Into The Light
Photographer: Steven Gall
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
I struggle when discussing my artistic vision. I’m not certain that I shoot with vision predetermined. I often find myself with a subject and ideas flow from there. Early on in my life, I would see magazines with amazing photographs of people captured in print. Newman’s photo of Stravinsky. Ansel Adams black and whites. Pure magic. A mix of poses, scenes and shadows and light.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
In my early years of photography, I played it safe, shooting buildings, and city scenes. One day, I simply decided to move into shooting people. After approaching a local model to do a street shoot, those photos caught the eye of a local modelling agency owner who asked me to do some test shoots with them and from there grew my love for the human frame. The mix of light and shadows – the perfect natural light exposure. Show me a window and bring me a model and my eye sees magic in the shadows and light dancing over the human frame. I’ve added studio photography to my portfolio, but always try and find a way to include natural light work, no matter the venue I’m in.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
Early in my evolving career shooting people had me organize a shoot with a model who wasn’t on time, and didn’t even come with the agreed upon outfits. Shifting gears quickly, finding an alternative location and concept, I was able to turn what might have been a disaster into some fantastic photos. This experience allowed me to start to build my confidence in shifting with what comes my way and the ability to pivot and still create fantastic art.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
My eye for photography was built, I believe, around a love for reading. Fiction and fantasy that allowed me to create images in my mind of scenes in books. My ability to create vivid imagery in my mind has helped to nurture my creative flow. Black and white photos always pull me in and when I shoot natural light I always shoot in black and white so I can judge tones of light and shadow. From this I believe I have developed a unique eye for catching just the right mix of light and shadow moving over the human frame.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
Time is always my enemy, trying to carve out time in my life to create. I hope, one day to have opportunities to work in big cities, making art for the world to enjoy. I hope to create iconic images one day. I hope to take my unique eye and ideas for photography and create a brand people will recognize.
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Tahliah had stopped modelling for a short while but agreed to shoot with me once again. Her fire is now back and the modelling world has an amazing light back showcased with these amazing shots created together.
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Photographer: Steven Gall
Model: Tahliah Daza-blais