001 // I Live Here Now
I’ve been trying to find my creative outlet.
Melissa in one of our old Brooklyn apartments. 2016. Fuji X-T1 + XF 56 1.2
For a long time, that place was Instagram. But Instagram has become an old friend I don’t have much in common with anymore. I open the app hoping to see photos from friends, but instead I’m forced to sift through reels that have nothing to do with why I’m there. The algorithm seems more interested in showing me viral nonsense than the posts I actually care about. I miss the slower pace of how it used to be.
I still use IG because it’s where I’ve been active for 14 years, and because I’ve found real community there. At this point, I’m mostly hanging on to stay connected to the friends I’ve made along the way.
Screen shot from my YouTube video about my favorite X100VI accessories.
YouTube is like the workout routine I just can’t seem to find a rhythm with. I know that if I got better at it, it could be both a creative outlet and maybe even a full-fledged income stream. But I put too much pressure on myself to make “super engaging” videos, then shoot them down before I even make them. It’s a vicious cycle.
Maybe I just need to turn the camera on and record. But that’s a topic for another post.
Lucky light on the lift gate at my local post office. 2025. Fuji X100VI.
Substack A blog, on the other hand, feels like the fancy notebook I treated myself to… sitting on my desk, waiting to be filled while I juggle work and family. Blank pages staring back at me, ready for ideas and stories.
I’ve got thoughts about photos I’ve taken, places I’ve been, gear I’ve owned (and sold, and bought again). I’d love a place to talk about my creative ups and downs, the behind-the-scenes, and “the process” of it all.
It will be great to expand on ideas more than I could on Instagram, but not have to make a full production out of it like YouTube. There’s a lot I’d like to get out of my head and into the world. Maybe you’ll find it interesting. Maybe I’ll just be yelling into the void. (Not literally yelling… I’m too tired for that these days. I’m Calm Tom now.)
Cece running wild. 2025. Fuji X100VI.
What I do know is, after 20+ years of doing photography day in and day out, I’m still super passionate about it.
Either way, I’m glad you’re here. Stick around, read along, and feel free to jump into the comments if something resonates with you. I’d love to hear your thoughts, too.
Every day is a winding road. 2025. X-T5 + XF 27mm.
Currently listening to: “We Laugh Indoors” - Death Cab For Cutie
