Tell us about you.
I grew up in the rural Wyoming town of Mountain View, and as the name suggests, it is nestled in the foothills at the base of the rugged Uinta mountain range. From a young age my dad would take me and my brothers on fishing and hunting adventures across the state of Wyoming.
At age 18 I moved out of Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah, to go after my college degree. After changing my major several times, ranging from Psychology to Communications, I landed on an Arts in Business Admin major with the single-minded career goal of running my own brick and mortar Photography gallery, which remains forefront to my goals now.
When was the first time you fell in love with photography? And why?
Right after graduating high school I had a chance to visit Tom Mangelsen’s gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was completely floored by the artistry he captured his images. Before that point I had never thought of photography as a fine art, and after a few minutes in his gallery it was clear it very much could be.
I saw someone who had turned his passion for the outdoors in a profession, and I knew after that day I would try my hand at it, making an attempt to show my views/feelings on the natural world through photography as Mangelsen had been so successful doing.
Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I’ve been for the past 9 years. I love it here, I’ve got 6-7 National Parks within a half-days drive and if I can’t get that far the Wasatch range a couple miles east of my home provides plenty of adventure and outdoor recreation. So if there’s a place I’d rather be I haven’t found it yet.
What makes your works stand-out or different from other photographers?
There are so many talented photographers out there it is exceedingly difficult to stand out, but if I had to pin-point something specific I’d say the subject matter I choose to shoot. I’ve tried more and more to avoid the more common compositions and locations, looking for unique lighting conditions to complete a scene that may otherwise look bland and ordinary.
Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
Haven’t hear of you before, but I like the idea!
How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Photography isn’t currently my profession but I try to approach it as a professional and I expect that someday I will “take the plunge” and try to have outdoor photography be my source of income.
If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Galen Rowell, he was an incredible adventure/outdoor photographer who passed away in a plane crash in 2002.
Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
Nature, the experience of being in wild spaces.
What do you wish for this new year?
I’d love to get my website completed w fine art prints available, also to get published in a national circulation magazine! Plus, plenty of adventure of course.
Tell us several good online-resources for photographers you recommend visiting?
I like FredMiranda.com, it has excellent forums for beginners to advances photogs. Also I would recommend joining a online community like deviantart.com, or redbubble.com to share your work and get immediate feedback.
Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
Realistic nature photography. (at least I’d like to think so! haha)
Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of photography?
I haven’t pursued much in the way of generating income from my photos, but my advice to anyone wanting to pursue an artistic endeavor would be to focus on what you enjoy shooting/creating and see where that takes you, but stay true to your goals and what you’re passionate about and everything should fall into place.
Name 3 of your favorite (art/photography) books/ magazines.
Outdoor Photographer, National Geographic, “Mountain Light” by Galen Rowell
Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
I’d like to shoot w Tom Mangelsen because he’s mastered both landscape and wild-life photography.
What are the photography equipment(s) do you currently own?
Canon 5D body w Canon 17-40mm, 24-105mm, 500mm lenses. Singh-ray ND filters, and of course the essential tripod.
Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop CS3, these are the two I use for 95% of my images.
Chitchat: Wayson Wight
Your Full Name
Wayson Wight
Tell us about you.
I grew up in the rural Wyoming town of Mountain View, and as the name suggests, it is nestled in the foothills at the base of the rugged Uinta mountain range. From a young age my dad would take me and my brothers on fishing and hunting adventures across the state of Wyoming.
When was the first time you fell in love with photography? And why?
Right after graduating high school I had a chance to visit Tom Mangelsen’s gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was completely floored by the artistry he captured his images. Before that point I had never thought of photography as a fine art, and after a few minutes in his gallery it was clear it very much could be.
I saw someone who had turned his passion for the outdoors in a profession, and I knew after that day I would try my hand at it, making an attempt to show my views/feelings on the natural world through photography as Mangelsen had been so successful doing.
Where are you located now? Do you wish to be somewhere else at this moment, instead?
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I’ve been for the past 9 years. I love it here, I’ve got 6-7 National Parks within a half-days drive and if I can’t get that far the Wasatch range a couple miles east of my home provides plenty of adventure and outdoor recreation. So if there’s a place I’d rather be I haven’t found it yet.
What makes your works stand-out or different from other photographers?
There are so many talented photographers out there it is exceedingly difficult to stand out, but if I had to pin-point something specific I’d say the subject matter I choose to shoot. I’ve tried more and more to avoid the more common compositions and locations, looking for unique lighting conditions to complete a scene that may otherwise look bland and ordinary.
Have you heard/visited www.somethingwelike.com before? Do you have any inputs to make it better?
Haven’t hear of you before, but I like the idea!
How does working professionally differ from being an amateur in your opinion?
Photography isn’t currently my profession but I try to approach it as a professional and I expect that someday I will “take the plunge” and try to have outdoor photography be my source of income.
If you could meet w/ any artist (one) past or present, whom would it be?
Galen Rowell, he was an incredible adventure/outdoor photographer who passed away in a plane crash in 2002.
Who (or what) is your biggest influence?
Nature, the experience of being in wild spaces.
What do you wish for this new year?
I’d love to get my website completed w fine art prints available, also to get published in a national circulation magazine! Plus, plenty of adventure of course.
Tell us several good online-resources for photographers you recommend visiting?
I like FredMiranda.com, it has excellent forums for beginners to advances photogs. Also I would recommend joining a online community like deviantart.com, or redbubble.com to share your work and get immediate feedback.
Do you have a style that you relate to the most?
Realistic nature photography. (at least I’d like to think so! haha)
Can you offer any advice on how to build-up a portfolio / ‘getting your foot in the door’ for our readers wishing to start a career in this line of photography?
I haven’t pursued much in the way of generating income from my photos, but my advice to anyone wanting to pursue an artistic endeavor would be to focus on what you enjoy shooting/creating and see where that takes you, but stay true to your goals and what you’re passionate about and everything should fall into place.
Name 3 of your favorite (art/photography) books/ magazines.
Outdoor Photographer, National Geographic, “Mountain Light” by Galen Rowell
Do you have anyone/company you would like to collaborate/work together?
I’d like to shoot w Tom Mangelsen because he’s mastered both landscape and wild-life photography.
What are the photography equipment(s) do you currently own?
Canon 5D body w Canon 17-40mm, 24-105mm, 500mm lenses. Singh-ray ND filters, and of course the essential tripod.
Name 3 softwares (or tools) that you use the most, and tell us the function of each of them.
Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop CS3, these are the two I use for 95% of my images.
If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
My entire gallery can be viewed @ tourofnature.deviantart.com, but if you’d like to stay updated on my work/travels/tips “like” my facebook page @ facebook.com/WaysonWightPhotography.
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