ARTIST & METAPHYSICAL MUSIC THEORIST

CURRENT PROJECT: THE FEEDBACK LOOP THEORY

‘SEE ALL LIFE AS A MAGNIFICENT PLAY OF ENERGY, THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR’

ALAN WATTS

PHOTOGRAPHY COMMISSIONS CLOSED

STUDIO MOVEMENTS

My ongoing project is completing my 2nd book ‘The Feedback Loop Theory’. Please see The Theories tab for details. This is a live ‘meta tool’ essay to encourage people to make art, please share as you see fit…the continuation of the studio will mainly swing into theory writing and creative system building from now on, with S.E.T.S theory as the next paper to complete.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLOSURE DETAILS

Unfortunately I’ve had to retire the photographer arm of my studio for a number of reasons. Firstly, a long term lack of bookings (over a period of 5 or more years), as the current business model is a wholesale outsourcing of media teams at electronic music events. I’ve not been allowed to join any of these teams due to gatekeeping by my largely male photographer peers, so I’ve been stopped from working within this field entirely. I’ve also had severe career blacklisting & intimidation complications from pre-filing an IPEC copyright infringement civil claim in the past year (against photographer Sam Neill & Sebastian Weingartshofer of Worship Artists). This included being reported to the police for harassment by the defendants in what I perceive as an attempt to halt civil proceedings (for which I received no charges). It was also carried out in an effort to remove the infringement evidence on the Sarah Ginn XX Sub Focus page off this site by (in my opinion) weaponising police time. This is currently the main issue that has stopped me continuing, as I personally find it unsafe for me to remain. Plus, all my work & support network (blacklisting) has vanished due to booking agent politics surrounding the IP dispute. Adding to this ongoing smear campaigns from the defendants since early 2023 (which via Sam Neill, unfortunately amplified the misogyny I already experienced from my male photographer peers). Thirdly, there is an overcrowding of new photographers in music photography and fewer events. Fourthly, I’m only hired/recommended by women at a 80/20 percent split, so I was never considered for 3/4 of the roles available on a freelance basis. The last reason, is an incredibly good assumption. Many prospective clients thought I was overrun with work, would be too expensive or wouldn’t want to do the job. So many people assumed that nobody ever approached me directly. They were not aware of these issues and due to the previously mentioned gatekeeping, I couldn’t contact them to say otherwise. So many varied factors came into play. Some good, some circumstantial and some bad.

To rectify, I’ve carried out my own extensive cold marketing (since 2019 at least) to gain new clients across all photography sectors (not just music) and released a whole book of work, which did garner a very small handful of shoots. But in general I’ve just been unable to resolve this recurring problem, for which I have no solution. With one booking on average gained a month (since mid 2019 and less after COVID), continuing as a photographer is now no longer feasible financially. I’ve now had to sell parts of my kit to pay off debts. Ultimately the frustration of these incidents, and the long term & unwarranted ostracism I’ve experienced has now become detrimental to my personal wellbeing. All these factors combined have caused an ongoing creative/emotional burnout & severe depression. Particularly after the police investigation to (in my opinion) halt the IPEC civil case, which was traumatic and the long running financial pressure of surviving. Since September 2024 I’ve only picked up the camera once (even just for personal enjoyment). So for now, I’ve made the decision to officially close this part of my business. Obviously this isn’t what I want, but my hand has been forced. I also don’t find it fun or enjoyable anymore due to these experiences, as photography (particularly music) reminds me of multiple & extreme, often frightening stressors. I now get quite serious anxiety when I think of taking photos. This obviously will take some time to recover and move on from as it’s depleted my energy. And if everything is energy, then I need to move out of a medium that’s been so detrimental to it. Because I don’t want to attract more of the same.

My career change will now be shifted into obtaining a new 9-5 employment within social housing/construction (because I need to start earning ASAP, having been effectively unemployed for a very prolonged period). I’ll also continue to write The Theories in the interim period in my spare time. This will be used to experiment with different visual mediums ad hoc. Honing my writing is an important path to focus on currently and the best tonic for my creativity and my mind, the right ‘frequency’ as such. Those theories were partly born because I’d not been given any opportunities to take pictures commercially. Which is an incredibly good result and something that should be highly celebrated despite these circumstances. I’ve ‘evolved’ or adapted to the current status quo by switching mediums and I really enjoy writing. This has subsequently led to a lot of discoveries and insights surrounding music that I’m absolutely fascinated by. It’s probably led to the most profound & important work I’ve ever produced. The intention of essays such as The Feedback Loop Theory, is more authentically ‘me’ & a worthwhile endeavour to develop. It also preserves my optimism around music. As those theories are designed as a meta tools to encourage creativity, confidence and a sense of wonder within all people from every walk of life.

But…I am really going to miss photography, music photography in particular. But due to these factors, who wants to remain working in such an arena at this time? The music industry in the realms of music photography is the ‘BAD PLACE’ rather than the ‘GOOD PLACE’ of what music is as a magical medium, and it has always been this way. It’s a paradox, the warring of opposing and illogical forces/actions. Which neatly explains my situation. That ultimately I was considered so much of a threat due to my talent & transparency over ethics (& being a minority photographer made that all much worse), I’ve unfortunately been completely shut out as a result. So rather than dwell on it - because it’s the wrong frequency - I’m walking away/moving on to regain my equilibrium/recover and realise it was never about me. It’s really about the gifts & insights I naturally have, and the internal insecurities that arise in others when you exhibit them. Which you know, sucks, because everyone has unique skills and mine are no better or more important than anyone else’s. But the music industry has always harboured ego, prejudice & elitism within it and just…runs like this. So its really not personal, it is what it is. Maybe I should take it as a very extreme backhanded compliment? These situations operate just like physics, they are an equal and opposite reaction to how good I am as a music photographer. To transmute this oppression, I must research and write about how music can become the very opposite to its current suppressive format. Because when bad situations happen, you meet it with the opposing emotional state, which either neutralises it, or transmutes it. The music industry actually needs people like me, who are prepared to create written theory work that actually something to the audience in this way. That’s useful to them, a metaphysical tool, rather than treating them like ‘fodder’ to sell products to. It’s just taking time for this type of hybrid XX project to ‘hit’ as such. Because it’s ahead of the curve in its forward thinking. That’s my ‘transmutation’ in a nutshell.

Naturally, the best thing to do now is to swop my focus to achieve this and follow the Wu-Wei. Then new opportunities in other mediums I’ve not thought of yet will present themselves (and concentrate on having more fun). As this is a studio that can really be anything, which is exciting to consider. I also do think this situation is part of some grand plan/good outcome for me, so I’m trusting the process on that one. So it’s not for me to predict or plan my next step, but hand it over to a higher power while I refine the academic theory I’m producing. I am also extremely thankful to have another medium I enjoy as an outlet. At some point someone will grant me an ethical, high end & forward thinking opportunity within photography (music or otherwise or an XX type project). But, I can’t control when & who that will be. Plus, I’ll only shoot again should there be an offer where I’m treated equally and with respect. If that situation doesn’t ever come to pass I’m perfectly fine with never being a photographer again. Kinda like, I’m good either way. So I’ll just assume I will be, and that perfect role/commission/client will arrive at the most optimal hour when everything is more balanced. Or ‘at ease’. So this is the correct place for me (to recover), with the least resistance, for the time being…

Assume (definition) - ‘Suppose to be the case, without proof’

‘Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change’

Stephen Hawking

‘You never change things by fighting an existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete’

Buckminster Fuller

THE FUTURE

For any academic theory or XX project enquires (or day jobs) in all sectors will now be the main focus of the studio (and aims my energy into more innovative and magic realms) please email sarah@sarahginn.co.uk. This is new work that I’m really excited to concentrate on and explore more, so I look forward to hearing from you :-)

I have removed myself from all social media to enable me to focus effectively, therefore all communication must come through this one channel. Chasing the algorithm kinda takes time away from making things…it’s also an experiment to ‘unplug’ from what is a false online world, and cultivate more authentic and intuitive based life experience.

My music photography work is available in the publications below: