I’ve been studying the photography of Andre Kertesz lately. Much of it modernist, all B&W, all stunning. In pre-war Hungary, Kertesz was a photojournalist, who stayed as long as he could be eventually fled to New York to escape the Nazis. His life was shattered, and he makes use of rich symbolism in his work to reflect his new condition.

His work also included still life and portraits. His vision and grasp of decisive moments rival Cartier-Bresson, and he remains one of the prime influences on my own photography. Although it must be said, the primary influence has been to establish a feeling that I have yet to take my first picture. If what he does is photography, I haven’t gotten there yet.

Which is fine. We are always in the process of becoming who we are. Art is growth. Skills grown, but so does vision. In fact I would go so far as to say, your skills don’t really matter than much, it’s your eye for a picture that matters. Maybe I don’t have either one yet, but it’s a quest, finding my vision, and there is no destination or goal. Just constant seeking.

And by the way, the picture actually has nothing to do with Kertesz, other than me being influenced by his still lifes.