Proof: Brent Stirton on Photography as Obsession | National Geographic

photography has the power to tour fear

photography has the power to tour fear as the pod maybe madder than a snake and

as the pod maybe madder than a snake and

as the pod maybe madder than a snake and happier than I’ve ever been

happier than I’ve ever been

happier than I’ve ever been blissed-out feeling like I’m losing my

blissed-out feeling like I’m losing my

blissed-out feeling like I’m losing my mind

mind

mind photography is is an absolute obsession

photography is is an absolute obsession

photography is is an absolute obsession that sometimes I wish I could leave

that sometimes I wish I could leave

that sometimes I wish I could leave behind forever but the next morning when

behind forever but the next morning when

behind forever but the next morning when I wake up I’m really glad it’s there

I wake up I’m really glad it’s there

I wake up I’m really glad it’s there it’s it’s all those things

it’s it’s all those things

it’s it’s all those things it’s the reason for my existence at this

it’s the reason for my existence at this

it’s the reason for my existence at this point we recognize elements in a fixture

point we recognize elements in a fixture

point we recognize elements in a fixture that appeal to us you know that that are

that appeal to us you know that that are

that appeal to us you know that that are commonly human which the common human

commonly human which the common human

commonly human which the common human elements that we all instantly identify

elements that we all instantly identify

elements that we all instantly identify with that makes a great photograph what

with that makes a great photograph what

with that makes a great photograph what it is if you really pay attention you’ll

it is if you really pay attention you’ll

it is if you really pay attention you’ll see how interconnected at all is that

see how interconnected at all is that

see how interconnected at all is that it’s not a separate entity that none of

it’s not a separate entity that none of

it’s not a separate entity that none of us really stand apart from what’s

us really stand apart from what’s

us really stand apart from what’s happening in the world we are all

happening in the world we are all

happening in the world we are all affected by all these issues you know my

affected by all these issues you know my

affected by all these issues you know my job is to provide information so that

job is to provide information so that

job is to provide information so that the decision-makers can make their

the decision-makers can make their

the decision-makers can make their correct decision one job is to get

correct decision one job is to get

correct decision one job is to get underneath the street and really find

underneath the street and really find

underneath the street and really find out what’s going on with that phenomenon

out what’s going on with that phenomenon

out what’s going on with that phenomenon so I’m doing like three weeks of

so I’m doing like three weeks of

so I’m doing like three weeks of Investigation and ten minutes of

Investigation and ten minutes of

Investigation and ten minutes of photography I feel a real responsibility

photography I feel a real responsibility

photography I feel a real responsibility to bring back those pictures I don’t

to bring back those pictures I don’t

to bring back those pictures I don’t take it lightly that geographic asked me

take it lightly that geographic asked me

take it lightly that geographic asked me to do this work you’re taking on a

to do this work you’re taking on a

to do this work you’re taking on a subject for the world’s most influential

subject for the world’s most influential

subject for the world’s most influential magazine and you’re being offered the

magazine and you’re being offered the

magazine and you’re being offered the greatest opportunity to talk about that

greatest opportunity to talk about that

greatest opportunity to talk about that subject that anyone in the world at that

subject that anyone in the world at that

subject that anyone in the world at that time has that’s what it is okay so if

time has that’s what it is okay so if

time has that’s what it is okay so if you’re going to talk about a particular

you’re going to talk about a particular

you’re going to talk about a particular issue this is the place so talk about it

issue this is the place so talk about it

issue this is the place so talk about it well don’t sleep you know don’t think

well don’t sleep you know don’t think

well don’t sleep you know don’t think about anything else

about anything else

about anything else forget about your golfer and forget

forget about your golfer and forget

forget about your golfer and forget about your boyfriend forget about

about your boyfriend forget about

about your boyfriend forget about anything in your life on that story for

anything in your life on that story for

anything in your life on that story for that time because that’s the kind of

that time because that’s the kind of

that time because that’s the kind of responsibility that they’re really

responsibility that they’re really

responsibility that they’re really expecting from you the idea in my head

expecting from you the idea in my head

expecting from you the idea in my head that I might not be able to deliver and

that I might not be able to deliver and

that I might not be able to deliver and just living with that feeling just

just living with that feeling just

just living with that feeling just having that Norway at you that’s a

having that Norway at you that’s a

having that Norway at you that’s a driving force for most photographers

driving force for most photographers

driving force for most photographers that’s the engine you know you know if

that’s the engine you know you know if

that’s the engine you know you know if if anyone could do this then everyone

if anyone could do this then everyone

if anyone could do this then everyone would be doing it so you know you accept

would be doing it so you know you accept

would be doing it so you know you accept those frustrations as the engine for

those frustrations as the engine for

those frustrations as the engine for your career I pinch myself and think

your career I pinch myself and think

your career I pinch myself and think someone will take it away at any moment

someone will take it away at any moment

someone will take it away at any moment but I am obsessed I do spend most of my

but I am obsessed I do spend most of my

but I am obsessed I do spend most of my time thinking or making pictures so I

time thinking or making pictures so I

time thinking or making pictures so I guess it’s a consequence of obsession

guess it’s a consequence of obsession

guess it’s a consequence of obsession more than anything else and I think that

more than anything else and I think that

more than anything else and I think that if you really want to make significant

if you really want to make significant

if you really want to make significant pictures you need to have that mindset