We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sky Tarkington. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sky below.
Sky, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Like many, I learned photography by taking photos. There wasn’t this masterclass or single source that inspired me either, it was actually just a school contest that first got me into photography. It seemed easy, my mom had this small power zoom camera, so I thought I would try my luck. Of course, I didn’t win, not even close, but that was the first time I got the itch to take more photos. Eventually through my schools yearbook and journalism clubs, I started taking more photos, got my own DSLR, and just kept taking photos. I did end up going to college for cinema, this is where I learned a lot of the technical side of a camera, but most importantly, it gave me more opportunities to shoot.
Knowing what I know now, there are two things I wish I spent more time doing, learning more about the gear I was using and looking at more photos. Looking back, I didn’t use the cameras I owned to their full potential. Photography was magic to me at the time, and I wanted to keep it that way, it was just so much fun to not worry about the technical side, just find a moment and hope to capture it. Of course this lead to many of those captured moments to being not the best of my work, but it was always the feeling I chased. That feeling did give me tunnel vision in a lot of ways. I don’t think I ever took a serious look at other photographers when first starting out. Now, there are so many photographers I look at almost daily that really inspire me. I think inspiration from others would’ve changed my view through the lens in those early years.
For my kind of photography, I think the most essential skill is being present. The ability to stay focused in a moment and have that sense when this is something worth capturing is everything for a photographer like me. My favorite photos are ones that I know I’ll never have the chance to get again. Those frozen moments in time are so special to me, the feeling is energizing, and its been a skill that I’ve had to work hard on. It sounds easy but there are so many parts of our life’s that can distract us at any given time of the day, before you know it, you’ve been daydreaming and missed a moment.
I think the only obstacle that has ever stood in my way of learning more is myself. I’m lucky to be in the time period I am now just because of the enormous amount of information I have available at my finger tips. If I want to learn something, there’s something or someone out there willing to share that info. The only thing stopping me is me. Like I said before, focus is a skill I’ve had to learn. I’ve always had multiple interests, hobbies, jobs, etc. that I put my attention elsewhere. Not to say that’s necessarily a bad thing, but I look back and recognize that I could’ve managed my time and focus a bit differently.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Skylar Tarkington, but call me Sky. I’m a camera guy from the Midwest. I say camera guy because I’m not just a photographer, I work with cameras in many aspects. Photography is where I got my start, but now a lot of my time is dedicated to cinema. A lot of my peers know me as a 1st Assistant Cameraman and Director of Photography. So I like to say camera guy, cause I just like cameras. I like to also add where I’m from because it is a large influence in my work, how I got started, and how I’m where I’m at now.
I grew up on a cattle farm in rural Missouri, not much around. I had two things that held my curiosity and still do, I had movies and a camera. Funny enough in those years growing up on the farm, I never dove into video, I was actually really fascinated with landscape photography. We had a few hundred acres that held me in awe and inspired me to somehow capture it in a way that I could share that awe with others. If I wasn’t on the farm, I was inside watching movies. At the time, I never realized how similar and how much of an impact these things had me. I realized later on, I craved perspective. To this day, I still have that goal with my work. Perspective is everything, it’s unique to each and every one of us. I really took to movies that opened up my eyes to stories, places, and people I couldn’t even dream of. I took that inspiration into my photography, trying to share my perspective with others. I never considered myself much of a talker, or at least a good one, so visuals were everything. To understand something or someone, I feel like I need to see it, so I felt like the only way for people to better understand me was to take photos, to show my work. This is ultimately what led me to leaving Missouri. I wanted more perspective, and I also wanted to share my own.
My hunger for perspective still holds strong today. I love nothing more than learning others perspective and helping them share that. This is why I am so involved in the cinema community. The collaboration is spectacular. I love turning someone’s story into a visual language. Los Angeles is filled to the brim with story tellers and I think the most powerful way to share a story is through cinema. It’s the ultimate art form. Photography, music, writing, acting, design, all of it comes together to push a single narrative forward. That to me is one of the most wonderful things in the world.
If there’s one thing to know about me is that I love to help. Helping people bring their story to life, to give it power, and to be able to share it with others is truly what I love to do.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal in my work will always be to gain perspective. I’m a curious person, I want to learn others stories, and help share their views. As I learn more my own perspective changes, my art changes, and I want to share that.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I really wish I bought the American Cinematographers Manual far earlier in my career. I think this book is the ultimate guide for any one that wants to be a cinematographer. It’s an incredible resource that gives you so much important technical knowledge. Easy access to knowledge like this gives you a lot of freedom for creativity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: skylar_tarkington
