The birth of new images, is something that always makes me feel happy deep inside. It is as though they always existed, but were hidden out of sight behind a curtain, waiting for that moment when they would make their entrance.

From that moment onwards, it is as though they have always been part of me.

It is perhaps one of the greatest misunderstandings in photography that we create the work. I have been aware for many years that it is often the work that creates itself. It tells us what it wants to be, and where it needs to go, and if we are good artists, we respond to it and work with it, rather than try to control it.

If we don’t listen, and don’t respond to the work’s natural calling, then a sense of frustration and disenchantment will ensue.

I am aware that the work of late has returned to deeper tones and an increase in colour. I have not tried to steer it this way: I have just tried to respond to where the work feels like it needs to go. But I am left asking myself: why now? Why after so many years of wishing to start exploring the lower tonal registers is it happening now?

I do not have any concrete answer, but I am wondering if the hiatus of the past three years, the pause in my creativity has been a form of some kind of reset?

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With regards to this new work, I am also aware that as much as I am enjoying creating things again, and am happy that I have fresh new work to enjoy, I do not feel there is any progression in style. As mentioned in a previous post: I am giving myself a free pass on this one. I just feel lucky at the moment to be able to create new work at all, so to judge it and put it up for inspection would be detrimental.

In a way, this work from Jujuy is like a regression to my earlier work of the Altiplano. I feel a cementing of style, and a continuation of themes once learned and played with many years ago. And that is fine. I learned many years ago that progress is not linear, and it is best to work through what you’re creating, rather than to set high expectations of it being something more than it is. This work wanted to go for a more saturated, darker toned look, and so, in the spirit of following its intentions, I obliged.

It’s just nice to be creating new work, and as much as we often leap to a quick judgement of how good it is, perhaps it’s best to put any notions of evaluating the work to one side, and move on to what’s coming next.