 |
| ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF ANTHONY ROBERSON |
I met Anthony Roberson a little over a year ago when I was working on a video piece with local Artist: Rome won (Angel Pagan) about his journey. Anthony was shooting some behind the scenes work with Angel and I had the opportunity to learn more about him and his journey. I was immediately inspired by his creative hustle. Over time, I have had the opportunity to see his talent and watch him as he works to build his brand in the digital space as well as locally in Chicago. I've been able to witness his journey as he pursues his creative work full time and leave the corporate grind behind.
His work is captivating. It has a rawness to it that is hauntingly beautiful. He has a way with being able to capture the spirit of his subject within each image he produces. He has fun with his work and in the process his love for his craft shines through. He has an element of an editorial glossy vibe to his photos, but it doesn't make them feel stuffy or to much like an over the top editorial. His work tells a story through visuals and movement. He's available for all kinds of work which allows him to push his craft to the next level. From corporate shoots to family shoots and everything in between, he's not afraid to try something new.
What I appreciate most about Anthony is that he is not afraid to share the raw reality of being a creative entrepreneur. He doesn't sugar coat things and he is the first to stand up for creatives being paid for their skill, time and art. I admire his tenacity and I truly believe he has some great lessons to share with all of you readers. I asked him if he would take some time to work on an interview with Halfstack. To share his experiences, offer his thoughts on working in the industry as well as give all of you readers some insights to the realities of being a full time freelance photographer.
Keep reading for the full interview.
1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue a career in photography?
Wow, you never realize how awkward a question that is until someone asks you. I am a local photographer, born and raised in the Southside of Chicago, IL. The way I ended up finding photography was a funny one. My Dad owned a 35mm Canon camera and I grew up wanting to play with it. My Dad wasn’t having it. Every year, I would ask, and every year he would tell me no. This continued throughout grade school and well into high school. My senior year I remember asking my Dad one more time, and this time instead of a “no”, he replied, “Look, I’ll make a deal with you”. “You’re about to graduate, bring me a spotless report card, and the camera is yours”. “Is that right”?? Well, needless to say, I brought home a stunning report card, to which he kept his word and handed the camera over to me. I never put it down, and my love for photography was born June 20, 1993. I actually still have the camera, and she still works like a charm. I actually never decided to pursue a career in photography. It was always a passion for years, and one day I woke up and realized that I was living my dream. Why am I denying myself what I realize what I was truly put here for. It was at that point, I began making a living from what I was gifted with.
2. Can you tell us more about your current work and the vision driving the pieces you create?
I am really in love with OCF (Off Camera Flash) Photography and the mystery, drama that results in the images created. I want my work to reflect 3 things; passion, creativity, and the beauty of the human soul. What drives me is an unrelenting desire to capture every aspect of the human condition. We are such complex creatures, capable of doing, creating, and existing in ways that would astound. The pieces I create are done as a means of acknowledging that amazing piece of humanity that makes us just stop and appreciate. There is beauty to be seen in everything and what keeps me going is constantly creating opportunities to give the world more to see.
3. Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist, the ups and downs and what led you to this point in your career?
It has truly reflected my life. That being said, brilliant highs, gut-wrenching lows, moments of pure genius, others of me acting like a complete buffoon. What I’ve learned about that is everything you deal with in life leaves an imprint on you. Now the million dollar question is how do you keep on moving after you learn your lessons? Do you take your lumps and keep moving, or do you retreat to lick your wounds and stop? The name of the game is progression, so no matter what I always try to keep forward progression of some type in mind.
4. Where do you get your creative inspiration and what does your creative process look like as you coordinate your shoots?
Creativity is all around us. I’m fortunate that all I have to do is wake up, and I am thinking about a new spin on a shoot, a new way to angle a headshot, or a new product to demo. This is my LIFE so any and everything I do is somehow connected back to my passion. Oddly enough, I dream up my storyboards for my shoots. In my mind, when I sleep, I dream of a gigantic gallery. I mean acres and acres of space. In this dream I am always walking around just taking in everything till I realize, that this is MY gallery. These are my images that are adorning the establishment. I try during the dream to remember all that I can so that when I wake up, I can sketch out what I saw. It works sometime, and sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s safe bet that the last 10 pieces of so the I have created were pieces that I dreamt about first.
5. Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how?
There are so many people I could name right now, this would turn into an Oscar reception speech (Cue the music), My extremely short list would be my Mother for providing the platform of love and understanding that served as my launching pad, my wife Nakieta and son Aiden for continuing that and believing in me even when I had doubts, my mentors Worsom Robinson and Willard Hall, for showing me how to step beyond the fundamentals and connect with my camera and true passion, and most importantly I realize that everyone I have met and interacted with has played a part in me being where I am right now. For that I am humbly grateful….
6. Who are some of your favorite photographers or inspirational Instagram accounts to follow?
You sure you have enough room for this? Lol, Where do I even begin? Ansel Adams, Gordon Parks, Annie Leibovitz, Jimmy Nelson, Jeff Lewis, Richard Avedon, Jamel Shabazz, Worsom Robinson, James Washington, just to name a few…..
8. How are you remaining innovative when it comes to your work as a photographer? What are you doing to set yourself apart?
I try to approach every shoot doing something, anything different than what I did in my last one. I feel like photography is all about discovery. Both the photographer and the model. Both are working hand in hand to produce something awesome, but both need to be willing to step a little out of their comfort zone to achieve such a harmony. What sets me apart? The only thing I would be willing to claim is a commitment to continuing my impact. I was taught, “an artists’ charge is to convince the world of their point of view one person at a time”. That is what I want to be recognized for. Creating images that say all that the moment called for. They provoked thought, inspired some, intrigued others, but all in all, they affected the viewer.
9. What kind of obstacles have you faced as an independent artist – how have you overcome and what are some hardships young creatives may face as they pursue their dreams in the photography world?
First and foremost? Financial pitfalls are a plague when you are doing this by yourself. Not having a venture capitalist or financier can certainly be a challenge when it’s time to create products, or travel, or do the basic things it requires to simply stay out there and be aggressive in capturing. All the ownership is on you to produce every aspect of your brand. From strategy, to operation, to product fulfillment, marketing, the list goes on and on.
10. Can you share more about some current projects or commissions you are working on if you are working on anything in particular?
What I am working on now is near and dear to my heart. I am trying to create a collaborative space for visual artists. A space where we can come together, and build without all the usual hang ups to creativity. I don’t just want to see greater for myself, I want to see everyone with a passion for making others happy do well. Art is life, and life is love. It may sound like hippie jargon, but at the end of the day I truly believe that if your heart is centered on promoting passion and expression through your gifts, that the universe will reward you and put you in the path of others that receive you and push you along further.
11. What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a career in photography?
The most important advice I would offer is to realize that timing is everything. Understand that the best way to position yourself for longevity is to constantly practice your craft, understand the importance of meeting deadlines, and the easiest way to change people’s minds is one photo at a time.
12. Finally, where can we learn more about you and your work online?
Feel free to visit my website at www.aprobersonphotography.com, you can also follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aprimages, Instagram at @TheQuintessentialGent, and finally Twitter at @TheQuintGent
His work is captivating. It has a rawness to it that is hauntingly beautiful. He has a way with being able to capture the spirit of his subject within each image he produces. He has fun with his work and in the process his love for his craft shines through. He has an element of an editorial glossy vibe to his photos, but it doesn't make them feel stuffy or to much like an over the top editorial. His work tells a story through visuals and movement. He's available for all kinds of work which allows him to push his craft to the next level. From corporate shoots to family shoots and everything in between, he's not afraid to try something new.
What I appreciate most about Anthony is that he is not afraid to share the raw reality of being a creative entrepreneur. He doesn't sugar coat things and he is the first to stand up for creatives being paid for their skill, time and art. I admire his tenacity and I truly believe he has some great lessons to share with all of you readers. I asked him if he would take some time to work on an interview with Halfstack. To share his experiences, offer his thoughts on working in the industry as well as give all of you readers some insights to the realities of being a full time freelance photographer.
Keep reading for the full interview.
1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your background and what led you to pursue a career in photography?
Wow, you never realize how awkward a question that is until someone asks you. I am a local photographer, born and raised in the Southside of Chicago, IL. The way I ended up finding photography was a funny one. My Dad owned a 35mm Canon camera and I grew up wanting to play with it. My Dad wasn’t having it. Every year, I would ask, and every year he would tell me no. This continued throughout grade school and well into high school. My senior year I remember asking my Dad one more time, and this time instead of a “no”, he replied, “Look, I’ll make a deal with you”. “You’re about to graduate, bring me a spotless report card, and the camera is yours”. “Is that right”?? Well, needless to say, I brought home a stunning report card, to which he kept his word and handed the camera over to me. I never put it down, and my love for photography was born June 20, 1993. I actually still have the camera, and she still works like a charm. I actually never decided to pursue a career in photography. It was always a passion for years, and one day I woke up and realized that I was living my dream. Why am I denying myself what I realize what I was truly put here for. It was at that point, I began making a living from what I was gifted with.
2. Can you tell us more about your current work and the vision driving the pieces you create?
I am really in love with OCF (Off Camera Flash) Photography and the mystery, drama that results in the images created. I want my work to reflect 3 things; passion, creativity, and the beauty of the human soul. What drives me is an unrelenting desire to capture every aspect of the human condition. We are such complex creatures, capable of doing, creating, and existing in ways that would astound. The pieces I create are done as a means of acknowledging that amazing piece of humanity that makes us just stop and appreciate. There is beauty to be seen in everything and what keeps me going is constantly creating opportunities to give the world more to see.
3. Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist, the ups and downs and what led you to this point in your career?
It has truly reflected my life. That being said, brilliant highs, gut-wrenching lows, moments of pure genius, others of me acting like a complete buffoon. What I’ve learned about that is everything you deal with in life leaves an imprint on you. Now the million dollar question is how do you keep on moving after you learn your lessons? Do you take your lumps and keep moving, or do you retreat to lick your wounds and stop? The name of the game is progression, so no matter what I always try to keep forward progression of some type in mind.
4. Where do you get your creative inspiration and what does your creative process look like as you coordinate your shoots?
Creativity is all around us. I’m fortunate that all I have to do is wake up, and I am thinking about a new spin on a shoot, a new way to angle a headshot, or a new product to demo. This is my LIFE so any and everything I do is somehow connected back to my passion. Oddly enough, I dream up my storyboards for my shoots. In my mind, when I sleep, I dream of a gigantic gallery. I mean acres and acres of space. In this dream I am always walking around just taking in everything till I realize, that this is MY gallery. These are my images that are adorning the establishment. I try during the dream to remember all that I can so that when I wake up, I can sketch out what I saw. It works sometime, and sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s safe bet that the last 10 pieces of so the I have created were pieces that I dreamt about first.
5. Are there people, mentors or figures that have made an impact in your life and career? If so, how?
There are so many people I could name right now, this would turn into an Oscar reception speech (Cue the music), My extremely short list would be my Mother for providing the platform of love and understanding that served as my launching pad, my wife Nakieta and son Aiden for continuing that and believing in me even when I had doubts, my mentors Worsom Robinson and Willard Hall, for showing me how to step beyond the fundamentals and connect with my camera and true passion, and most importantly I realize that everyone I have met and interacted with has played a part in me being where I am right now. For that I am humbly grateful….
6. Who are some of your favorite photographers or inspirational Instagram accounts to follow?
You sure you have enough room for this? Lol, Where do I even begin? Ansel Adams, Gordon Parks, Annie Leibovitz, Jimmy Nelson, Jeff Lewis, Richard Avedon, Jamel Shabazz, Worsom Robinson, James Washington, just to name a few…..
8. How are you remaining innovative when it comes to your work as a photographer? What are you doing to set yourself apart?
I try to approach every shoot doing something, anything different than what I did in my last one. I feel like photography is all about discovery. Both the photographer and the model. Both are working hand in hand to produce something awesome, but both need to be willing to step a little out of their comfort zone to achieve such a harmony. What sets me apart? The only thing I would be willing to claim is a commitment to continuing my impact. I was taught, “an artists’ charge is to convince the world of their point of view one person at a time”. That is what I want to be recognized for. Creating images that say all that the moment called for. They provoked thought, inspired some, intrigued others, but all in all, they affected the viewer.
9. What kind of obstacles have you faced as an independent artist – how have you overcome and what are some hardships young creatives may face as they pursue their dreams in the photography world?
First and foremost? Financial pitfalls are a plague when you are doing this by yourself. Not having a venture capitalist or financier can certainly be a challenge when it’s time to create products, or travel, or do the basic things it requires to simply stay out there and be aggressive in capturing. All the ownership is on you to produce every aspect of your brand. From strategy, to operation, to product fulfillment, marketing, the list goes on and on.
10. Can you share more about some current projects or commissions you are working on if you are working on anything in particular?
What I am working on now is near and dear to my heart. I am trying to create a collaborative space for visual artists. A space where we can come together, and build without all the usual hang ups to creativity. I don’t just want to see greater for myself, I want to see everyone with a passion for making others happy do well. Art is life, and life is love. It may sound like hippie jargon, but at the end of the day I truly believe that if your heart is centered on promoting passion and expression through your gifts, that the universe will reward you and put you in the path of others that receive you and push you along further.
11. What kind of advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a career in photography?
The most important advice I would offer is to realize that timing is everything. Understand that the best way to position yourself for longevity is to constantly practice your craft, understand the importance of meeting deadlines, and the easiest way to change people’s minds is one photo at a time.
12. Finally, where can we learn more about you and your work online?
Feel free to visit my website at www.aprobersonphotography.com, you can also follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aprimages, Instagram at @TheQuintessentialGent, and finally Twitter at @TheQuintGent
No comments:
Post a Comment