The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark has assembled a compelling video compilation featuring ten internationally renowned photographers who share hard-won wisdom with the next generation of image-makers. This five-minute presentation brings together voices from different generations and photographic traditions, offering both practical guidance and philosophical reflection on building a sustainable artistic practice. The museum created this resource to address unique challenges facing young artists in an era dominated by social media metrics and digital technology. Featured photographers include Paul Graham, Martin Parr, Nan Goldin, Miyako Ishiuchi, Elina Brotherus, Stephen Shore, Barbara Kasten, Anton Corbijn, Collier Schorr, and the late Ulay, whose collective experience spans documentary, fine art, fashion, and conceptual photography.
Several photographers emphasize action over analysis when launching a career. Paul Graham advises beginners to simply go out and start working, accepting that initial efforts will inevitably disappoint. He shares that his own early work on any new project is consistently poor until he finds his rhythm through sustained practice. Martin Parr takes a more blunt approach, stating that failure is probable unless one possesses an obsessive, almost diseased dedication to the craft. Elina Brotherus echoes this sentiment, noting that young artists often overthink while underproducing. She encourages emerging photographers to let their images guide subsequent steps through an organic process of creation and reflection rather than over-planning every detail.
Maintaining artistic integrity emerges as another central theme throughout the interviews. Nan Goldin warns against living through a phone screen, insisting that young artists have more to express than Instagram can contain and more to experience in the physical world. Stephen Shore emphasizes trusting one's own vision even when facing harsh criticism, sharing that he has endured terrible reviews while remaining confident in his direction. Barbara Kasten advises against focusing on future fame, noting that not everyone becomes a superstar. She hopes young artists pursue work for its own sake rather than for recognition, letting success come organically if it materializes without becoming the primary motivation.
The photographers also discuss the deeply personal nature of their medium and the importance of cultural context. Anton Corbijn stresses that successful portraits must contain elements of both subject and photographer, since cameras are essentially identical tools differentiated only by the person operating them. Collier Schorr reflects on photography's inherent power dynamics, where photographers control the image yet remain invisible within their own work. Miyako Ishiuchi broadens the perspective, urging photographers to cultivate curiosity beyond their medium. She argues that photography exists within a larger cultural whole that includes literature, music, and film, and that narrow technical focus limits artistic growth.
Perhaps the most unconventional advice comes from performance artist Ulay, who suggests avoiding art academies and museums as primary sources of inspiration. He argues these institutions present ready-made solutions that can limit creative development, instead recommending that young artists seek raw inspiration behind central stations and in overlooked urban spaces. The video concludes by connecting these insights to the museum's current exhibition of Jon Rafman's Google Street View project, which finds artistic potential in digital spaces. This juxtaposition suggests that while technology offers new tools, the fundamental drive to create must come from authentic curiosity, sustained practice, and engagement with the full spectrum of human experience rather than following prescribed paths to success.
