“I’d rather fail as me, than succeed as someone else”
My name is Jeremy Dyson. I am a 24-year-old photographer/Videographer from Adelaide, South Australia. It Still feels odd, saying that I am a photographer/videographer. I always thought you needed some sort of official paper, indicating your profession. To be able to label yourself one. (don’t worry, I understand going around calling myself a neurologist, does not make me a brain surgeon)
When I was 15, I got my first ever Smart Phone, the Samsung Galaxy S1. I specifically asked for the Samsung because of the camera. A whopping 5 megapixels. This was when my love of photography began. I took pictures of everything and everything My passion in the creative world, did not start off with photography, but with drawing. From a young age, I loved to draw. I loved to draw exactly what I am taking photos of now. However, as I progressed through my adolescents it wasn’t exactly ‘cool’ to draw. So, I gave up my passion for drawing and filled that time with sports. (Mostly AFL and Basketball) I grew up playing basketball and football (AFL), along with various other school sports.
I am the youngest of 4 with 3 older sisters, plus mum and dad. I grew up on the farm and in the city, this gave me the ability to live a somewhat, fast paced lifestyle and then when the city got too much, I was able to relax on the farm. My house always seemed to be filled with people. We all were and still are very social and outgoing people. Growing up in that household, it was also referred to as ‘the Zoo’. My voice was often drowned out. One reason being, I was the youngest and two, the family was predominantly females, so what I had to say was not really of any interest to them. That is when I found gaming. My first ever console Being a Nintendo 64.
Prior To the Pandemic I made the move over to Melbourne, Australia. Although I haven't seen as much as I would like, I couldn't be happier with the move. The one question I get, when people find out I am from is, how do you find Melbourne? (Being the sheer size and pace of the city) but I don't notice that much of a difference, apart from the size obviously. I am glad I grew up in Adelaide. Adelaide had, and still has, a nice homey feels to it. A great sense of community. You knew your neighbours. Everyone had more of a down to earth feel about themselves. So, if you are reading this and you have never been to Adelaide, I suggest you go see for yourself, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
As the days of school and university are over. I find myself spending more time alone, whether this is due to COVID-19 or not, I am not sure. Just kidding, I know the reason. Through this alone time, I have spent a lot more time, working on myself and what I want out of life. It was through this period, I turned to photography. At the beginning of this pandemic, I was lucky enough to have a job. It paid moderately and I had security. I bought a brand-new car (which I still have today) I moved into a new apartment, I was still able to go to the gym, (when we were subject to a horrendous lockdown) life was okay. But just like many before me, I was just going through the motions of life. I was consumed by the rat race. I started to ask myself, do I really want this. The thing is, I didn’t even know what it was I was hoping to achieve. Money was my only real driving factor. Then what? I might be able to afford another nice car or new watch. The thing is, even when I did buy that new thing that I wanted, it was always followed with ‘okay now what’. It was clear to me that my life was missing something, and that thing, was PASSION.
So, I quit my job in January of this year (2021), I did not have a plan or idea of what I was going to do. I just knew if I stayed in that if I stayed in that position any longer, I was going to go out of my mind. I was told things such as “just work on your passion when you’re not at work” and “but you need money to live” and “stay there a couple more months so you can save up, then pursue your passion”, while these can work for some people, they did not work for me. Getting out of the position I was in, meant more to me, than security and money. It was a risk I know, but one thing I have come to learn is, everything is a risk. I don’t know who needs to hear this but LIFE ISNT A RACE, IT’S A DANCE. “I’d rather live a short life of glory, than one of obscurity”