the unsung hero detail and make it the star of an interview or piece of criticism. These are two of the best writers currently working, so I’m sure you can find something to learn from them as well.

I list all these influences not to prove I’m super worldly, but to prove my ultimate point: Your influences must shepherd you along. There are a lot of writers I revel in reading, who do not directly move the needle on my own work because I am not studying them—I am simply enjoying and rooting for them. Do I learn from everyone I read? Of course! But I actively strive to learn from the above artists.

So, the lesson on this fine Friday is to plot out the lessons you’d like to apply to your own work, then find the writers who are already executing at that level. Go crazy with their work. Print and annotate it. Memorize it if you must. Don’t let the shroud of competition—another capitalist trick—keep you from meaningfully engaging with your peers’ excellence. Learn as much as you can and watch your writing improve.