Meet San Diego-based photographer and APA member, Annie Omens. Annie is a photographic and mixed media artist who explores the natural world with a conscious perception of what is hidden, what is known, and how nature impacts the human psyche.
What 3 words best describe your photography style? Detailed, mystical, layered.
What inspires you? I am inspired by nature and am always challenged to reveal what might be hidden beneath the surface.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? I enjoy working with mixed media but love the immediacy of photography.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? I love riding horses and walking my dogs in nature.
Who have been your biggest influences? In college, my teacher, Fred Endsley influenced me by “seeing me” and encouraging me. Currently, Aline Smithson has inspired and supported me as a mentor.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? Be yourself and keep going (don’t quit).
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? For me, learning and keeping up with social media is challenging.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? The challenge has always been the business part- writing, marketing, and social media. A recent highlight has been being part of a collective of women photographers and showing with them nationally.
What were you doing before you became a photographer? Wondering how to make a living in photography. Haha. I was considering graduate school. I was substitute teaching in a public school system, and then assisting a big-name photographer. I was getting little jobs in photography that wet my appetite, putting me on a path of knowing what I wanted to do. I just didn’t know how to get there. Being an assistant opened up my eyes to the business of photography, and sort of pointed me in a direction.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? I have been a fine artist my whole life, and since that did not pay the bills, and, I loved to travel, I worked as a flight attendant for many years.
What do you do when you get stuck? Don’t force anything, take a break.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? It’s important to understand what a good photograph is in artistic terms. Knowing about composition, color, or tone, line, scale, texture, light, etc., allows you to convey what you want to express with the most impact.
In response to the current technology, in the fine art world, there seems to be a return to alternative methods of photography by going back to film and crafting an image physically by hand instead of on the computer. It’s also exciting to see how photographers are redefining what a photograph is by printing on different substrates, and displaying them in unique ways or working with mixed media.
Meet Texas-based photographer, Eric O’Connell, who specializes in advertising and corporate photography. Eric works with clients ranging from Oracle, Microsoft, Wired, Ritz Carlton and more. “My work highlights the heroic, the relatable the contrasts and contradictions in our humanness.”
Do you have a favorite podcast? Not a favorite per se, but I like several. I generally gravitate towards either a quick, one-off story, or a longer story spread out over several episodes. In no particular order: WTF with Marc Maron, The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling (from The Freepress) – I recently listened to this, and it’s fascinating. Freakonomics, and RadioLab are always interesting. Some photography-related podcasts I have in my feed: Storytelling for Change; The Messy Truth; Dear Art Producer.
What 3 words best describe your photography style? Moody, Relatable, Direct (honest)
What inspires you? The heroic in the everyday person; subliminal contrasts; the forgotten, or those with no voice. Lighting inspires me. Crafting with light. Learning.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? I love that the camera, and this career, has been a key to other worlds I would not normally be allowed to see, or experience. I love that I get to learn about so many different people and places. I am also a fan of the collaboration that happens, especially with commercial photography.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? Cycling is probably #1. Mountain biking and road biking and city biking and … all bicycling. Also, eating well, and cooking. I love cooking. Hiking and camping.
Who have been your biggest influences? I am continually influenced on a daily basis by those around me, some having nothing to do with photography, per se. Photographic influences seem to crop up when I least expect them. Perhaps I take a photo, and want this or that in the photo, only later discovering a photo in history that had some similar characteristics that, at the time, I hadn’t thought about. Lasting influences seem to be hidden in the subconscious somewhere. I can point to influences in lighting (Albert Watson), ideas (the design group Hipgnosis), structure and craft (Irving Penn), nature and storytelling (Michael Nichols), beauty, stillness, landscape (Michael Kenna), black and white stark printing and use of negative space and wide angle (Bill Brandt).
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? I was told to take 2 weeks, use some particular gear (whatever I had), and shoot everyone you know. At the end of that time period I had a portfolio that looked like one person’s vision and that is what I took to NY City and got my first jobs.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? The ever-shifting technological landscape makes it hard to locate where photography fits within. Getting simple jobs––an actor’s headshot, for example––used to be a little “bread and butter.” But, with the democracy of who can take a photo, what people expect to pay is far less––sometimes not even worth it. AI, and any new technologies always present a challenge. How to work with and use them?
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? There are so many highlights, and challenges. As a kid I lusted after hot rod cars; had debates whether driving a funny car, or a dragster would be a better experience (dragsters always won for me). I looked at magazines filled with images of ‘top fuel’ racing. Later, as a photographer, I had the perfect job: Shoot a drag racer for Silhouette Eyewear (who drives a dragster!). That kind of thing has always been a highlight that only photography could bring about.
As a photographer, I’ve had to reconcile what making images in this time means, and how they are translated across media. For example, my 9/11 images, though striking and moving, and coming out of a photojournalism perspective (I have a degree in photo-j), made me question what I was doing as an advertising and (at the time) editorial photographer. That event alone shook my foundations and made me question my role as one who makes photos to sell something to someone. I questioned whether it was worth it or not. Instead, was it better to take photos that talk about how I see the world? Unfortunately, at that time, my view of the world post 9/11 was cynical, and, for example, looking at a polluted waterway (I did a small personal project on Newtown Creek, the most polluted waterway in the United States) wasn’t something that got me work through my normal channels. I didn’t know where to look, or how to find my own relevance in doing something that I was trying to make a political statement with. The challenge for me is finding what I want to say, and finding a way to say it.
That reflection has made me reflect and pursue some other projects––artistic projects––and led me to Germany and Europe to take a look at different cultures with my Cowboys: East Germany project. That project opened up a new world for me. It also made me realize that part of my process of growing and evolving led me to teaching at a university. Sharing my experiences and knowledge to a new generation has been fulfilling.
What were you doing before you became a photographer? Wondering how to make a living in photography. Haha. I was considering graduate school. I was substitute teaching in a public school system, and then assisting a big-name photographer. I was getting little jobs in photography that wet my appetite, putting me on a path of knowing what I wanted to do. I just didn’t know how to get there. Being an assistant opened up my eyes to the business of photography, and sort of pointed me in a direction.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? Making images, or art of some sort. It’s hard to say. Perhaps journalism (which now has its own set of problems), or most likely anthropology (cultural) because I like being out and about in the world and looking at how people live, work, play, etc. Some act of discovery in whatever form that is, is what I would be engaged in.
What do you do when you get stuck? Reach out to my tribe, my friends, my books, new ideas, art… it’s an active process to become unstuck. Take photos, and let my mind go.
What is the best advice for your peers? People will hire you for your vision and your POV. Believe in it, and stick to it.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? Save money. Learn about business practices. Set up your photography business like a business. Believe in your vision then, and go for it! (Otherwise, you’ll get lost).
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? Technology frames the urgency to produce imagery that creates genuine human emotion, instead of something that you prompt into place.
Meet San Diego-based Commercial and Editorial photographer, Matt Furman, who specializes in corporate, sports and editorial portraiture. Matt was also an Untitled 2023 finalist for his 75th anniversary cover image for San Diego Magazine.
Do you have a favorite podcast? Not really, I mainly listen to music and some sports radio. I do have a great Spotify playlist for shoots though – ‘The Goldmark’ – made by my friend DJ Nugget and it’s a perfect upbeat mix with all types of genres. I shuffle it on most shoots and always get compliments.
What 3 words best describe your photography style? Authentic, Sincere, Poignant
What inspires you? I find I get inspired when I put myself in a setting or situation that’s out of my comfort zone. Travel helps, but not necessary – basically anything that scares me a little, typically leads to good things.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? Meeting people from all walks of life. I’m really all over the place with my work and I try to not take it for granted how cool that is at times. That can also be one of the hardest things too though, constantly starting from scratch and working with people you just met. I love it, but it can be daunting at times.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? Since I’ve moved to San Diego, it’s been surfing and an obsession with golf.
Who have been your biggest influences? Such a broad question, I’ll narrow it down to photography and specifically one, and that’s Bruce Davidson I saw his book East 100th Street in a bookstore and it made me want to be a photographer.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? Shoot everything, even if it’s been done before. And when I was starting out most people were saying the opposite, that you had to find a niche and stick to that. But why pigeon hole yourself? Keep exploring.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? Getting face time with clients, photo editors, and art directors. I love getting a coffee and showing some work to creatives, and these days feels like that’s a foreign concept or people just don’t have the time. And I’m not a fan of zoom calls.
What were you doing before you became a photographer? Floundering in college.
What do you do when you get stuck? Trying out a different camera, a drone, underwater housing, or just going and shooting some street photography, portrait of a friend, etc. You’d be surprised how you happen upon something that sparks that magic.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? Learn to edit your work better.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? The key role for a photographer is to have a distinct point of view. It’s gotta be true to you – not what you think people are going to like, or whatever the hot new trend is. Once you have that dialed in, I don’t think the tech matters all that much and who has access to it.
Today we feature work from photographer, Blue Wesley, for our Meet a Member interview. Blue is a commercial, lifestyle, aerial, and water photographer who won ‘Best of Show’ for the 2023 APA Awards.
Do you have a favorite podcast? Radiolab: from tree to shining tree
What 3 words describe your photography style? Vibrant, natural, exploratory
What inspires you? Travel in general, islands, cities, people overcoming obstacles, wildlife, art, and music.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? It doesn’t really feel like a job, even though I’ve made it my career. I just can’t (picture) doing anything else. I like how you can dream up an image before you even touch the camera. IT’s all about what you want to create inside the mind and using the elements that inspire you to create it in real life.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? Surfing, fishing, hanging with orange cats, hunting for a stellar açai bowl, or just cruising around town checking out beaches in San Diego.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? As long as you do it everyday, you will be good. -Jim Daly
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? Curation. I’m always trying to slim down my archive of old shoots. My body of work is tapping out at about 20 terabytes of RAW files or 2-300,000 images that I keep on hard drives. Could I ever even slim this down to just 1000 photos? No way. I’ve found that if you don’t look at a shoot for a few years, the images you favorited then are not the ones you would select again, and the ones you kind of passed over may grab your attention. As we develop as creators, our visual taste changes, so I try to hold onto a good amount of raw files from each shoot in case I wasn’t to do a new curation and re-edit. Try it!
What have been the highlights and challenges of your career so far? Highlights: I got to shoot a magazine cover with surf legend Rob Machado in the water at his home break at Swamis, Encinitas, California.
Challenges: The ebbs and flows of freelance life can be interesting to navigate. When you don’t have many projects certain times of the year, the mind can wander, but you have to stay on the path and find ways to forward your momentum with the time you have not shooting. When you are slammed with projects, it’s nice to have a break. So who knows?
What were you doing before you became a photographer? I got a Bachelor in Arts in Geography from UC Santa Barbara, which I never used, and my wife jokes that she’s never seen my diploma. Not sure where that is. In college, I worked at Four Seasons Hotels and then was a busser and waiter at fine-dining steakhouse until I made my move!
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? Musician, I played guitar with some of my best friends in a blues reggae band at UCSB. We were pretty sick.
What do you do when you get stuck? Get off the computer, get outside, move, breath, exercise, travel, take a road trip, get into nature, surf, I always come back feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and ready to take on a new project with a fresh sense creative energy.
What is your best advice for your peers? Stick with it, there’s a lot of pressure out there to be the best, to create something EPIC, post something VIRAL, and EVERYDAY. It’s a lot. Try to put horse blinders on and stay focused on being grateful for your own epic experiences, whatever they may be, instead of being worried about what others are doing.
If you don’t hit the milestones you set for yourself, it’s all good, we aren’t meant to always do everything exactly to plan, so keep your head down and keep on plugging away, whatever your goals are.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? 1. WHO you know is important. Foster relationships. Any day you could meet someone that could change your career life in a massive way. Keep your eyes and ears open and if there’s a person that can open some doors for you, introduce yourself and let them know what you are all about. If people don’t know what your goals are, they can’t help you.
2. There are times when doing free work is necessary. If it builds value in your portfolio, do it for free, 9 out of 10 times, they’ll book you later on paid work or refer you to someone for something bigger!
3. Team up with others. Clients will trust you more if it seems like you work on a team. And the other team members will propel you to strive to grow together. It’s a synergistic energy that is really hard to have by yourself.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? I read that more digital images are captured every single day than the entire collection of analog film photographs in its 150 year history. In One day. Think about that. Pretty wild. But it goes one step further, now that AI has entered the picture, it’s important that we keep our images as authentic as possible because at one point there maybe more artificial images than real photographs, and then the history record of how things looked and actually were will be skewed for future generations.
Meet APA member Oriana Poindexter, a photographer and marine scientist focused on the intersection of art, science, and marine natural resources.
What inspires you? I’m inspired by the beauty of nature, and specifically, the marine environment. I’ve always seen photography as a tool with which I can go explore the natural world, find something interesting or beautiful, and document it in a way that allows me to share that find with others.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? For me, photography is best when an element of chance is allowed to participate with the technology, whether in analog chemical form or digitally. The technological aspect allows us to capture moments of the natural world, but what makes it truly interesting for me is when a chance element is introduced – light behaving in an unexpected way, a surprising composition caused by a subject’s movement, or when hand-printing, the little accidents that can happen in the process that are sometimes frustrating and other times magical.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? If I’m not making photographs, I’m probably thinking about it! I have a large mental list of photographs that ‘got away’ – images that I saw when unprepared to capture them. I spend as much time as I can in the ocean, surfing, free diving, scuba diving or just swimming, and enjoy getting lost in a good book.
Who have been your biggest influences? What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? Emmet Gowin was my photography professor when I was an undergrad at Princeton University, and was hugely influential on my studies, my worldview, and the path I’ve taken since then. He quietly nudged students to explore and experiment, to follow intuition and curiosity, and to make luminous prints. There was lots of good advice along the way – you’re going to waste paper learning to print well; watch the edges of the image while composing; look in order to see.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? The non-photographic aspects of operating as an independent small business owner are challenging to manage! It’s a balancing act to figure out how to set aside enough time to create but still feel like I’m doing enough on the business and marketing end to line up enough work to make things sustainable economically.
What were you doing before you became a photographer? I studied photography as an undergrad and have my Bachelors in Visual Arts, but then I went on to graduate school in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. I went on to work for NOAA Fisheries and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as a fisheries scientist for a number of years, during which I was always photographing, diving, and exploring visually at the same time. I had the opportunity in 2020 to start my own company, Pelagic Projects, which has allowed me to focus on projects that are both artistically and scientifically engaging.
What do you do when you get stuck? I get in the ocean without a camera – just floating, swimming, watching the way the light moves underwater and seeing the life that drifts by is usually the perfect way for me to get my mind reset.
What is your best advice for your peers? // What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? Get outside – with or without a camera. And stop waiting for permission to go start that project you’ve been wanting to do – just start. If it’s interesting and worth doing, the interest/support/etc will come.
Meet San Diego based photographer and APA member, Israel Castillo, specializing in editorial and commercial photography.
Do you have a favorite podcast? Yes, The Emo Brown Podcast. I was introduced to it by my friend Enrique ‘Chikle’ Lugo. What I particularly appreciate about this podcast is its focus on local artists, business owners and musicians. It provides a platform for these individuals to share their stories, insights and experiences. It’s become a go-to-source for me to discover and connect with the vibrant community around me.
What 3 words describe your photography style? Intentional Environmental Authentic
What inspires you? I find inspiration in the simple joys of everyday life, motivating me to embrace new experiences, nurture my passions and strive for personal fulfillment.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographic artist? I enjoy the process of bringing ideas to life as a photographic artist. As someone who is constantly engaged in multiple photo projects simultaneously, I thrive on the excitement and challenge of transforming concepts into tangible visual representations.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? Spending quality time with my family, my wife and two amazing daughters (ages 6 and 4). Being able to create memories with them is invaluable to me. Recently, I’ve also taken up running, with the goal of completing a half marathon. For now, I enjoy leisurely jogs around the neighborhood, gradually building up my stamina. However, most of my time is dedicated to my kids.
Who have been your biggest influences? During my time at Brooks Institute of Photography, PF Bentley had a profound impact on me as a photographer. As the instructor of the course “Real World Photojournalism”, his teachings have continued to resonate with me and shape my approach to this day. The valuable lessons I learned from him remain a constant source of guidance and inspiration in my daily work. Additionally, I’m grateful for the influence of Javier Manzano, a good friend I met at Brooks. His exceptional skills and talent propelled him to another level. Their contributions have had a significant impact on my growth as a photographer and continue to drive me to push my creative boundaries.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? I currently face some challenges, one is finding effective ways to connect my work with potential consumers. I am actively exploring avenues to sell prints and standing out in the online marketplace is a challenge. Additionally, I would like to publish photo books of my work. But, another challenge in pursuing this goal is securing the necessary financial backing for these projects. Finding the right funding opportunities and securing partnerships or sponsorships is an ongoing endeavor. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to overcome them.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? I have been fortunate to experience several highlights and navigate various challenges. One of the most significant highlights was the inclusion of my “Power of the People” image in the San Diego History Center. I’ve also had the privilege of displaying a few solo photo exhibitions and organizing and curating group exhibitions. Another gratifying aspect has been the opportunity to mentor and guide aspiring photographers. Acting as a mentor to a few students in the past was a rewarding experience, as I had the chance to share my knowledge and help them grow in their own artistic journeys. Overcoming self-doubt, honing my skills and finding new avenues to promote and distribute my work have been ongoing challenges. However, the challenges have served as valuable learning experiences and help push me to evolve and grow as an artist.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? If I weren’t pursuing photography full-time, I would still be actively involved through my current role at Chrome Digital, a fine art print lab. Working in this capacity allows me to maintain a strong connection with the photo community and stay informed about the latest developments and trends. It gives me a pulse on what’s happening in the industry, and I find great satisfaction in being part of the process that brings photographers’ visions to life through high quality prints. So, in a way, I’m already engaged in my passion for photography, just from a different perspective.
What do you do when you get stuck? When I find myself in a creative rut, I embrace the process and go with the flow. I give myself permission to take a step back and explore other activities or interests.
What is your best advice for your peers? One piece of advice I would offer to my peers is to print their work. There’s something truly special about seeing your photographs in physical form, beyond the confines or a phone or computer monitor. Printing allows you to fully appreciate the details, textures and colors (or black and white) of your images in a tangible way. It brings a sense of fulfillment and authenticity to your craft.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? My advice to myself would be to take chances in my craft and be bold in pursuing clients. It’s important to step outside of my comfort zone and embrace new opportunities that may come my way. Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold me back from reaching out to potential clients or pursuing projects that excite me.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? As technology becomes more accessible to the masses, photographers should stay true to their craft, adapt to new technologies and continue to cultivate their unique artistic style. By sharing knowledge and supporting fellow photographers, we can contribute to the advancement of the field while preserving the artistry and creativity that define us as photographers.
Meet San Diego-based commercial photographer and APA member, Marshall Williams. Marshall specializes in beautiful lifestyle, food, spa, and destination photography along with digital video as well.
What inspires you? Wow, where to begin? I do get inspired by reading biographical stories. I just finished Robert Irwin’s Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees. Pretty influential.
What 3 words describe your photography style? For my commercial work, I would say Slice Of Life.
Do you have a favorite podcast? I do not — but I do enjoy listening to Hidden Brain on NPR.
What are you most proud of in your career up to this point? I think it would be that I’m still in business after 30 years, it’s a crazy ride.
What do you listen to when you’re shooting? Good question. We always have music playing on set. It is essential to creating a collaborative environment and the conduit that connects everyone together. Plus when things go sideways — which they sometimes do, it fills in the awkward moments. I have several playlists. My personal go to though is Dave Matthews.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographer? The places I’ve experienced and the people that I’ve met. I’m pretty sure most photographers would say the same. The camera is a front-row ticket to the world.
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? My wife and I thought it would be fun to raise our children in a big old house… so I’ve become pretty good at painting molding and restoring 100-year-old wood windows, among other things. We pretty much love anything involving food and wine… probably the happiest when grilling on the BBQ in the backyard with friends and family.
What photographers have inspired you or your work? Why? There are so many. Gregory Heisler, Matthew Rolston, Herb Ritts, Annie Leibovitz, Peggy Sirota, Mark Seliger — these were the powerhouse editorial shooters of the 1990s when I was beginning my career. Their images have a strong narrative component, masterfully composed and lit, and perhaps the most important element — gesture. Other photographers whose work has been influential are Hiroshi Sugimoto, Richard Misrach, Max Yavno, Julius Schulman, and a bunch more.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? I apprenticed in Dean Collins’ studio out of Brooks. He generously allowed the interns and assistants to shoot in his space. He would walk up behind you while you were shooting, slap you on the back, and say “Talk to her!”. By that, he meant to keep a continuous chatter so your subject stays engaged. I don’t know if it was the best advice ever, but I use it today.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? The fourteen-hour shoot days feel like they’re getting longer… or I’m getting older.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? By far the highlight for me would be the studio that Tim Mantoani and I built and worked out of together for 25 years and the community and friendships it fostered. Of course, his passing in 2016 was devastating.
What were you doing before you became a Photographer? It has always been the center of my life. I did work at a Safeway through high school and college.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? If I weren’t a photographer I’m sure I would be doing something that involves creativity. I really thrive off of visualizing an end result and working through the creative process to get there.
What do you do when you get stuck? When shooting, if I’m feeling like things aren’t working, I’ll often remove the camera from the tripod and take a 360-degree walk around the area I’m working in. Another good trick is to turn off all of the lights and start from black or with only the ambient environment and begin building it back up again, one light at a time. That was advice courtesy of Gregory Heisler.
What is your best advice for your peers? Be generous and be professional. Word of mouth is your best friend.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? It’s hard to understand when you’re young in your career, everything builds on everything else, it’s a long slow simmer. Keep working hard and keep moving in a forward direction. (That was actually advice from the dad, which probably IS the best advice I ever received…)
How has your work evolved over time? Why? It has evolved so much with the technology available now and the demands of the marketplace. Back in the film days we were making judgment calls on lighting and image construction based on a two and one quarter inch or 4×5 inch polaroid. That seems crazy, particularly now that we have 27-inch monitors on set. DSLRs have allowed me to shoot more loosely but more precisely, it has definitely driven the style of my work.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? I believe a photographer’s role transcends technology. It is still and has always been to cultivate a unique and passionate perspective of life. If you find inspiration in music, art, literature, food, culture, sports, nature, urban decay, whatever it is, use those influences to form your rich and unique perspective of the world. Find the beauty that lies in the most unassuming of people, places and objects. It’s that unique perspective that will become evident in the pictures you make and the value that a client receives when they hire you.
What do you see yourself doing in five years? I don’t know but I hope it involves a great meal in a hole-in-the-wall cafe somewhere. I would love to do some more traveling and personal photography projects.
Today we feature, Donald Miralle, best known for his sports, adventure, and documentary stills and motion work for our ‘Meet’ a member interview.
Do you have a favorite podcast? Embarrassed to say but I don’t really listen to podcasts. Just read books, newspapers and listen to NPR in the car. I’m a little old school 🙂
Who are your top 5 favorites that you’re following on Instagram? NatGeo, NatGeoAdventure, NASA for science, NYTimes & LA Times for current events.
What 3 words describe your photography style? Clean, graphic, and composed.
What do you listen to when you’re shooting? Don’t listen to music when shooting as I am usually outdoors focused on what’s in front of me. But I love listening to all types of music when I’m relaxing or working out including classic rock, jazz, reggae, alternative, classical music. When I’m in a studio shooting indoors, I usually ask the model or athlete I’m shooting what playlist they would like to listen to!
What inspires you? The form and function in nature, human emotion and connection, and when both are reflected in art.
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographer? Photography has been my ticket around the world to visit new places and meet new people. No two days are the same, I get to be outside alot of the time and you only have to sit at a desk when editing or doing expenses. Photography is an international language that any person from any country speaking any language can understand and relate to. Being able to use one of the most powerful and universal forms of communication as your job is empowering and important!
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? Being in the water every day: swimming, surfing, paddling. The water is my happy place!
Describe your daily or weekly work habits. (Pre-Covid and currently): Get myself and kids out of bed, brew pot of coffee, make breakfast and pack their lunches. Lauren and I split school dropoffs, and I have a surf check on the way back; if there are waves I surf, if it’s flat I do a paddle workout. Then I finish my coffee over emails and look over my shooting schedule. Expenses are done and turned into clients before my noon swim, then I pick up kids and drop off to afternoon sports. While they’re at sports I finish off any edits, then after picking them up I get one more workout in or a sunset surf if conditions are good.
Who were your biggest influences? My first Editor at Allsport / Getty Darrell Ingham, who guided me early on, saw that I had a little talent and drive and fostered it. If I didn’t have a mentor like Darrell, I don’t think I would have made it, and I can say the same about most young photographers. Although he lives in Windsor, England now, we still keep in touch and talk on holidays. Another Englishman who has influenced me in a different way is legendary sports photographer Tony Duffy, one of the founders of Allsport Photography, the first company I worked for. Although he left the company shortly after I joined, he always was supportive of my work and then became a good friend once I moved to Encinitas a couple miles away from him. One of the biggest influences on my career is my friendship with Al Bello. Al started at Allsport several years before me, and was very supportive of my photography, especially when I showed up on the scene specializing in underwater photography, which was a rare skill set in the 90’s. We shot side by side at many Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and other major events, and I love the creative process of bouncing ideas off of each other. He has always been one of my biggest supporters and best friends on my journey.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? Less is more. Focus on your strengths and your unique vision and figure out a way to get it to an audience or client that fits you.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? So much has changed in the last 3 decades I’ve been a photographer. When I started there was a very small group that was able to do the craft well: you needed to be able to shoot manual focus as AF didn’t even exist, shoot E-6 chrome film for magazines exposing properly (within 1/3 stop using a light meter), shoot C-41 negative film and develop on-site for newspapers on deadline, and be proficient in all aspects of photography including studio lighting, darkroom, editing, and delivery to clients. You needed a solid portfolio book of commercial work to even get considered for big jobs. Now digital cameras are so good the market has been flooded with hobbyist or part-time photographers taking jobs or lowering the standard rates and the bar that was set years ago. Most of the jobs are not for print but web/social only, and the majority of the photographs are not taken in camera but created in post-production. In general, the world changed once iPhones and smartphones put everything in the palm of your hand including a camera. And although I’m not resistant to chance, I do like the way the old craft of photography was executed and enjoy using the new technology to take that same approach.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? Highlights include 10 Olympic Games, 6 World Press Awards, an Emmy Nomination for video work, and seeing my images published for the first time in Sports Illustrated 24 years ago and National Geographic 12 years ago fulfilled a dream of mine. The biggest challenges were walking away from my Senior Staff job at the world’s largest photo agency that I helped grow for 10 years to become a freelancer to do my own thing and expand into other genres of photography. Balancing work/travel with being home with the family is always a challenge. Also, getting in a ski accident where I couldn’t walk or work for four months was a challenge physically and mentally as well. But to be truthfully getting over those challenges were as satisfying as the highlights!
What were you doing before you became a Photographer? I was always a student / athlete growing up, and competed mostly as a swimmer through high school and into college at UCLA. When I quit swimming because UCLA dropped its program because of Title IX, I had ALOT of extra time on my plate. I worked in local restaurants to make money and assisted photographers on the weekends. This is when my reality of what I wanted to major in and what direction I wanted to take for a career started to change…
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? Working at McDonalds? When I was in high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor or surgeon as I loved biology and had a very steady hand from drawing. After a couple years at UCLA as a Biology major, what I thought I wanted to do drastically changed and I switched to fine art and design. I was mostly interested in painting and sculpture at the time and photography was in the background. But when I graduated I had a couple of job opportunities, one with Disney Studios as a background artist, one with a large sunglass company as a designer, and the other with a sports photography agency. I often wonder where I would be if I took the other two options…
What do you do when you get stuck? Go outside and workout
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? Don’t be afraid to take more risks. Do more personal projects and stories.
What do you see yourself doing in five years? Hopefully doing what I’m doing now! I haven’t worked a day in my life because I love what I do and I don’t want to “retire” anytime soon because I’m already doing what I want to do!
Meet Austin-based photographer, humanitarian and APA member, Jelisa Peterson
Photography and Human Communication: For more than two decades, Jelisa has focused on uniting her viewers with her photographic subjects by creating images that resonate the perfect example of love and inspiration.
Do you have a favorite podcast? Recently, the podcast I have most enjoyed is Serial by Adnan Syed.
Who are your top 5 favorites that you’re following on Instagram? @annabella_1008 @coblephotography @stig1964_ @sistersky55 @bulanbannari
What 3 words describe your photography style? Documentary, environmental portraiture, black and white
What do you listen to when you’re shooting? Children’s laughter
What inspires you? People who triumph over poverty and scarcity
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographer? The ability to travel, meet new people and experience different ways of living
When you aren’t making photographs, what other pastimes do you have? I read widely (fiction and nonfiction) and watch a lot of films.
Who were your biggest influences? Sebastião Salgado, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Sally Mann
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? My photography is physically and financially demanding, with travel to remote places. It is not getting easier with age.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? On a professional level, validation of my work as something of value in the photography community has been both a challenge and an incredible highlight as many pieces have been shown in a wide variety of venues. Next year will mark 30 years of this adventure, and I am finally getting broader exposure for this work that means so much to me. On a personal level, I love returning to the sites of my shoots and handing out personal photos to the individuals and families of the people I have photographed.
What were you doing before you became a Photographer? I was a university student majoring in Anthropology and Women’s Studies.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? If I hadn’t chosen photography I might have pursued a career in family law or related public service.
What do you do when you get stuck? I take a break. Clarity usually emerges over time, especially when doing film photography.
What is your best advice for your peers? I get a lot of messages from aspiring photographers looking for advice about how to proceed to build a career. I advise them to remain determined and to use their photography to share their vision and passion with the world.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? 1. Use sunscreen. 2. Don’t expect to be able to carry more than half your weight in your backpack and camera pack. 3. Don’t bathe in Lake Victoria
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? To produce meaningful images of lasting value.
What do you see yourself doing in five years? I hope to publish the best of my work in book form that will inspire and contribute to the positive portrayal of the African communities I have been privileged to work with.
Meet Southern California-based photographer and member, Scott Lorenzen. “I hold onto the stream-wading, tadpole-collecting curiosity of my boyhood, and am driven by a desire to connect with and convey big feelings and big ideas.”
Do you have a favorite podcast? No, but I do listen to a lot of audiobooks.
Who are your top 5 favorites that you’re following on Instagram? @initiumphoto @lakeflato @andyandersonphoto @motzburger
What 3 words describe your photography style? Graphic, Emotive, Structured
What do you listen to when you’re shooting? Quiet
What’s your favorite thing about being a photographer? I love having control of my schedule, being able to work with the rhythm of my own creative cycles and being able to swing from brief domestic stints to big extended road trips, camping all over the country while driving to and from jobs with my dog. I love seeing the west and being out in it. I also like being independent; being self-employed feels more natural. Going from feast to famine, living close to the bone when necessary, and looking at my financial life like that of a farmer who know’s that any year may bring drought or locusts. It’s not easy being independent but the benefits of having that bit of liberty outweigh its costs, especially as a creative person.
Describe your daily or weekly work habits. (Pre-Covid and currently) When I am not on the road for work, I move between work-related marketing and admin tasks and going outside to build, fix, BBQ or just re-focus.
Who were your biggest influences? Growing up within sight of the Sierra Nevadas and a couple hours from Yosemite my original photographic influences came from landscape photographers like Ansel Adams and Galen Rowell; later on, architectural photographers, landscape painters and writers.
What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out? I don’t know that I have ever been ‘given’ any big advice. But one thing that motivated me to make the decision to do this for a living was realizing that professional photographers weren’t these super photographers, and that you didn’t need to attain ‘super photographer’ status in order to become one. Having the belief that the growth and development really happens after one becomes a photographer is what gave me a pathway into the field.
What are the current challenges that you face as a photographer? I think I am facing the same challenges as any photographer or artist- the ongoing challenge of connecting to the market while also trying to focus on creating.
What have been some of the highlights and challenges of your career so far? I would say that for me, the highlights have also been the challenges- the art of photography involves trade-offs and the practice of photography has also had its trade-offs. When it’s raining and I’m busy it’s great, but I tend to focus my all energy on one thing at a time and that means that the busier I get the less energy I am putting into the business of actually getting more work.
What were you doing before you became a Photographer? What wasn’t I doing!? When I look back on everything I did before finally going into this full-time it’s almost like I was coming up with anything I could to not be a photographer- even though that’s all I ever wanted to be. I have been a wildland firefighter, a restaurant worker, a laborer, a pre-law student, a graphic designer, a commodities trader, a real estate developer, a 7/11 cashier, a restoration project manager even an environmental analyst. All a waste of my time in one sense, and yet everything I else I have done has added a depth of perspective and value to my photography career.
If you weren’t a Photographer, what would you be doing? If I weren’t a photographer I would need to be involving myself in creating a living off the land or I’d just sit around sulking. I could never go back to something that wasn’t creative or something that was under someone else’s control.
What do you do when you get stuck? I don’t worry about it. It happens. If something isn’t turning me on I try not to sit on it, I just move to another interest and follow what’s giving me energy. The inspiration follows.
What is your best advice for your peers? I don’t know if I’m old and wise enough to answer that, but I guess I would say to just pursue whatever is motivating you and don’t get too attached to anything.
What advice would you give to yourself if you could go back 10 years? 20 years? I would tell myself to go for it, stop beating around the bush doing things you know that you don’t want to do.
What is a photographer’s role now that technology has made it so much more accessible to the masses? Technology and accessibility haven’t changed the photographers true role of visual story teller any more than cheap paint has changed the painter’s role or online publishing has changed that of the writer’s. Expression through visual communication is both innate and learned, there are always people who are doing it well and people who aren’t. If anything, technology and accessibility have just added a longer list of tasks to the job that take away from the creative experience side of being a professional photographer.
What do you see yourself doing in five years? In five years time I hope to be doing more or less what I am doing now, but for more clients with whom I have been nurturing mutually beneficial relationships that help us both grow creatively and financially.
APA | San Diego 