Daily Inspiration: Meet Devon Cardamone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Cardamone.

Hi Devon, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
I began with photography over 10 years ago but came back to it with renewed interest in the last half of the decade. I have been shooting endlessly from that point. It all started with a simple 35mm SLR camera, and from there, I’ve only become more steadfast in using film. Albeit I graduated to a medium format camera, not much has changed. I will likely never own a digital camera. I feel the ability to take 500 or more photos on an SD card really takes away from forcing the artist to capture the moment. If I were to have the digital freedom to shoot hundreds of versions of a photo, I would no longer be capturing a real moment in time. I do tend to focus more on art and being creative than on commercial work these days so I support myself with a more regular 9-5 at a cybersecurity firm while allowing my work in photography to be unencumbered by financial worries. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has never been a smooth road with my creative work. Being 28 years old in this world is not easy from a career perspective. Money doesn’t go very far, and it’s hard to support yourself entirely with art. Especially if you avoid the more commercial opportunities in your creative space, I just don’t think it’s an easy task to make it as an artist. For that reason, I am lucky to have the 9-5 I mentioned previously. It can be a difficult balancing act but allows me the time I need to build my portfolio and grow my brand in the art world. I pay the bills with something other than art, meaning I can take the time to explore creatively without burden. That said, I am ambitious with my photography and other works, but I understand that time is my best friend in this regard. If I can use my current situation to maintain the difficult balance of art and a more financially lucrative career, I can work my way towards profitability in the world of art someday, too. 

People do overestimate what can be done in the short term while underestimating what can be done over the course of a long time. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As far as my photography goes, I’m not only using film but also sticking to one 105mm lens for everything. Being so limited in terms of frames by how much film I have and then the equipment itself, too, I feel I can focus more intently on the moment. My work is mostly street-shooting in proximity to the ocean and if not that, the world of classic cars. I have said before that I don’t think that casually organized photography is so easily marked as fine art, but if my love for everything analog and real continues to shine through in my imagery, it should tell a story. 

As a last note, I have recently moved into the mixed media world and am working on some watercolor-enhanced collages and images that I can’t wait to share. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as being comfortable and secure in a day-to-day life that allows me to explore and experience everything I enjoy. Not every day has to be incredible or the best day ever, but I do always look for time to enjoy my life. To me, success is that simple and isn’t related to any milestone or end goal. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devon-cardamone.squarespace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollei__tax/