I’m so inspired!

I’m so inspired!

An exploration of black love in all of its breadth.

Ishmil Waterman

I’m so inspired!

This self imposed challenge has given me a new outlook on what it is I do for a living, and a realization that purpose will move me to create effortlessly. Nothing needs to be forced. Music by Selah Beats
Check out my friends: Malcolm Emilio | Eric Flow | My instagram | My Portfolio

I’m so inspired!

February 26, 2020 No Comments

This self imposed challenge has given me a new outlook on what it is I do for a living, and a realization that purpose will move me to create effortlessly. Nothing needs to be forced.

BOOM! My first Vlog

February 20, 2020 No Comments

Getting Out Of My Own Way

February 19, 2020 No Comments

Tags best photographer, blockages, canada, create daily, inspiration, ishmil waterman, law of attraction, manifest, motivation, overcoming, photographer, spiritual, top photographer, toronto, vlogger

Growing Pains

BOOM! My first Vlog

Ishmil Waterman

BOOM! My first Vlog

The very creation of this video is the second step of many in my journey to conquer all internal resistance. For a long time I was pretty sure I was either too cool, or too lazy to do something like this, turned out I was just being to punk. So here I am.
Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/ishmilwater…
Music by Selah Beats: https://soundcloud.com/selahbeats
Shirt by Anna Fora: https://annafora.com/

I’m so inspired!

February 26, 2020 No Comments

This self imposed challenge has given me a new outlook on what it is I do for a living, and a realization that purpose will move me to create effortlessly. Nothing needs to be forced.

BOOM! My first Vlog

February 20, 2020 No Comments

Getting Out Of My Own Way

February 19, 2020 No Comments

Tags artist, expansion, flowers, ishmil waterman, leaving comfort zone, motivation, photography, pisces, rapture, toronto, toronto life, vlog

Fine Art Growing Pains

Getting Out Of My Own Way

Post author By Ishmil Waterman
Post date February 19, 2020
No Comments on Getting Out Of My Own Way

Getting Out Of My Own Way

Ishmil Waterman

Getting Out Of My Own Way

There is a challenge that most if not all creatives face. Conquering of the only true adversary who lives within. This beast goes by many names and wears many disguises but its sole purpose is to stand between the self and creation. It can manifest itself as doubt, insecurity, a feeling of being stuck, overthinking and just about anything that delays you from making that project you’ve been dreaming about a reality. The challenge this poses for me is finding a method of getting out of my own way, and allowing yourself to be great. So how do you do this? How do you quiet the mental clutter so that things just flow? Well honestly I’m not sure, I’ve just chosen not to acknowledge it with thought anymore. And instead, just act. Life compels action all the time, and frequently I have met it with resistance. “O I need this kinda set, this kinda team, this kinda gear, these ideal circumstances, blah blah blah”. The constant desire for some degree of circumstance before I create, rather than just creating at the moment and letting what comes come. Identifying the adversary within has prompted a means of combat. As of Monday, February 17th, 2020 I have committed myself to pick up my camera and shoot every day. The subject matter isn’t entirely important. What’s important is that I assign myself a subject or theme, and go execute it. This personal experiment has allowed me to shine an inner light on the doubts that hide in the shadows of my mind and cast them out. I am a duppy conqueror! Lifting the sword of the spirit to any challenger who dears to enter my sacred space, the temple of my mind. This expanded self awareness is influencing my actions in a few areas of my life, but I’d rather show you than speak about it.

I don’t intend on sharing each daily project, but I will share what I created today. My girlfriend and I took to Allen Gardens Conservatory with a black piece of bristol board, a dollar store LED light and my FUJI XT3 with an 18-55mm lens. Let me know what you think, I don’t typically shoot still life, but I really enjoyed the process today And I really love how it looks in my Portfolio.

I’m so inspired!

February 26, 2020 No Comments

This self imposed challenge has given me a new outlook on what it is I do for a living, and a realization that purpose will move me to create effortlessly. Nothing needs to be forced.

BOOM! My first Vlog

February 20, 2020 No Comments

Getting Out Of My Own Way

February 19, 2020 No Comments

Tags artist, beating fear, expansion, fine art, flora, flowers, inspiration, mental health, motivation, nature, photography, self actualization, self love

Growing Pains Opinion Piece Product Review

I switched from Canon to Fuji, should you?

Post author By Ishmil Waterman
Post date February 14, 2020
No Comments on I switched from Canon to Fuji, should you?

I switched from Canon to Fuji, should you?

Ishmil Waterman

I switched from Canon to Fuji, should you?

I’ll start this article by stating that I’m not being paid to post this, though I hope in the near future I will be . So the question I’ve been getting from my friends is “Why would you switch from a full frame system you’ve been using for over a decade, to apsc sensor on a system you’ve never worked with before?” And really the answer is simple. I like shooting with it more . After years of working with Canon in the commercial and creative realms the process became kind of joyless, as a tool Canon wasn’t giving me a thrill anymore. Most modern camera systems perform phenomenally and produce image quality that is great for any professional application. Which means the brand of camera no longer matters, especially when you consider major campaigns are being shot with phones now. Whats important is user experience. My new Fuji XT3 is fun to shoot with and it feels like a analog camera, I get tingles whenever I reach for it, and I reach for it alot because it has such a compact form factor. The images I’ve been able to get out of it have been arguably better image quality than my older canon bodies, and the color rendering is beautiful! I might become a full blown fuji fanboy as the year progresses.

When on canon i would rarely if ever walk with a camera unless it was for a gig. It was too big and heavy, damn near burdensome. With the fuji I find myself walking with my camera almost daily, just capturing life, and rediscovering my craft. In a future post i’ll share some of my street photography (which I’ve never really done before). But now I enjoy it, I’ve been shooting long enough to be in an environment and have the ability to gauge my camera settings mentally before even looking at my camera, this may seem like a small thing, but having mechanical knobs to control my settings (even when the camera is off), makes the process of capturing things in the moment so much easier

I say all of this to drive the point that I am excited to create again. Its been a long time since I took to fashion or beauty photography for creative outlet rather than commercial gain. I guess some times you just need a new toy to make you want to play.

I’m so inspired!

February 26, 2020 No Comments

This self imposed challenge has given me a new outlook on what it is I do for a living, and a realization that purpose will move me to create effortlessly. Nothing needs to be forced.

BOOM! My first Vlog

February 20, 2020 No Comments

Getting Out Of My Own Way

February 19, 2020 No Comments

Tags beauty, cameras, canon, fashion, fuji, fuji xt3, fujifilm, ishmil waterman, passion, street photography, toronto, xt3

Love Portraiture Showcase

143 (I Love You)

An exploration of black love in all of its breadth.

Ishmil Waterman

143 (I Love You)

This February I was given the opportunity to be a part of a showcase at Union Station curated by Wan Lucas, an individual who i can only describe as a warrior in the movement for greater visibility of POC in all spaces. The 143 exhibit takes hold of February’s unique positioning. This month we have family day, Valentine’s day, black history month, and a solar transition into Pisces. In other words, it is a month to celebrate love, and in the case of this showcase, it was an opportunity to celebrate black love.

When asked to participate, I was given a very open guideline. (Capture what love looks like / feels like to you) Instantly there was only one thing that came to mind. My family. Not just the family i share blood relationships with, but the family I’ve inherited through friendship, romance, and community. Interestingly in all my years of shooting, this was the first time I coordinated for my loved ones to gather for a proper portrait session. I had no idea at the time that it would lead to an interview with City TV’s Breakfast Television! The experience had a wondrous effect on me. As a photographer, it is a part of my job to connect with my subject, to use the gates of empathy to gauge what they are feeling and maneuver those feelings to get the perfect picture. This shoot, however, was different, my connection with each subject was already deep, so the gate of empathy was broader, the understanding was far more profound. Frankly, it changed the way I shoot, this experience has made me seek a deeper connection with all of my subjects.

Going into this project I had every intention of creating images that would serve as the hero shots of the series. All of my experience in commercial photography assisted in the success of this intent. Creating images that are warm and speak to something genuine, while at the same time could do justice by the relative neutrality of a space like Union Station and the sponsor TD Bank. This is my first time being commissioned for a project that required such an approach, and I am very happy with the results and even happier that the subjects are people that I love. Moving forward I have every intention of leveraging this project to create more works in a similar lane. The opportunity to work with multiple major institutions is absolute goals. And if I get to put on for my peoples in the process, BONUS!

You can find more images from the 143 (I Love You) showcase below. Other participating photographers in the showcase included. Yannick Anton, Nathalia Amillionminds Allen, Soteeoh, Wade Hudson, Brianna Roye, Gillian Mapp, and illustrations by Alexis Eke

Yannick Anton

Alexis Eke