Who is The Humble Hunter?
The Humble Hunter is the name of my business for a few reasons. A few years ago I would walk around my farm searching for interesting items of nature to photograph. As the seasons changed I would see lots of amazing things. I photographed many parts of our farm in each season. Winter when everything was stark and cold in appearance, to Spring where everything would just come alive in the most beautiful way. I could see Spring in it’s early stages forcing its way out into the light, pushing through, making everything so pretty and colourful. Seeing this makes me feel amazing, almost like I am waking up to new opportunities as well as a new season.
I would be in awe of what was around me. I would often wonder where it would come from, and be grateful it was there without any of my doing… Gardening isn’t my strength, maybe one day when I have more time on my hands. Some of natures treasures are blazingly obvious, some are slightly hidden in a mass of distractions and need to be searched for.
Either way, I always feel so humbled in natures presence. All of this beauty is just simply there doing its own thing whether I notice, whether I care, or not. It doesn’t need my approval to exist. Nature isn’t concerned if I like it or not, it doesn’t seek validation from anyone, it doesn’t need my approval. Nature is a prime example of a beautiful way to be.
Nature does it’s own thing
Nature does its own thing, it is happy to be its unique self, no competition, no need to be bigger or better. Nature knows that what makes it different, is what makes it beautiful. Nature doesn’t need anything from us, it thrives in our care but it doesn’t need or expect anything from us. It just simply gives without asking for anything in return.
All of these attributes embody the way I love to aim to live. I absolutely feel humble in natures presence. This is mainly how the name The Humble Hunter came to be, as I search humbly for natures offerings and translate the stories I would find.
But there may also possibly be another reason…
I love my privacy and solitude
I love the idea of being a bit anonymous, I like to hang out in the background and live to the beat of my own drum.
The Humble Hunter strives to reach a very niche market. Some people love what I do, some don’t care for it – and that is perfectly ok! I am not for everyone and I kind of like the idea of creating something special for a unique crowd who catch my drift. I did feel like I was going out on a bit of a limb originally and worried if my work would be well received or even recieved at all. If it was good enough, if I was good enough, if what I was doing would reach and resonate with people. I knew I had to be the spokesperson and stand confidently behind every thing I do. For this reason I really liked the idea of being able to create authentically whilst ‘hiding’ behind an alter ego.
There have been many alter egos in the past, David Bowie had a handful of alter egos.. Eminem, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Mark Wahlberg and Prince just to name a few. Not as many Australian photographers run with an alter ego but there are a few.
By definition, an alter ego is another version of yourself, created to live out a different story.
Having an alter ego can empower you to live outside your comfort zone. It can allow you to share a version of yourself which you may not have shared before, which you may be a bit unsure about sharing. It can help you really push your boundaries and try something new. It offers you potection from failure. It allows you to step away from your alter ego and maintain your privacy and independence. It can allow you to step into the roll of your alter ego when you need to, having the ability to take a break, step away and create some distance from the work you create.
Courage from the shadows
I love my space and I love stepping back into my private life and anonymity. I absolutely love putting this new work out there and knowing I can stand back and watch it be received (good or bad) from a distance.
When I create a photograph and story that may be a little on the dark side or that touches on a subject that people may not wish to speak about, the doubt can naturally set in… what if people don’t like it, what will people think, is this too risky, is this still taboo…? Part of me doesn’t care, but I know I need to send this work out there with a bit of a solid push.
This is where I can create from behind an alter ego and remove myself as an individual from the situation giving me confidence to just simply say what I want to say, and what needs to be said, but under another name.
Who I need to be
Having an alter ego also allows me to step into a character than is not normally my own. I personally love my time alone, I live on 20 acres for a very good reason. But to be the person this business needs me to be in order to take it where it needs to go requires a different version of me. It requires a public version that is very accessible and creates from a place of authority. It requires a person who is very confident in front of others, who can spruik and sell, who can self promote, and tell potential contacts all about what I do with a loud voice… which would almost feel like bragging to me, just simply to my personality type.
Having an alter ego in this regard enables me to send out that creative intellect without faltering. It enables me to be someone I wouldn’t usually, openly be. Someone who has the assertiveness, skill and confidence to put my work in the public domain.
Out in the public domain
Given the fact that the subject of my photographs (nature) is readily available for anyone and everyone, part of me (the real me) feels as though I am merely sharing a story that already exists. As I mentioned above nature is just simply there doing its own thing. I didn’t create nature and I absolutely can’t take credit for it. I feel I am merely a translator as such sharing a story that has been given to us all. Another reason I feel I can’t put my personal name on this body of work. But via my alter ego I can. The Humble Hunter can share this body of work as he/she doesn’t actually exist and can’t be held accountable for taking credit for natures beauty.
I personally see The Humble Hunter as a woman with an ancient soul, she is beautiful in a natural, classic, timeless way and while very feminine, she has a very strong, independant energy. She is fleeting and authoritive, she has a knowing about her which exudes an air of trust.
In my experience so far, having an alter ego is actually quite fun. I would recommend it to anyone in a creative field. It allows you to step into a role confidently and only temporarily. It allows an exciting life from a brave and outgoing view point. Where you can retreat and step away any time you wish. This is an interesting read on the topic if you have the time https://www.artshub.com.au/2020/10/08/20×20-why-creative-people-are-more-prone-to-depression-261229/
Thank you so much for being here,