Antoine Tiggart has always been a fan of beautiful photography. At the age of seven he began browsing through National Geographic magazines in admiration of the images they contained. Tiggart ‘s mother took notice of her son’s fascination and decided to purchase his first camera; a Kodak D100. In the early stages of learning his new device, Tiggart was taught photography techniques from a neighbor who was once a photographer in the 1960’s for TIME magazine.

Now an entrepreneur and working as a freelance photographer, Tiggart states that one of his biggest obstacles is getting exposure. “I’m always having to prove myself since I’m not a big name. I have to constantly show what I can do.”

Photo: Antoine Tiggart

CREATING BEAUTY FROM CHAOS

Tiggart currently captures photography with a Canon 1dx and offered a suggestion to those who own or are considering the camera.  “Ignore when people say you should only use it for sports because it has a fast shutter speed. Use it for everyday shoots to create something different. You can start with an ugly disaster and mold it into something beautiful. Ultimately, I like showing people what’s in my head and how I view things.”

Photo: Antoine Tiggart

Creative Inspiration and Obstacles

Although passionate about his craft, Tiggart admits that there are times where he struggles with creative block. When that occurs he relies on various sources of inspiration to help him get back on track. “I draw inspiration from other photographers, illustrators, and music. My favorite genre of music is hip-hop, and my favorite groups are Wu-Tang and Outkast. Their music helps to get my creativity flowing whenever I hit a snag.” He goes on to say  “One of my favorite photographers is Brooke Shaden. I really like how she creates amazing compositions using herself as a prop.”

Photo: Antoine Tiggart

Advice for Upcoming Artists in Detroit

It is no secret that Detroit’s creative scene is bursting with an endless array of talent. The city exhibits collections of work from legendary and up-and-coming artists alike. And while there are programs to help kickstart ones creative career, Tiggart feels as though artists don’t always dedicate

Photo: Antoine Tiggart

enough time developing their own unique style. “Detroit is my home and has an amazing creative scene.” Tiggart says. “My negative take away is that some people are followers and don’t do their own thing. People find what is popular and mimic it; they don’t explore their own style enough. They get one negative comment and give up. My advice is to stay true to yourself and someone out there will appreciate it and you won’t even know it.” Tiggart goes on to say “I’ve learned to love criticism. It shows you the bad and how you can be better at what you do.”

FUTURE PLANS

Tiggart understands that tackling art projects without the proper tools or workspace can be frustrating at times. His future plans involve developing a space where artists can exhibit their work and give back to the creative community through a host of workshops. “If I make my own lane I can explore different opportunities,” Tiggart says. “I just want people to understand that the creative process can be a beautiful thing from beginning, middle, to end.”

To see more work by Antoine Tiggart visit his website AMT Visuals. What is your favorite camera to use when capturing photos? Share your thoughts in the comments!