Interview with Chris Blackman!
We recently interviewed photographer, Chris Blackman!
Read the interview with Chris Blackman below!
Read the interview with Chris Blackman below!
Chris: Hi, my name is Chris Blackman, I am 14 years old and have a deeply rooted passion towards photography. I don’t really have other passions.
Question 1: When did you start doing photography and how?
Chris: I started doing photography as just your average snap something person, back in the middle of 2017. Eventually I forgot about that career, but it resurfaced again back in mid 2018. That started to kickstart an interest for photography. I forgot about it again but in February of 2019 I took my photography career seriously and founded this Instagram account. I have been continuing since and since it’s been a wonderful ride into the photography world, I won’t quit as I think this is my true passion.
Question 2: What made you decide to start your Instagram account for photography? Was there any reason?
Chris: It was because photography just struck my head again and it’s something, I had wanted to give a real go at, because it was full of opportunities waiting for me to crack them. It was also because I had a friend at my school who does photography, her username is @louiisas and she kickstarted my inspiration for it. I also wanted to express what I truly loved doing, and I think it was really worth it starting this account.
Question 3: What’s your favorite part about photography?
Chris: My favourite part about photography is that it’s so fluid, it’s such a dynamic range of styles and it’s very expressive in terms of editing, you can have different types of photography and you can shape photography to your needs and taste. It also has an amazing community behind it, especially the young photographers, the photography community is willing to collaborate and push each other forward and that is unlike many other communities. It’s also a very good place to gain lifetime friends and it also gives you a sense of your surroundings because you find the world around you to be useful in photography.
Question 4: What sort of qualities do you think one needs to have in order to become a good photographer?
Chris: I think you need to connect and be inspired by other photographers. Without a base inspiration to get ideas for photography it all doesn’t come together to form a theme. Make a bio that someone can remember. It doesn’t have to be completely unique but make it somewhat original. And the most important part is taking your time doing photography. If you’re going to put quantity over quality, you put less effort in because you want to pack as many photos as you can. I suggest avoiding that. Quality is better because in the long run you’re going to get a bigger following and more engagement because your content is of high standard. Make photography friends. They’re like your neighbors, talk to them, they can be really handy in future.
Question 5: Who are your biggest inspirations? What is it you like about their work?
Chris: My foremost biggest inspiration is @cmposition because he has such an organized and original profile, and his images pop out due to his feed organisation. It is of very good standard and he always puts quality over quantity. What makes himself unique is that he engages a lot, that is what you want as you want people that truly appreciate your work and that put effort into their content. He always puts a big effort into engagement and he is a truly amazing and talented person who has SO much potential, he has always been there for me. My second inspiration is @louiisas, she has a natural talent for photography and has stuck with me through thick & thin, she helps truly with finding new styles and finding new inspiration and she has also got really good potential, as she has a very good theme, I also know her personally which is a big advantage as you can talk to them personally about photography. My other two inspirations are @iuriebelegurschi and @whereisweatherby because they have such exceedingly good content all the time and that is the level I want to be up to and they are my frame of who I want to be in future. They have grown themselves from no follow base to garnering a big support which is really impressive. Other notable inspirations: @giuligartner, @dsharificaptures,
@northborders
Question 6: Has photography opened any careers for the future? Do you intend to do photography as a career?
Chris: Yes, I may be planning to do photography as a career due to its immense success for me, and I plan to do Work Experience next year for photography to further put me on the path for possible careers. Other than that I am unsure where I will do or not, it depends surely on how much I succeed in this hobby state first.
Question 7: Has photography been difficult to juggle between school or no?
Chris: Not necessarily, no. While it is challenging to explain to people what I do as a hobby, they all don’t seem to judge as they are not harsh on me. However, it might be more difficult in the future as more demand is put on for photography when I grow more followers. And plus, the increased popularity may mean more unforeseen things happen in school, either more pressure is put on me. However, I think I will get through school fine, at least that’s what I anticipate and expect.
Question 8: What type of photography is your favorite and why?
Chris: I don’t really have a favourite type of photography, it depends on my inspirations post which I try to replicate to some degree, sometimes I will favour landscapes over macro, sometimes the opposite. However my expertise is in macro but I want to have more of an expertise in landscape because landscapes are captivating and suck you into the moment. Hopefully I will stick to a favourite.
Question 9: What advice would you give to teens following your footsteps?
Chris: My advice to young people like me is do what you like, do not do what you are forced into. Ignore the people that try to force you into stuff, they will only use you as a tool in the future. Please, do what you aspire and do what you like, as it is better to be happy and not fit in than to not be happy and to “fit in”. It is important you be you, as you define what your life is like, not other people. Also if you’re being bullied or some other stuff that affects you, please tell someone. Even if it’s your neighbor, your Instagram close friend, or your real friends. You can even contact me if you want. It doesn’t matter who you tell, the most important thing is to reach out and reach out for a helping hand. It does good and having 1 friend is better than no friend. You are developing, you are growing, you don’t want to be forced to do stuff as that can alter your mindset for the worst for the rest of your life.
Question 10: That concludes our interview. Is there any last things you would like to add
Chris: To other Cliché Teen Journal viewers, please follow me, it will help reach me out to more people and I can make more impact on people’s lives.
Chris's Instagram: @chrisblackmanphotography
Question 1: When did you start doing photography and how?
Chris: I started doing photography as just your average snap something person, back in the middle of 2017. Eventually I forgot about that career, but it resurfaced again back in mid 2018. That started to kickstart an interest for photography. I forgot about it again but in February of 2019 I took my photography career seriously and founded this Instagram account. I have been continuing since and since it’s been a wonderful ride into the photography world, I won’t quit as I think this is my true passion.
Question 2: What made you decide to start your Instagram account for photography? Was there any reason?
Chris: It was because photography just struck my head again and it’s something, I had wanted to give a real go at, because it was full of opportunities waiting for me to crack them. It was also because I had a friend at my school who does photography, her username is @louiisas and she kickstarted my inspiration for it. I also wanted to express what I truly loved doing, and I think it was really worth it starting this account.
Question 3: What’s your favorite part about photography?
Chris: My favourite part about photography is that it’s so fluid, it’s such a dynamic range of styles and it’s very expressive in terms of editing, you can have different types of photography and you can shape photography to your needs and taste. It also has an amazing community behind it, especially the young photographers, the photography community is willing to collaborate and push each other forward and that is unlike many other communities. It’s also a very good place to gain lifetime friends and it also gives you a sense of your surroundings because you find the world around you to be useful in photography.
Question 4: What sort of qualities do you think one needs to have in order to become a good photographer?
Chris: I think you need to connect and be inspired by other photographers. Without a base inspiration to get ideas for photography it all doesn’t come together to form a theme. Make a bio that someone can remember. It doesn’t have to be completely unique but make it somewhat original. And the most important part is taking your time doing photography. If you’re going to put quantity over quality, you put less effort in because you want to pack as many photos as you can. I suggest avoiding that. Quality is better because in the long run you’re going to get a bigger following and more engagement because your content is of high standard. Make photography friends. They’re like your neighbors, talk to them, they can be really handy in future.
Question 5: Who are your biggest inspirations? What is it you like about their work?
Chris: My foremost biggest inspiration is @cmposition because he has such an organized and original profile, and his images pop out due to his feed organisation. It is of very good standard and he always puts quality over quantity. What makes himself unique is that he engages a lot, that is what you want as you want people that truly appreciate your work and that put effort into their content. He always puts a big effort into engagement and he is a truly amazing and talented person who has SO much potential, he has always been there for me. My second inspiration is @louiisas, she has a natural talent for photography and has stuck with me through thick & thin, she helps truly with finding new styles and finding new inspiration and she has also got really good potential, as she has a very good theme, I also know her personally which is a big advantage as you can talk to them personally about photography. My other two inspirations are @iuriebelegurschi and @whereisweatherby because they have such exceedingly good content all the time and that is the level I want to be up to and they are my frame of who I want to be in future. They have grown themselves from no follow base to garnering a big support which is really impressive. Other notable inspirations: @giuligartner, @dsharificaptures,
@northborders
Question 6: Has photography opened any careers for the future? Do you intend to do photography as a career?
Chris: Yes, I may be planning to do photography as a career due to its immense success for me, and I plan to do Work Experience next year for photography to further put me on the path for possible careers. Other than that I am unsure where I will do or not, it depends surely on how much I succeed in this hobby state first.
Question 7: Has photography been difficult to juggle between school or no?
Chris: Not necessarily, no. While it is challenging to explain to people what I do as a hobby, they all don’t seem to judge as they are not harsh on me. However, it might be more difficult in the future as more demand is put on for photography when I grow more followers. And plus, the increased popularity may mean more unforeseen things happen in school, either more pressure is put on me. However, I think I will get through school fine, at least that’s what I anticipate and expect.
Question 8: What type of photography is your favorite and why?
Chris: I don’t really have a favourite type of photography, it depends on my inspirations post which I try to replicate to some degree, sometimes I will favour landscapes over macro, sometimes the opposite. However my expertise is in macro but I want to have more of an expertise in landscape because landscapes are captivating and suck you into the moment. Hopefully I will stick to a favourite.
Question 9: What advice would you give to teens following your footsteps?
Chris: My advice to young people like me is do what you like, do not do what you are forced into. Ignore the people that try to force you into stuff, they will only use you as a tool in the future. Please, do what you aspire and do what you like, as it is better to be happy and not fit in than to not be happy and to “fit in”. It is important you be you, as you define what your life is like, not other people. Also if you’re being bullied or some other stuff that affects you, please tell someone. Even if it’s your neighbor, your Instagram close friend, or your real friends. You can even contact me if you want. It doesn’t matter who you tell, the most important thing is to reach out and reach out for a helping hand. It does good and having 1 friend is better than no friend. You are developing, you are growing, you don’t want to be forced to do stuff as that can alter your mindset for the worst for the rest of your life.
Question 10: That concludes our interview. Is there any last things you would like to add
Chris: To other Cliché Teen Journal viewers, please follow me, it will help reach me out to more people and I can make more impact on people’s lives.
Chris's Instagram: @chrisblackmanphotography