Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie O’Connor.
Eddie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Photography has always been a major part of my life. My mom was the type of person to have a bag full of disposable cameras with her at all times. Because of this, I always had a camera in my hand. When I was really young my mom would let me shoot the last few frames of the roll, and when we would get them processed I loved searching for the photos I took. My mom passed away a few years later when I was 9, but It didn’t stop me from taking photos and playing around with cameras. I loved to take photos but it wasn’t something I thought I would see myself doing professionally. That was until I started riding BMX, as I was riding I photographed the people around me. Every time I took a photo I tried to make it better than the last, the feeling of capturing an image that told a story or showed someone’s personality was amazing. In high school I was faced with a question; go to a “regular” college, or follow my passion which was to go to photography school. In 2017 I moved from New York to Boston to further my photographic education at New England School of photography. I still get the feeling of excitement every time I take a photo, and I can’t see myself doing anything different.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I create photographs. I started by shooting on digital, but have recently been focusing on film. The reason I’m really enjoying film is because of the freedom it gives me, and the control I have over the image. I was really drawn to film because of the technical skills you need to process it. I really enjoy being in the darkroom and processing my own negatives. I love photography because it gives you the choice to document something the way it is, or convey a specific emotion through the image. When someone views my photos, I want them to be able to feel the warmth of the light, hear the sound of the scene, or put themselves into the image. One of the interesting things about my photos is that they usually reflect the emotions I’m feeling during that period of my life.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I think the biggest challenge is the number of artists there are now. It’s a lot harder to stand out from the crowd then it was before the internet. If you google “photographer” there are thousands and thousands of results. Each photographer has to focus heavily on attracting attention to themselves and being an individual. Social media has also definitely made it easier to get our names and work out there to an audience, but setting yourself apart from others is the hard part.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The best way to see my work is to follow my Instagram, and to go check out my website (Eddiesoc.com). People usually support my work by buying prints during print runs, or occasionally I will also do a photo book run.
Contact Info:
- Website: Eddiesoc.com
- Phone: 914-255-099
- Email: eddie@eddiesoc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddiesoc/
Image Credit:
Peter, Skillz, sharon, Michael smith, Ramone, Derek.
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