Daily Inspiration: Meet Sean Hurd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Hurd

Hi Sean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m from a small city off the central coast of California. Most may know it as a rest stop off the freeway, but it is where I call home. Growing up, I found it difficult to see beyond the scope of my hometown. Becuase I graduated high school at 16 and immediately entered college full-time in Santa Barbara, I couldn’t do much of what I wanted to, like explore my interests, while handling my academics. This all changed, however, when I had the opportunity to attend a semester-long study abroad program in Europe. This experience propelled my desire to travel the world and see everything it has to offer. Upon returning home, I purchased a camera, which is the same one I use today. Through hard work and study, I was one of 40 students accepted into a highly competitive film program, where I am expected to graduate this coming spring 2025. While I am attending school for film rather than photography, I want to be able to work in videographic and photographic disciplines. Many, if not all, theories of film can be applied to the art of photography. Through learning the techniques of filmmaking, you can apply them to any other forms of visual storytelling, whether it be a still image or a feature-length film.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The greatest challenges I have faced are the mental obstacles that hinder my advancement and progression. Seeing the many grand successes of other professionals in the industry can sometimes make me feel overwhelmed and lost. This is because it seems like an impossible task to reach their level. Specifically, I feel discouraged when I see photographers who have been traveling since long before the pandemic. Traveling professionally is a goal of mine and seeing how successful others have been is uplifting but daunting. In another light, because the veil of photography is incredibly vast and practically limitless, I find delight in the challenge of narrowing down the styles and techniques of photography that I would like to employ for any given shoot.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I enjoy exploring the endless creative opportunities that come with a camera body and lens. By adjusting the properties of light, you can make an image convey any message you want to an audience. I love to photograph a variety of subjects as it allows me to better understand light and composition. In my more experimental work, I find satisfaction in pushing the limits of human recognition and nature. I believe that the identification of people with little to no human features or indicators in an image is a remarkable artistic concept. My goal is to push the comprehension of the human form beyond its limits while still retaining its humanity in the process.

What are your plans for the future?
I have many dreams for my future. More than anything, I want to travel the entire world. It is amazing how we have the capability and means to travel to even the furthest ends of the Earth at practically any time. It is something I strongly cherish, and I intend to take advantage of this uniquely modern-day privilege to see as much of the world as I can in my time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hurdroundtheworld.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: hrtw_photography
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Personal Photo – Taken by Kurumi Murata