WARNING: Rant with deep thoughts ahead. Navigate carefully.
I have a confession to make: I used to be a police officer. I still am at heart. While I was in the academy, one of the officers who trained us sold shirts for a fundraiser. On the shirt was the phrase “Sheepdog”. Sheepdog. That probably doesn’t strike fear into the heart of many people. Maybe something like “bear”, or “African Scorpion”. Nope, it said “Sheepdog”, and it said it for good reason.
A well known author by the name of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman wrote a book called “On Combat”. In this book, he describes a scenario that serves as a metaphor for our society. Its one where your ordinary, lawfully abiding citizen is a sheep. They go about their business, blissfully unaware of any dangers that surround them. They go through life having a good time, planning their next vacation or party, or doing pretty much what any average, ordinary person would do. The sheep pay no attention to the dangers lurking in the shadows. That’s where the wolf lives.
The wolf has sharp teeth, a capacity for violence, and no regard for right or wrong. His primary target to satiate his hunger are the sheep. They’re easy prey, and he knows it. Unprotected, the sheep could be slaughtered without regard. But they’re not. They’re not because they have a protector: the sheepdog.
The sheep fear the sheepdog. He has sharp teeth and they don’t like that. He also has a capacity for violence, and that reminds them of the wolf, the one they try not to think about and pretend won’t come after them. The difference between the wolf and the sheepdog, however, is that the sheepdog has compassion. He knows right and wrong, and he knows its his job to protect the sheep from the wolf. He knows that he has to do it, because if he doesn’t, no one will. The wolf will come and attack the sheep, and the sheep will go crazy and become paralyzed by the danger. So, the sheepdog stands in the gap, because he has the ability to do it.
Ok, so what, if anything does this have to do with photography? Well, in a round about way, a lot. But, it has a lot to do with everything, really. See, I have this desire, deep, deep in my soul, to make my life worthwhile. I don’t want to coast. I want to know that what I do has meaning, purpose, and that my actions are making the lives of the people around me better.
That was taken away from me, twice. First, whenever I and the Marine Corps parted ways, and second when I was forced to give up my badge due to city budget problems. I struggle with being a photographer because I have to ask myself, “How am I making a difference in this life by taking pictures?”. It made me go back and find how I made a difference being a police officer. Obviously, it was dealing with criminals, especially, and hopefully, before the innocent public had to. But, police have been around for a while now. A long time. Has crime gone somewhere? No, it’s still here. But the police stand in the gap. They keep the status quo. Let me say that again: the keep the status quo.
I can’t enforce the law anymore, but I can maintain the status quo as a photographer. That means using photos to show societal injustices, needs of the community, and similar points that require someone to tell a story. My new way to help make life better for people is to use photography as my medium, however and whenever I can. Through that, through raising awareness of issues and situations, I can make a difference in this life. Through telling stories, I can show people perspectives they may not have ever considered. The end result is that people will change their behavior, either helping those they can or giving to those who will do the work. And from that, I can take satisfaction in knowing that I made a difference.
Moving forward, I’m repurposing myself to not just be a portrait or wedding photographer, but to be a story telling photographer. I’ve got some projects on the horizon that have been nagging at my mind. Projects that have no monetary value attached to them, but have meaning attached to them. Meaning to me. Look to see more and more of these appear on this blog, and, please, give whatever feedback you can. In the meantime, I’ll be doing my part to make this world better by the time I leave it, and hopefully it’ll inspire you to do to the same, regardless of what medium you have to do it.
Feel free to comment on your thoughts below.
