Ahmad Hussain

Is my urge to capture and share an egotistical pursuit?

One in which I hope to signal my experiences as cultured, distinct or unique? Are my abilities, technical or conceptual worth sharing, or have I inflated my worth as a photographer and storyteller as a way to place myself among artists far more sincere… talented?

Are my goals tainted by a sinister desire to feel special or worthy of other’s attention? Is my vision of myself a facade, a delusion of what it means to be a successful artist… is my perception of reality skewed by filtered lenses and undeveloped narratives?

Naturally I turn to words to find some semblance of understanding. 

We all seek to feel understood. 

In our daily routines of creating and consuming perhaps what we seek most is the feeling of understanding.  Maybe these photos, in some way, are an exercise in being understood, an opportunity to be someone who is perceptive, deliberate, thoughtful. And perhaps the desire to be associated with the talented and sincere is part of that process, a natural impulse. 

I obviously don’t have the answers. But, I’m starting to see that in capturing these photos, I’m attempting to understand the world around me and in sharing them I seek to feel understood, not universally, but by those kindred, in relation or in spirit. 

If I move forward with with these ideals, I can hopefully remain inspired in my craft, and shed any craving to be perceived as cultured or relevant. 

 As I continue to capture, I hope I grow in my ability to understand my experiences and how they shape me, in sharing I can enjoy a sense of feeling understood, even if just for a moment. And maybe, as a result, even in some small way, I can be a part of your journey.

So here are some photos from earlier this year, with no agenda for how I expect to be perceived. Just fragments of a story of the weeks I spent wandering, shutter at the ready, unaware at the time, but seeking to feel understood.