We recently connected with Brian Bezalel and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
From a very young age, I had always been the family photographer. Whether it was trips we went on or events we attended, I was always there with my camera. Back then, I used film cameras and didn’t really know what I was doing; it was just fun to eventually see the printed photos. In 2011, during the winter break from university, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to New Zealand to meet a friend. We ended up traveling both the North and South Islands, living in a van. It was my first real “backpacking” trip, and the sights we saw were spectacular! The moment I came around a bend in the road and saw Lake Tekapo for the first time was unbelievable to me. Coming from New York, with its light pollution, I had never seen the Milky Way or a true night sky before. By that time, I had upgraded to a DSLR camera, the Nikon D3200, but I still didn’t truly know how to use it. I didn’t bring a tripod with me, and I didn’t know how to capture the stars or any of the beautiful sights we had seen. I could point and shoot, of course, but I couldn’t add my own artistic flair to any of the images.
Upon returning from that trip, I knew that I had to dive deep into photography. I started watching videos, reading any material I could find, and learned about the lives of incredible photographers such as Robert Capa and others. From then on, I was hooked. Photography was going to be a major part of my life.
As with most things in my life, I never truly specialized in one area of photography. I saw the camera as an instrument that captures light, and I wanted to experiment and use the camera to its fullest potential, often in experimental ways. In the years since, I have delved into astrophotography, photographing deep space objects such as the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy. I have explored micro and macro photography, building a custom setup to attach my camera to a microscope, modifying cameras to become “full-spectrum” cameras, capturing infrared and UV light as well as the visible spectrum. I have had the opportunity to pursue aerial photography using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones in Alaska, Hawaii, Antarctica, New Zealand, and other amazing locations. I’ve also played around with time-lapse photography using a motion control rig, long-exposure photography, thermal imagery, light painting, and more!
In the 11 years since I took that initial trip to New Zealand, I have been fortunate enough to teach photography to others and share my art with the people I’ve met while traveling around the world. I now live in New Zealand, working and residing in the same area where I saw the Milky Way for the first time and where my initial passion for photography originated. I feel very fortunate for that!
Brian, 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?
When I decided to pursue photography as my main calling in life, I needed to come up with a name for my art. I noticed many photographers using the format “First Name Last Name Photography,” but I knew that wouldn’t work for me. I wanted to be creative and give my art a distinctive name.
I knew I wanted my art to be thought-provoking and educational. While creating visually pleasing images is wonderful, I also aimed for my art to engage viewers and provide them with new insights about the world. My name is Brian, but it’s often misspelled as “Brain.” Embracing this, I decided to name my art “brainwork! art.” It felt fitting and, at the very least, more interesting than “Brian Bezalel Photography.”
“brainwork! art” symbolizes artwork that not only demands thought, or brainwork, during the creative process but also encourages viewers to contemplate new ideas and get their own brains working. When I share my images, the visual aspect is undoubtedly important, but the captions or descriptions I add to each post are equally important. They are what I hope people will read and, in doing so, learn something new or be inspired to think about topics they hadn’t considered before.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
For anyone interested in learning photography, the internet serves as the greatest resource. YouTube, in particular, offers an incredible number of instructional videos covering various aspects of photography. Additionally, for more specialized areas like macro/micro photography, timelapse photography, or astrophotography, there are numerous obscure forums on the internet that contain a wealth of information. While some of these forums may not be as active as they once were, the information is still available.
Another crucial aspect for me has been frugality. It’s not necessary to have the most expensive equipment to create stunning images. I have bought most of my gear used or refurbished. I mostly use vintage Nikon lenses manufactured in Japan, which lack autofocus, but are crafted from solid metal and can take some abuse. While this approach can add complexity and occasionally result in missed shots, it enhances the sense of reward when I do capture a beautiful image. When searching for gear, don’t overlook thrift stores, internet auction sites, classified ads, etc.
Additionally, libraries have been a major source of inspiration for me. Going to a library and spending time sitting in a reading room, especially one as beautiful as the Main Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is a great way to spend your time and expand your knowledge. Reading biographies about famous photographers or researching something I have previously photographed has made me a better artist. Moreover, I thoroughly enjoy watching documentary films, which have also provided me with a lot of inspiration, ideas, and knowledge. You would be surprised by the benefits your local library may offer. Some libraries provide free access to streaming services or audiobook services, and others even offer free tickets to local museums. Visiting a library is always a wonderful experience!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I believe that what most people fail to understand is the fundamental question: “Why are you doing this?” It may seem more sensible to pursue a career in Manhattan, work for a large corporation, and enjoy the stability of a regular paycheck. That kind of life appears to be a secure and reliable option. If you choose a path similar to mine, there may be moments when you contemplate whether a life in Manhattan or something similar would have been the better choice. My conclusion, time and time again, is that a “stable” life is not what I am seeking. Over the past 10 years, I have worked in various volunteer, low-paying, or entry-level jobs. However, the trade-off is that I have been fortunate enough to explore the world, create art, and forge connections with many amazing individuals along the way.
Had I pursued a “stable” career, I would have missed out on remarkable opportunities, such as washing dishes or bartending in Antarctica, running a hostel on the beach in Hawaii for years, living in the deserts of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, residing just a few blocks away from the White House during the 2016 election season, traveling across Europe while visiting friends, participating in the construction of a massive wind turbine farm on the California coast, and working with airplanes and helicopters in Alaska and New Zealand, among countless other extraordinary experiences. Regardless of what my bank account statement reflects, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: brainworkart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainworkart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.bezalel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brainworkart
Image Credits
All photos are my own. Copyright Brian Bezalel.