January marked my 14th year as Britta the Photographer and my 21st year as a working photog. Even typing that out feels unreal. In my head, I’m still sitting in the tired rooms of Flora Frick Hall (MSUM), learning not only how to be a photojournalist, but why and who for.

The thing about doing one thing for so long is that somewhere along the way, you get into a rhythm that feels like the doldrums. Sure, you are learning new things and navigating constant changes. On the daily you are switching up how you approach things and figuring out your next best move. But, for me at least, you sorta just do the work and forget to be inspired.

Since I was just a fresh-faced college student, a lot has changed in the photography world. My career started before social media was even a thing. I was an early adopter of MySpace, then Facebook, and then eventually Instagram. While I started out hungry to learn about the history of the craft, that focus eventually shifted. Somewhere along the way, being inspired by the greats mattered less than keeping up with my competition and following those early-oughts "celebographers."

These days, I pay little attention to what anyone else is doing. After taking a bit of a break from the noise of social media, it became clear to me that something was missing from my creative journey. I was itching to be inspired again. Not by my peers, or those who do exactly what I do, but by those creatives (photographers or otherwise) who had something to say.

So, for 2026, I am starting a new project that I’m calling “A Month with…”

Each month, I will choose one creator (either at random or by fate, photographer or otherwise) and dive deep into their work, process, motivation, and artistry. And I will share my thoughts, and maybe, if inspiration hits, some work inspired by them, right here for those who are interested.

When I first sat down to explore this idea, I made a list of 100 photographers across several genres: documentary, photojournalism, art, fashion, commercial (you get the idea). My plan was to draw one name at random each month. But I am a lady who changes her mind, and I have already decided to scrap those parameters and just feel it out as I go.

That said, for January 2026, fate definitely took the lead. I drew Henri Cartier-Bresson out of the bucket, which sent me straight back to those rooms at Flora Frick Hall. I can still hear my professor (advisor and sensei), Wayne Gudmundson, talking about Cartier-Bresson as a father of photojournalism and the man who coined the term “the decisive moment”. What I did not realize until now was just how much his work has influenced my own career, whether I was conscious of it or not.

I can’t wait to see where this journey leads and to share what I’ve already learned. The truth is, there are so many things to be inspired by if you just take the time; this project is really just me teaching that lesson back to myself.

Image above of me by Morgan Allora, Studio Freshly.