A man who moved from Northern Ireland to Liverpool said the city has made his dreams a reality.
Corbyn John McCallum, who now lives in the Baltic Triangle, said his passion for photography and video were not taking seriously when he was growing up. Since his move, the 24-year-old has worked with some of Liverpool’s biggest names, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mic Lowry.
After studying at Liverpool John Moores University, Corbyn began his career in the city’s creative scene, and has worked as a videographer, photographer, actor, model and graphic designer. But he claims it wasn’t easy growing up in an area where opportunities in the arts were limited.
READ MORE: I tried Guinness for the first time and it didn't go as expected
He said: "I got laughed at for having a camera growing up. I don't think people understood what I was doing. People never took it seriously enough to see it as a career, but I felt like I was lost without my camera.”
Corbyn has been fascinated with documenting the world since he was given a camera by his grandad aged 15. A boyhood Liverpool fan, the city appealed to him as the perfect place for creatives.
He added: “Liverpool provides a great art community. I feel like I’m part of that community now, which has been invaluable. I’ve been treated so well and have been able to grow not just as a creative but as a person. Liverpool has made my dreams into reality."
Speaking to the ECHO for St Patrick’s Day, Corbyn said Liverpool has shown him the best of the celebrations. He explained: “Where I'm from, we don't necessarily celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But as I’ve taken part in it in recent years, I've stepped outside of my comfort zone and made friends in university from different places."
He added: “It's been amazing over the years to be a part of it and to see what it's like. I'm still new to St. Patrick's Day, I would say, but it's an amazing day.”
Corbyn still retains affection for Northern Ireland and Ireland, with much of family remaining there. He is proud of the creatives who are leading the way back home.
He said: “There are people to look up to for the next generation. There are people doing amazing things back home and really shaping the media landscape.
“It’s amazing to watch from England because growing up, I never had anyone to look up to like that. They are the real pioneers.”
Corbyn wants to become such a role model in his work. He said: “I want to inspire the kids because I didn't have anyone to look up to. I want to be able to give back and be a part of that.
“I want to be able to show kids that if you want to document, if you wanna take photos, you want to have a camera in your hand, it isn't weird and you should be proud of what you do.”
Corbyn is keen to use his experiences to continue to grow in his field. He said: “I feel comfortable with who I am here in Liverpool. I just want to keep growing, keep learning and just be 1% better every day.”
He also urged young creatives to be brave in their ambitions. Corbyn said: “Be creative, be bold and put yourself out there because you never know what could happen or you never know what's around the corner.”
Life through a new lens. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
READ NEXT:
