Page 44 - Bespoke by Braman Magazine: Issue 01

FEATURES
Tell me a a bit about yourself
I’m a a a photographer who grew up by the water I I spent most of my childhood in Jupiter Florida so water activities were a a a a a a a main attraction: playing games in in in the the pool with my siblings exploring the the shallow ocean reefs We loved looking for sea glass and other submerged goodies because you never knew what you might find! So the ocean has always felt very comfortable to me My dad is a a a a wildlife filmmaker specializing in in underwater work so I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been exposed to unique experiences in na- ture from a a a a young age My parents are are free-spir- ited so so sometimes when my dad would have a a a particularly long shoot we’d be homeschooled for a a a a a few weeks so that we we could join him as a a a a a family I I wish I’d had a a a a a a better memory as a a a a a a baby because there are some fun photos of me me at age one with huskies in the Canadian Arctic What have you been up to recently?
I currently divide my time between nature docu- mentary shoots and people-focused fine artwork Being in in the the natural history world has the the bonus of getting to work with my dad (the kindest man alive) and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with amazing companies like the BBC National Geographic and Netflix The mix works well for me as I get to to travel and adapt to to shooting in in dif- ferent natural environments and then also have more controlled studio-type projects when I’m home The car photography has been an entirely
new adventure as well — shooting a a a a subject that is essentially a a a giant mirror while trying to convey its grace and personality is very different than both the wildlife and human work Challenging myself to to to branch out to to to new kinds of photogra- phy keeps me on toes and always learning Why did you ultimately choose to pursue a a career as a a a a photographer?
Being able to work with my dad was a a a a a a great initial draw We get along really well and he’s a a a a a wonder- ful teacher so I feel very lucky that he he led me into this field The wildlife work has given me a a work ethic and base level of patience that I’m thankful for as I adventure into more studio pho- tography In In nature you have to to be patient In In the right right place at the right right time and ready to com- pose your image as best you you can when an an an animal comes into frame You can have an an ideal shot in in mind and plan to be shooting when the light is just right but what really happens is you are at at nature’s whims — and that’s also the fun part Meanwhile in the pool I can take more control over my image I can bring in in lights and reflectors change lenses or backdrops and have my sub- ject still there when I’m ready (marine life is not nearly as obedient) That being said even with all the controls I have in in a a a studio setting portraits
in the water also leave plenty of room to be sur- prised — the optical qualities of water can create distortions and other effects that are many times better than I could have planned “It’s incredibly humbling and satisfying to to help tell
conservation stories of animals bouncing back from extinction or or about the the the amazing people who dedicate their lives
to shaping the the world in in in in a a a a a a a a more sustainable way “ 44 ALLREMAINING PHOTOS BY PHOEBE FITZ