We were lucky to catch up with Gary Devore recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I picked up photography at a young age. My dad was into photography as a hobby and gave me my first film camera at the age of 9. I was hooked ever since. It was a hobby most of my life. I would carry my camera everywhere I went and viewed the world through the view finder. This was back before the internet or google so I learned through trial and error, an expensive learning experience back in the film days. When I got my first digital camera, I applied the principles I learned with film to the digital age. I could have taken classes but felt learning on my own helped develop my style, my brand. In a college course you learn the instructor’s way of doing things. I liked trying new things and pushing the limits to see what I can come up with, some worked, some didn’t. But I always learned something from doing that. Now with digital cameras there is little to no consequences to trying something new. If it doesn’t work out, just delete the photo and try again. The biggest obstacle I encountered was myself. I hit a point where I started comparing my photos to other photographers. Wondering why I couldn’t get photos like they did. Started having serious imposter syndrome and questioning if I could even cut it as a professional. I would get frustrated when something didn’t work out. It took me a while to realize that every photographer is unique and has their own style and that I just needed to find mine. Its ok to be different and capture the world in a different way. I believe every photographer has or will experience that at some point in their journey.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been a photographer since the age of nine. It was a hobby for most of my life until I retired from the Air Force. After retirement, I wanted to pursue a career I was passionate about, something I wanted to do. I was fortunate to land a job with ESPN as a sports photographer in Orlando, FL. I had never thought about sports photography as a career before this, but I instantly fell in love with it. It just came naturally to me. I worked at ESPN for nine years before switching gears and am now a photographer at the US Air Force Academy where I cover not only sports, but military and academic life. I have been at USAFA for three years now. As a side gig, I cover the world of aviation as well. I work with Aero News Network and the National Museum of WWII Aviation as well as take on side jobs for pilots, flight schools, FBOs, and aviation related clients. Anything from air-to-air photography, static aircraft, or a student’s first solo. Aviation and sports photography share similar skills so it’s a natural transition between the two. I tend to see the world differently and capture unique photos that tell the whole story. I can find the smallest of details and capture them in compelling ways.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a photographer, the most rewarding part is capturing a moment in time to preserve for eternity. Not just the historical aspect, but the personal and emotional. At the moment a photo is taken, we as photographers know if it’s a good photo or not. What we don’t know, is the meaning that photo has to a person or persons. An example is I was able to capture a photo of two of the US Air Force Thunderbirds just passing through our local airport. It was a good photo, but the meaning of that photo to the pilot was much deeper. Even though they have a million photos of them as being a premier demonstration team, the photo I captured was the first time this particular pilot led a formation flight. I only knew once the pilot contacted me about the photo. A significant moment in their career. Each photo is tied with a memory or event that is meaningful to someone. Being able to preserve those moments is a special task and I take each photo seriously.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I feel most non-creatives do not see what we do as a “real job”. They struggle to see it as anything other than a hobby. The time and effort put into perfecting your skill and the money spent on gear is significant yet allot do not see it as a service worth supporting. Photography is a perishable skill, and photographers are constantly working on maintaining them. Not to mention the time put into a shoot. The clients only see the time spent actually taking the photos. They do not see the time preparing for the shoot, travel, setup, editing and delivery. Not to mention the constant learning that goes on to maintain their skill. I feel all creatives can relate and have experienced this. Sometimes it feels like the photos we take are important, until they have to pay for them. The modern cell phones make this even more prominent as now everyone has a “camera” in their pocket.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gdevorephotos.smugmug.com/
• Instagram: @gdevore1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067382666939
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-devore-56b68255/
• Twitter: https://x.com/GDevorePhotos