///Passion///
Ray Collins is an Australian, international award-winning photographer, who has published two books, solely focused on waves and seascapes. His newest book, Water & Light, was three years in the making, and his unique eye shows us the beauty and power of the ocean in a single snapshot. Read the interview with Ray Collins below to see how he takes his passion for the ocean and turns it into a successful career.
Description & Discussion:
In the interview with Ray Collins, he is asked, “What is it that inspires you about waves?” and his answer could not be more perfect: “They are literal waves of energy that move through water and they never repeat themselves! There’s no re-shoot, ever! No rewinding or second chances. All of this, along with its sheer beauty inspire me every day.” While developing his portfolio from his original work to what we see now, Collins was able to find what inspired him each and every day. The beauty of what he does, pun intended, is that he cannot take another picture. If you’re an everyday photographer taking portraits, you can redo a shot if you don’t like it. What Collins has discovered is that, like a snowflake, no wave is the same. Each wave is unique and beautiful in its own way. There’s always going to be some external force that shapes it, whether an earthquake, a gust of wind, or the gravity of the moon and stars.
When I look around at the people who are in my life, whether it’s family, coworkers, friends, or mentors, each person is unique and special in their own way. They all show they care in their own way and they each approach conflict differently. Each person in my life has had some impact, whether minor or major, or positively or negatively, on the person I am today. You can learn something from everyone around you because each person will have a different perspective. There is something that drives each person in their everyday lives, and while you may not be aware of it, you have an impact on someone’s life as well. Whether you know it or not, you have a positive or negative impact on a person’s life.
Decision, Design & Discipline:
Let’s be honest for a second, I don’t expect you to go around and be happy and smiley to everyone you meet. I don’t expect you to treat everyone the same way; how you treat your spouse is obviously going to be different than you treat your coworker. I expect though that you realize your surroundings and the people around you. Is there someone that you know or have recently met and see something in them? I would not be where I am today without the people in my life that saw something in me. Take time to get to know that person and help them see something in themselves that you see. While also helping someone else, take the time to be Ray Collins for a little while, and find your inspiration. Does a wave inspire you? Does your significant other inspire you? Is there another creative outlet you have that allows you to see the beauty of each and every day? Allow yourself the time to find these things.