Photographer Jocke Bengtsson believes opportunities start appearing the moment people stop trying to become someone else.
At the same time, he says networking is essential for creative growth, which is exactly why he joined MyTalent ahead of the platform’s official launch. Not long ago, Jokke held his very first photography exhibition at Thorvalds in Oslo, Norway. Photography is not his full-time profession, but after years of experimenting creatively, he finally found an artistic direction that truly felt like his own.
We spoke with him about creativity, identity, and how a simple hobby eventually turned into a personal exhibition.
I Always Had A Camera
How did photography start for you?
“Photography has followed me ever since I got my first camera as a kid,” Jokke explains.
“I always needed to have a camera around. I’ve owned countless cheap little cameras through the years.”
But for a long time, he had no real direction.
“At one point, my sister asked me, ‘What are you actually doing with all these photos?’”
That question stayed with him.
“I realized I didn’t really have a purpose. I just liked taking pictures.”
That small comment became the spark that changed everything.
“I decided I needed to build towards something. Maybe an exhibition.”
So he gave himself a challenge.“I gave myself about a year and a half to create enough work for a full exhibition.”
Finding A Personal Style
At first, nothing was fully planned.
But slowly, a style started emerging.
“I spent around six months figuring out what actually felt like me creatively. Small coincidences changed the direction constantly.”
Eventually, he realized something important.
“The harder I pushed creatively, the more personal everything became.”
That realization completely changed how he approached photography.
“I started understanding how to express things both technically and emotionally. I learned how to search for the right frame, the right moment, and the right atmosphere.”
Don’t Try To Become Someone Else
Jokke says photography became the first creative outlet where everything clicked naturally.
“I’ve always been creative. I’ve drawn, written poetry, played music — but photography became the thing where I finally felt completely natural.”
For him, the most important thing is not immediate success.
“The important thing is simply trying honestly. If you create from the heart, nothing is wasted.”
He believes many people fail creatively because they try too hard to imitate others.
“The key is not copying people or trying to become something you’re not.”
That mindset eventually led to something deeply personal.
“The exhibition became something where I could honestly say: ‘This is me.’ I had never seen anything quite like it before. It didn’t feel like a copy of anyone else. That was an incredible feeling.”
The Strange Feeling After The Exhibition
Interestingly, Jocke says, finally reaching the goal also left him emotionally exhausted.
“I had worked towards this for so long that when the exhibition finally happened, a part of me felt empty.”
After the exhibition, he temporarily stepped away from photography.
“I mostly started drawing again just to clear my head.”
For him, creativity is about constant movement and development.
“I needed to move forward creatively. I didn’t want to stay stuck in the same place mentally.”
Still, he says the process taught him something important.
“I learned how to define what I actually want to create instead of just endlessly producing things.”
Advice To Other Creators
When asked for advice to others starting out creatively, Jokke keeps it simple:
“Take your camera out and just shoot. Don’t overthink it.”
He encourages people to experiment until they discover what genuinely excites them.
“Eventually you start noticing what works for you, what inspires you, and what you actually want to keep developing.”
At the same time, he believes inspiration matters — as long as it doesn’t turn into imitation.
“I watch a lot of YouTube videos about photography techniques and camera settings. That absolutely helped me improve. But inspiration and copying are two very different things.”
He encourages creators to ask themselves deeper questions.
“What actually attracts you visually? Do you want to create documentary-style images? Black and white? Abstract work? Is there a story you want to tell?”
And perhaps most importantly:
“Don’t obsess over reaching a goal immediately. The goal comes when you’re ready for it.”
Why Networks Matter
Jokke believes one reason his exhibition became possible was that he already had connections to venues and creative people around him. Networking matters a lot
He explains that advice from other artists and photographers became incredibly valuable throughout the process.
“That support is gold.”
This is also why he immediately connected with MyTalent’s vision.
“We need shared spaces where people can help each other grow creatively.”
According to him, platforms like MyTalent can become important for creators across all industries.
“Being around passionate people is inspiring no matter what field they work in. We need more spaces where creators can connect, collaborate, inspire each other, and grow together.”
Final Thoughts
Before ending the conversation, Jokke leaves one final recommendation:
“Life isn’t complete without a good Ramones collection.”
He laughs.
“The simplicity and complexity in their music is completely unique. They never tried to become anything other than exactly who they were.”
And maybe that is the entire point.