Meet Chris F.

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris F. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Chris with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic has largely developed over a lifetime of failures and successes. I’ve learned that to be successful, to prop yourself up by your own means in whatever endeavor you’ve set upon, it takes determination. Most of us have heard that before, and it sounds cliché, but that’s because it’s so true. Determination can wear many hats, but for me, it has meant recognizing or identifying the goal and putting forth the effort to achieve it. This usually starts with a learning phase that is characterized by a lot of time reading and researching and then taking what I’ve learned and honing in on what is applicable to me and my goal. This part, the practice or shaping of the skill to the level you hope to achieve is always the hardest. After you’re there, how do you refine the skill? How do you make it better or twist it in a new way to make it your own. If I don’t have this whole process mapped out in my head so that I know where I’m at in any one pat of this journey, I find it hard to set goals and my work ethic wanes. I’ve learned to sustain my work ethic by continually reminding myself that the journey to the goal or desired outcome is achievable by being accountable to every step of the process getting there.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My career is stressful. I’m a supervisor in a local fire department that responds to fires, emergency medical service calls, and most any type of incident that requires hazard mitigation. I use photography as a cathartic outlet to decompress and become more familiar with the communities and spaces that surround me.

Most of my photographic work focuses on geographical areas. I insert myself in these locations, some that I have a deep familiarity with and some none whatsoever, and walk with my camera. I take notice of the things that characterize the area, from the mundane, to the ironic, to the sights that are unique to it alone. In areas that I am familiar with, I look for new ways to explore the space, cutting through alleys or behind strip malls. When a location is new to me, I tend to move a lot slower to get a feel for the community and walk in a more methodical manner to cover as much of the ground in the time I have. Lately I’ve been focusing on how nature and urban areas interact. Whether it be designated area for nature to thrive surrounded by a city environment, or nature slowly taking over buildings or spaces within that location.

I’ve also started a project called ‘Space To Create’ where I get together with other artists in their studios. I photograph them while we talk about their process and inspiration, and sometimes creating in their medium. When I started, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from it, but was looking for a way to connect with other artists while still working with photography. It’s really been an awesome experience to meet so many talented individuals and to see how they’ve created a space for them to thrive in their work.

I also have more ideas that I’m currently developing for future projects and plan to offer prints of my work soon. Photography has really been one of the healthiest outlets I’ve found for myself, and if others are able to enjoy the results, all the better!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

It’s hard to narrow down the qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were the most impactful in my photographic journey to just three, but these are a good start.

First, if there’s a goal you want to achieve, it’s not enough to just be passionate about. You have to want it… really want it. I’m passionate about good pizza, but have no desire to become a master pizza maker. Ask yourself, are you ready to read, practice, read more, practice more, and then when people start telling you you’re good at something, keep working to make yourself better? Not only do you have to be intimately familiar with what your goal entails, you have to be knowledgeable about every aspect of everything that surrounds your goal.

Second, make your journey your own. Learning and practicing takes lots of time, there’s no way around that, but you can find ways to do this in a way that makes it seem likes less work and more fun. Read in public, read at the park, or by the river. Practice with others. Practice with people that have already developed the same goal you’re hoping to achieve, or people who are at the similar stage of their own journey, related to yours or not. Find the routines that allow you to thrive in your learning process.

Third, see number one. Working diligently and persistently reigns when it comes to achieving your goal.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I am feeling overwhelmed, which happens often, I try to focus on what’s important. I prioritize challenges I need to overcome or tasks that need to be accomplished. What can I deprioritize for another day, and what needs to be handled at this moment? By focusing on what is most important for me and my family at any given moment, and working backwards from there, I can usually take a few stressors off of my plate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chrisfessler.com
• Instagram: @chris.fessler

Image Credits

All photos, Chris Fessler