I recently attended a photography workshop hosted by Canadian photographer David Brosha and his wife Erin at their home in PEI. The annual workshop, entitled Land and See, is five days of creative learning, collaboration and transparent exchanges of experience. Every year Dave assembles a group of mentees that present to a group of 50 assembled participants eager to learn and experience the gift of knowledge with the ultimate hope to leave the conference a better photographer. But a strange thing happens to most people over the course of the five days…they not only leave the barn where the conference is held a better photographer…most leave with a better sense of purpose, better friends and some would argue …better people.
A consistent theme of a good number of the presentations this year was the constant struggle with creative courage. At some time in their lives…almost everyone that has achieved their personal level of success has had to deal with the obstacle of overcoming fear and finding the courage to carry on.
But what is creative courage?…much has been written but I feel that creative courage is really a way of life to those who overcome it. It becomes the fuel to move forward and take the required risk to create the art or images that they have visualized but never created.
Over the next few weeks/months I will be writing about creative courage. What is it? What does it mean to different folks and how has it affected ones chosen path. I will be writing about a group of very special people that have all struggled at some time to cope with or react to challenges that has forced them to demonstrate some level of creative courage.
First up is Dave himself …one of the most genuine individuals I have ever come across. Dave Brosha was born in northern Alberta and has spent a good part of his career north of the northern boundaries of most Canadian provinces. Currently Dave and his family reside in PEI where they exist in almost perfect harmony with the warm Maritime cultures and amazing landscapes.
Dave is more than anything…a true educator. His desire to share what he has learned with just about anyone who cares to listen is the cornerstone to his success. Dave has traveled the world and as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, photographed some of the most amazing places known to man. His love for portrait photography has left him face to face with an enormous group of people longing to have Dave capture their image in a way that few others can.
So to meet Dave now you might never think that he had to overcome any challenges that would impact his creative process but that just would not be true. Bullied as a young student, Dave had to overcome the feelings of neglect and abuse to push on with his life. Supported by his amazing partner and wife Erin, Dave has successfully created a community co-founded with Paul Zizka called OFFBEAT. The company and community is based on a transparent, collaborative approach to creating compelling photography. Sneaking in on 600 members, OFFBEAT offers up many different avenues to promote creatives at any level to improve, collaborate and create.
Dave has attained notoriety of not only being a creative photographer but as a warm, caring individual. He recognized early that compassion and caring lend far better results than ego and arrogance. Dave is an educator and a problem solver….nothing gets his creative juices flowing more than solving a photographic puzzle that results in a compelling image.
Dave has clearly shown me that creative courage comes in many shapes and sizes. His guidance and mentorship has played a large role in who I am as a photographer. His own creative courage is measured by his continued growth and success and his insatiable need to create. By sharing his experiences and offering the opportunity to learn as a community …it will pave a very smooth road to allow others to overcome obstacles and find their own creative courage.
Follow Dave’s work at https://davebrosha.com/