Have you ever been so passionate about something that you are willing to drop everything to pursue that drive every waking moment?
Last year I literally dropped everything; my 9-5, my interest in rock climbing, cycling, being a homebody. I used to be a full time Marketing Manager for a real estate company making decent money, but that was never my love. I saw a dead end coming up quick and I needed to find a release.
Living in Los Angeles you are surrounded by artists and designers which caused me to discover pretty quickly that I would never be elite in my profession. It ate at my soul and broke my heart when I could feel my passion for design slip out of my grasps. It also made me realize that my heart just wasn't there. I was only doing the bare minimum to succeed at my job -- but that's no profession, that's just settling. I started to realize I needed something new in my life.
A little over a year ago I picked up a camera and began my journey of self discovery. I have no formal training in photography beyond Youtube education. Treating my Youtube studies in photography like a typical 9-5 I learned as much as I could, and as fast as I could because I wanted to produce stunning work that left my friends and family in awe. I also pushed my camera(s) to it's limits by setting out into the dark and shooting under starlight landscapes.
In February I started on my path of shooting Astrophotography as much and as often as I could. I look at my work back then and can't help but laugh at what I saw as 'passable'. These times have changed and now I am out massaging my photos until they are at the level I expect. With the Milky Way as my guide, each New Moon I would try a new way to shoot the night sky to bring out all it's beauty. Beauty most people will sleep through, but for me a time in which I was able to meditate and relax and just enjoy natures sounds in absolute silence.
I am happy with who I am today -- much more than I was yesterday and I will continue to be happier as the days go forward. I chose to chase personal freedom.
Methuselah.
Workshops and fine art available. DM me for more information.
⌁ Location: Eastern Sierras, CA
⌁ Camera: 
⌁ Lens:
⌁ Filter: 
⌁ Tripod: @manfrottoimaginemore 055 & 410 Geared Head
⌁ f/2.8
⌁ 15 seconds
⌁ ISO 6400
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You can follow my work on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/stevenjmagner