Meet Richard Casteel of Dandelion Gatherings
I received a camera when I was 10 years old. I fell in love with making photographs. It was always just a hobby so I proceeded to earn an MA is psychology, an MS in hydrogeology – then while in the doldrums of academia as a PhD student in hydrogeology I had a realization. Academia is a wasteland. So I dropped out and began working at a new restaurant that was starting up in Austin – Odd Duck. I loved their concept of farm to table and the food was amazing – so I stuck around. Then I decided to become a photographer after the encouragement from a friend.
No road is ever smooth. But it is the attitude you carry with you that determines how you travel the road. Sure sometimes I doubted myself. Sometimes rent was put on a credit card. Sometimes I was frustrated and scared I made a bad decision. But overall it feels good and I keep following that feeling.
I make photographs of all types. Food is my favorite but I just enjoy the process of making most any type of photograph. I am proud that I started hustling Craigslist and now I feel successful. What sets me apart from others is that I do not do this for the money. I do it because it feels good and I love it.
Success is how you feel – if I feel good about myself and life and have love in my heart then I am successful. Only from that place of feeling good will anything else be truly satisfied.
