We recently connected with Adam Fakult and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Being remembered after you’re gone is every artists dream. Photo-making came with that realization that I could document and save daily life around me and suddenly I had that intrinsic quality at my fingertips. With the work I put together it’s important to me to tell the truths in someone’s story. We live in a world with content and cameras, giving us a constant stream of information from the moment we wake up. What’s so real about the documentary work and photojournalism that I love is it’s ability slow a stranger down and teach them about what’s going on around us. Starting those conversations and helping people find their voice can create a change for the better. I hope to be remembered for adding to those discussions.

Adam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Adam Fakult and I’m a Photojournalist/Documentary Photographer from Columbus, Ohio. I’ve pretty much had a camera in my hand since high school. My parents gifted me a little Kodak, point-and-shoot camera that I never really put down. I ended up going to school down the line, for commercial photography at the Columbus College of Art & Design where I can attribute a lot of my influence and self-discovery for my personal work. I was taught how to approach an idea behind a project. Whether it’s commercial/editorial or documentary/photojournalism the standards I learned, are much the same. What sets photographers apart is their understanding of the topic they’re capturing. Intention and perception are two of my biggest standards when approaching subjects. At the end of the day, I take responsibility for the images I take and understand the audience can interpret images meaning differently than I. In my field especially, capturing a scene as honest and true to life as possible is an absolute must.

The work I’m most proud of revolves around my friend David, who passed away back in 2020. He had been living with a heart defect for the last 26 years. At the time, he was in and out of the hospital more and more frequently. We decided to start documenting his day to day routine and put together a photo essay that stood on it’s own as a proof of life for the hardships he endured. It was something we would be able to look back on one day and say, “Holy shit, I can’t believe you made it through that.” Those photos are hard for me to look at but the meaning behind them and the life shown means so much to me. I sure miss him.

I’m actually about to release a photo book called, “Endless Summer”, I’ve spent roughly 2.5 years traveling to Indiana and documenting life at a summer camp. My book in short, is centered around this metaphysical idea of “Camp Magic” and is captured in a timelessness that would speak to anyone that misses those hot summer days without a care in the world. I’ve always been a huge movie buff and grew up watching films like Stand by Me, Sandlot, Parent Trap, and Dead Poets Society. Titles and Directors from that era told the stories about growing up that shaped me into the person I am today. You can laugh, but anyone that knows me would agree at how hugely nostalgic I am; almost to a fault.

I want to stress, that when I’m taking photos for myself or for a client even the Pros take bad photos. You can only prepare so much before a shoot until you just have to go out, deal with the circumstances, and do it. That’s where the real art comes from. You can have the best camera equipment and the most beautiful location or model but that doesn’t make a great photo. Those things sure help, but one of the most important things in my workflow is being approachable. In my experience, great photos come from your ability to be social with complete strangers. They will let you into their world, all you have to do is listen.

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 usually get weird looks when I tell people I studied photography in college. For people that didn’t gravitate toward the arts and similar disciplines, there’s a disconnect on what those studies even entail. So much work goes into each and every one of them. Art-making is an outlet, a way to speak, a vocation, and a way to make a living. It’s so strange to explain to someone that I’ve been making a photo book in my spare time. Then by the time that it’s finished, it’s no longer just a book… it’s the culmination of so much time, effort, stress, revision, and creative energy. Then when it’s all said and done, it’s something that we want to make money off of.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a photographer is the opportunity I have to capture a part of history. The camera allows me a medium to witness little moments, whether it’s news or just daily life. I’m there, I’m actively apart of it, and I get to tell those stories through the images and pass that on to anyone that wants to see.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adamfakult.com/book
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_fakult/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-fakult/
• Other: My email for inquires: adamfakult@gmail.com

Image Credits
Copyright Adam Fakult, Endless Summer: photographs of summer camp