Rodrigo Torres is a Wanna-Be Photographer based in Dallas.

therealstoiclens@gmail.com

I was born in Mexico in 1995. Since my inception, I—as many, many others—have navigated throughout this thing called life. Growing up, I didn’t recognize—let alone know—what my “value” was or what my “purpose” meant to this world. Frankly, I don’t know why I am where I am today. However, I grew to recognize the chaos that sometimes attached itself to life became less burdening the moment I chose to add emotional structure to my life. Within reason and accountability, I do my very best to apply stoicism principles to my goals, day to day life, and values. Through discipline and precedent, I allow myself fair judgement towards people and circumstances. Precedents can sometimes be partial through influence or opinions, but principles remain impartial. With and without bias and influence, I navigate with a sense of confidence of who I am and what I represent. Through right and wrong. Through high and lows. Through easy and difficult. I remain who I need to be for myself. There is no guideline in how to make decisions and no guideline in how to live your life. I tell you what I have because this is what works for me. I tell you because the concept of impartial principles can sometimes work for anyone, because ultimately, the impartiality acts as the independent variable that cannot be influenced by circumstances, but rather, precedent.

Photography is faceted with numerous entities. It is represented by the intention of the photographer, storied by the interpretation of the viewer, and accepted for what it is by the mere act of viewership. To present yourself through photography comes a responsibility of being open to the interpretation and intention of others. It means to allow yourself the possibility of reason and vulnerability. The realm of photography is about capturing a moment and granting it significance—significance stemmed from what is important to you at that point in your life. Importance that should only bear as much as you allow it to. Being mindful to change and difference is only an indicator that you’re letting yourself be someone you want to be. Afraid be not, as change can be the vehicle by which you allow yourself to be accepted not only by others, but most always importantly, yourself.