I thought to myself, does anyone want to read another post from a stranger writing about what this past decade meant to them? Probably not. You’ve been warned then, and can just scroll down to the pretty pictures cause I’m diving in!
I don’t know why we feel compelled as humans to do these end-of-year/decade/whatever lists but for me, there can be something comforting about it. My memory is pretty crap and I tend to forget the bad things that happen to me quite quickly, or at least I can’t recall the details so their impact is diminished. I therefore focus on the positives and it always ends up being a hopeful exercise - cause if you can find something good in the past year for example, no matter how challenging it might’ve been overall, chances are there’s more good to come in the 12 months ahead
So 2019 was definitely a strange one - a lot of soul searching, figuring out myself and what I want from life and my career. I took up horse riding which I’m thoroughly enjoying, started meditating (thus becoming the kind of person I would roll my eyes at only five years ago) and reconnected with some old friends. The main event however was my first solo exhibition. It took months of preparations and help from a lot of people as well as shitloads of anxiety but it couldn’t have gone better in the end and its reception was beyond anything I could’ve hoped for.
As for 2010s, it was a decade of some big personal decisions like leaving my job to become a full time photographer and buying a flat with my partner. But when I look back at it, it’s actually the people who stand out more than anything. The friendships and connections I made, something that came as a surprise byproduct of what I do but that is definitely one of the nicest, most rewarding things about my job.
Here’s to 2020 and to the new decade then. Leaving you with some of my favourite shots from last year (I did toy with the idea of compiling a ‘best of the decade’ selection but the task seems way too daunting just now):
SONGS OF 2019
Bad Guy Billie Eilish
Crave Madonna
Juice Lizzo
Like Sugar Chaka Khan
Don’t Start Now Dua Lipa
Adore You Harry Styles
Late Night Feelings Mark Ronson
Ass Like That Victoria Monét
Don’t Call Me Up Mabel
Scandalous Camille Trust
ALBUMS OF 2019
Madame X Madonna
Late Night Feelings Mark Ronson
When We All Fall Asleep… Billie Eilish
Ventura Anderson Paak
New Breed Dawn Richard
Cuz I Love You Lizzo
Kiwanuka Michael Kiwanuka
Fine Line Harry Styles
Norman F*****g Rockwell! Lana Del Rey
Sault 5