I promised myself when I started SDV that it would be about more than your typical “cool guy” ambiance. Nothing wrong with that mindset, and I’m definitely not flexing on dudes who go about it that way. However, I wanted to combine the love for photography, my job, and the artistic eye that is ever so subjective both in and out of the workplace.
It's hard to post a photo of your boys (or yourself for that matter) and not feel like you’re somehow taking advantage of your situation for some kind of momentary gain. The thing is, I also feel some sort of obligation to take care of my boys and to portray my Community the right way; the way it should have been done in the first place. For ‘us,’ it's not always about smashing through doors, kicking in faces, and parachuting from 18k. It's important that future generations know that, especially since war is increasingly becoming hard to come by. The real EOD Operator is truly a Jack-Of-All-Trades. We hold many jobs where we have to maintain a standard of proficiency whereas most other Special Operators are considered surgical at one.
Its important to note that I’m just one dude. I tried to break the stigma of photos in the workplace a long time ago; and that didn’t always sit well with others. If you’ve followed long enough, you’ve heard me say this before: At the end of my career, when I look at my walls and walk my halls, I want to see photos of the boys and I getting after it. Whether that’s in training or on real Ops. Awards mean shit after you’re out, and its just a piece of paper in a frame that rarely tells the real, whole story of how that thing ended up on your chest to begin with. A broken body is no different. But a picture… the feelings those things will invoke are truly second to none. Its notalgia at its finiest, bringing back every flood of emotion associated with that piece. Now, Im lucky enough to say that I have the support of a lot of peers and brothers who are legends in the community, and that’s been worth it.
So, where to go from here? Well, as much as I want to turn SDV into a legitimate business, I have time on my side and I’m in no rush to try and force growth. To me, Authenticity is key. Which is also why I’ve been throwing up a lot more lifestyle and Cine style photos. Those moments are special too, and sometimes they’re a lot cooler than a still of someone firing off a Gustav. Like I said a couple posts ago, Art is Subjective. It’s supposed to be, right?
But here’s the thing: Ive never claimed to be some Tier 1 Operator or conversely, some Art School Masters Grad… That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been around to do some cool things with the boys or that I think I produce garbage within photos and media… What I’m getting at is ‘what you see is what you get.’ I try to be as real and authentic as I can be. Whether or not anyone truly gives a damn is beyond the point; it matters to me. I've been lucky enough to have some dope conversations with Giants in the industry who’ve not only gone out of their way to help me out, but have shed light and offered advice for nothing in return. That’s Authenticity and a pillar SDV is built on.
It’s so rad to see that within a couple real months of taking SDV seriously, there has been true growth. What’s cooler is that I’ve been able to start calling people ‘Homies’ in the space. Again, the dudes that have given SDV a chance, I appreciate it. To the others that offer support, it is never taken for granted and I thank each and every one of you for sticking around. That’s why I try my damndest to answer each and every message. That being said, heres to growth, for you, the reader, and myself alike. I hope you dig.
Lastly, I can’t say it enough… Thanks for your time and support
-Sonny