Celebrity and lifestyle photographer Jeff Lipsky joins the podcast to talk about how he went from working as a fly fishing guide in Telluride, CO and trying to see how many days a year he could snowboard, to shooting some of the most well known celebrities in the world and working on ad campaigns for companies like Verizon, Eddie Bauer, Warner Brothers, and many others. Although Jeff was turned on to photography at a fairly early age, it would be his passion for skiing and snowboarding that would get him to move from the east coast to explore the rest of the country. He fell in love with mountain life and spent 10 years in Telluride, CO until photography came calling again and he rekindled his passion for shooting. Before long he moved to LA with big dreams and a drive to make it in the very competitive world of shooting fashion and celebrity work. After putting in his time as an assistant with some of the most well known photographers of the time, he finally took the plunge to try and make it on his own, and the rest is history. Jeff has gone to create an amazing body of work and has given back to the world of photography by teaching with groups like Sante Fe Workshops. During our conversation we talk about the fear of putting yourself out there, the hustle and relationships required to make it in the world of photography, what it looks like behind the scenes of a big celebrity shoot, and the advice his gives to others who have big dreams in the creative world.
To Learn More About Jeff Lipsky Visit:
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https://www.instagram.com/jefflipsky/
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On this episode of the podcast we are joined by outdoor photographer, director, writer, creative director and the co-founder/editor-in-chief of Modern Huntsman magazine Tyler Sharp. Tyler takes us through his story of growing up outside of Austin Texas, studying photography and filmmaking at USC, and how that would eventually lead to him living in Tanzania filming Safari expeditions as his first job out of college. After developing a taste for travel, expeditions, hunting culture, and an outdoor lifestyle, Tyler continued to pursue work in that field and before long was traveling the world with famed hunter and media personality Jim Shockey, filming a television series for the outdoor network. Before long however, Tyler found himself back in the states and the grind of daily life expectations and work. He started to become burned out on shooting before returning to what had generated the most passion in the first place. Through a creative approach to marketing and networking, he soon found himself working with brands like Filson, Cabellas, Tecovas Boots, and many others. All of this would soon start to coincide with his most ambitious and personal project ever with Modern Huntsman Magazine. During our conversation we talk about how he developed his portfolio to attract heritage clients like Filson and others, the way Modern Huntsman Magazine came about, the conversations that need to be had about hunting, public land use, conservation and so much else, and the advice he gives to others coming up trying to make a name for themselves in this world.
To Learn More About Tyler Sharp Visit
https://www.tylersharp.com
To Learn More About Modern Huntsman Visit
https://modernhuntsman.com
And Follow on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/modernhuntsman/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
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Renowned action sports, advertising, and fine art photographer/director and friend of the show Bo Bridges returns to the podcast to talk about his recent collaboration with Marvel Comics, what it's like shooting in the impact zone of big wave surfing productions, and the challenges of running a brick and mortar gallery in today's retail climate. Bo was one of Visual Revolutionary's original guests, so make sure to check out his full biographical story on episode #3 of the podcast. During this conversation we discuss what the behind the scenes day to day looks like in the busy schedule of juggling a commercial photography career with a gallery business, what some of the specific challenges of big wave surfing photography look like, and how an action sports photographer gets hooked up with Marvel Comics.
To Learn More About Bo Bridges Visit:
http://www.bobridges.com
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https://www.instagram.com/bobridges/
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On this episode of the podcast we are joined by Christopher Michel to hear about how he went from being a naval flight officer, to working at the Pentagon, to Harvard business school, to creating multiple companies in the tech world, to his current life as a world traveling photographer documenting some of the harshest conditions on the planet and working with everyone from leading publications to research teams along the way. As we learn on the show, it's hard to pinpoint where Christopher grew up. He moved around a lot as a kid and, because of that, always felt like an outsider in the new towns he found himself in. However, it would be that outsider's spirit and the desire to stay on the move that would end up serving him well in his most recent manifestation of work and passion. He would first find himself moving through multiple careers, finding both success and failure in the high stakes world of tech entrepreneurship, but finally he would decide that his true goal was to continue to travel the world and become a photographer with something to say, and the right tools to say it with. It's a goal that so many creative people have in life. To walk away from a career that doesn't bring them fulfillment and chase their passions and their dreams. And on this episode we dive into what that looked like for Christopher. During our conversion we talk about the steps he took to walk away from what seemed to be a financially rewarding path and go after a passion project instead, the mentors he's had along the way, giving back to the photography world by teaching and speaking, and the advice he gives to others chasing a similar creative dream.
To Learn More About Christopher Michel Visit:
https://www.christophermichel.com
And Follow On Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/chris_michel/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
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https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/
Professional skateboarder, photographer, and frequently requested guest Arto Saari joins the show to talk about how he went from a small rural town in Finland, to leaving the country as a young teenager to go on tour with Danny Way and start an adventure that's continued ever since. Like many people from a certain generation, Arto had his young mind blown by films like Thrashin', Gleaming the Cube, and even Back to the Future's skate scenes, but it would be an old board left behind by his uncle that would end up changing his life forever. Although Seinajoki, Finland wasn't known for its abundance of skate-able terrain, Arto and his friends set about taking their skills to the next level by finding old warehouses that would make do as their own personal skate parks. Before long Arto began to attract global attention when he seemed to come out of no where at the world championships in Germany. That would lead to an invite to go on tour with Plan B, and the rest is history. Arto would end up living in southern California and form a life long relationship with Flip Skateboards and a successful career as a professional skateboarder becoming Thrasher's skater of year in 2001. During his career, he used his close proximity and friendships with many of the industries leading photographers and filmmakers to hone his own skills behind the camera and began to carve out a place for himself in a new profession that he was also passionate about. He continues to both skate and create beautiful photographs that attract both commercial clients and art buyers alike, and has since taken on the humbling task of learning to surf Hawaii's North Shore. During our conversation we talk about what made him leave Los Angeles and move to Hawaii, the intersection of skateboarding and photography, his love for Leica cameras, his photojournalist approach to skateboard photography, and the advice he gives to others coming up in the creative world.
To Learn More About Arto Saari Visit:
And Follow Him on Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/artofoto/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
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https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/
Renowned fashion and celebrity photographer and Nikon ambassador Matthew Jordan Smith joins the show from his home in Tokyo to talk about how he went from the son of a preacher in a small town in the south to a very successful career in photography and the set of America's Next Top Model to work with his friend and frequent collaborator Tyra Banks. Although Matthew was born in Brooklyn, he moved to the south at the age of 7 when his anesthesiologist father decided he wanted to pursue his passion of preaching and find his flock in a new location. Feeling like an outsider in a new town he found photography at an early age and it gave him a voice and a way in to the world around him. He instantly became fascinated with it and decided to go on to study photography. When he left college early on to move to New York instead however, that's when his real photography education began. He worked his way up in the world of assisting, and fell in love with fashion photography. Before long, an agent stepped in and said he would be shooting for him now and the rest is history. He's gone on to have an amazing career, shooting everyone from the world's most sought after super models to A-list celebrities, yet always kept a humble attitude and a beginners mind approach that would propel him further and further in the industry. With multiple books to his name, a podcast of his own, and speaking gigs all over the world he has also given back to the world that gave so much to him. During our conversation Matthew talks about the importance of always working on personal projects, the false narrative that success will bring you happiness that so many get trapped by, how he handles the stress of shooting celebrity work, and the advice he gives to others coming up in the world of photography.
To Learn More About Matthew Jordan Smith Visit:
https://www.matthewjordansmith.com
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https://www.instagram.com/matthewjordansmith/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
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Director, artist, writer, and exhibition curator Aaron Rose joins the show to talk about how he found himself in the midst of an amazing group of artists in the early 90s in New York and formed what would become the famed Alleged Gallery in the lower east side, how he set about capturing that era in the documentary film "Beautiful Losers", and the evolution of a long career as a creative working with some of the biggest companies in the world as well as continuing to make films, personal artwork, and gallery shows along the way. Growing up in southern California, Aaron became attracted to the skateboard and punk scene of the early 80s and the artwork and since of belonging that came with it. At the age of 19 he moved to New York City and began trying to scrape by, working at a thrift store and slowly meeting like minded people. When an opportunity arose to move into a store front space, he jumped at the chance. Before long he began forming a community around parties with artwork hanging on the walls, skateboarding in the streets, 40s in the fridge, and a general sense of chaos in the air. It wouldn't be long before a lot of other artists wanted to show work there and the word would spread that there was a gallery showing work from the skate and street worlds that were not represented in the New York art scene. That would become the Alleged Gallery and the rest is part of an amazing story of the rise of some very big names in the art world today. You can see this story in the film "Beautiful Losers" that Aaron and others spent 5 years putting together and released in 2008. During our conversation I ask about his work and art leading up to the gallery, the career opportunities that arose after the last days of Alleged and his debut documentary film, how he stays productive and organized working in so many creative outlets, and the advice he gives to others struggling to make it as artists.
To Learn More About Aaron Rose Visit:
And Follow Him On Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/aaronroseofficial/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
http://www.visualrevolutionary.com
And Follow Him On Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/
On this episode of the podcast I catch up with celebrity & advertising photographer and Leica Ambassador Mark Mann in the midst of an insane travel schedule of shooting. We talk about how a chance encounter with a beautiful girl on a train when he was a teenager would make him decide to study photography, what it's like to sit face to face with the President of the United States, and how he formed a relationship with Leica. Growing up in Glasgow, Mark was always a creative kid, but it wouldn't be until his college years at Manchester Polytechnic that he would focus his attention on learning photography and begin trying to find his voice as an artist. After moving to New York in the mid 90s, Mark began assisting other well known photographers around the city, but it would be an opportunity to work with The Source magazine and the introduction to hip hop culture that would help to launch his career and develop a book full of celebrity figures. Since then, Mark has gone on to photograph some of the biggest named celebrities, politicians, and influencers in the world, as well as shoot and direct commercial projects for well known corporate clients. During our conversation we talk about balancing the passion projects with the ones that pay the bills, not ignoring your immediate surroundings as an artist, what he learned from his recent project of shooting men from age 1 to 80, and the advice he gives to others who dream of one day becoming a photographer.
To Learn More About Mark Mann Visit:
And Follow Him On Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/markmannphoto/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
http://www.visualrevolutionary.com
And Follow Him On Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/
Fine art and experimental portrait photographer Justin Rosenberg joins the podcast to trace how his journey went from chasing a masters degree in evolutionary psychology, to living in a rehab center in LA, to falling in love with photography and using it to reconnect with his new sober self. Although Justin was born in New York, he spent most of his life in Florida and we talk about what it was like growing up there and his early love for music, the counter culture scene, and eventually drugs. There were several factors that would contribute to the path Justin took in life, but one that would continue to sometimes push him into a darker place was his battle with Crohn's Disease and the complications that would often arise because of it. In spite of those circumstances, Justin excelled in his undergraduate psychology studies and pursed what appeared would be an inevitable career in the world of evolutionary psychology. When financial strain over all the medical expenses that were adding up caused him to have to quit his masters pursuit, he found himself working a job he never imagined and sinking further and further into the world of drug abuse. In 2011 two things would change the course of his life forever. He had to have his large intestine removed, and he checked himself into a rehab in Los Angeles where his sister lived. It would be in that rehab center that he would be given an opportunity to work with an "in house" ad agency and began to reconnect with photography that he had once had a passion for in his younger years. During our conversation we talk about the evolution from shooting commercial projects to the subject matter and aesthetic he is known for today, how he manages to convince models to get nude in the snow, how he found out so much about himself through the photos he shoots, and the advice he gives to others that might be dealing with addiction or just trying to carve out their own place in the world of photography.
To Learn More About Justin Rosenberg Visit:
And Follow Him on Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/jsrphotos/
To Learn More About Visual Revolutionary Visit:
http://www.visualrevolutionary.com
And Follow on Instagram At:
https://www.instagram.com/visualrevolutionary/