Meet Brandon Mykel of Brandon Mykel Photography
Photography has been apart of my life since a young age. I felt like I was always the unofficial photographer of my family. When I got to high school, I enrolled in my school’s photography class, which they started that year. I learned the technical side of it and years later, I directed my passion and drive towards taking pictures and now here I am!
I believe anything you’re trying to stride for has to have some kind of struggle. For me atleast, I enjoy a challenge and film photography is a never-ending challenge, even to this day. Challenges are put in place to test your determination, to test your resilience. Are you going to look for the easiest way out, or put the work in? A major challenge I faced was my meaning behind photography. Sure, at first I wanted to be the best person to ever pick up a camera. However, once I took a step back, I had to ask myself…. “Am I doing this only to be the best? What would happen if I ever make it to that point? What would be my motivation then?” It took a while for me to get out of that crabs-in-a-barrel mindset and understand that this is art. Photography is art. You can’t be a successful artist or a successful anything if your work ethic is determined by the next person.
I am a film photographer and what sets me apart is my eye for the camera. Literally, I’ve spent no more than $40 for any camera I own. Being raised in Gardena kept me very humble and ambitious. It wasn’t about how much money you had, just how much work you were willing to put into your craft. I wanted to convey that in my art as well. It’s not all about the expensive and newest camera equipment, or the superstar models you shoot with. It’s all about YOU and the work you’re willing to put in, and trust me, I’m willing to put the work in if you aren’t.
I personally define success in the amount of lives you have changed with your art. Hearing new photographers tell me that my pictures made them buy a film camera, or even old photographers that tell me they were inspired to take pictures again because of my work is the best indication that I’m doing something right. For me, inspiring others is what I feel I’m on this world for. I truly hope to spread the confidence that I have to anyone who needs it, and I won’t have any success, atleast to myself, unless I can be in a position to touch as many lives as possible.
