We recently connected with Bryan Helm and have shared our conversation below.
Bryan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
As a Photographer success can be measured on many different levels. Creating one image for a client that makes them happy and completes the job is a success. On the other end of the range leaving behind a collection of numerous photo books and gallery shows around the world is a success in many people eyes too. Your legacy really depends on what you want it to be, and hopefully it grows from there. For myself I’d like to complete some book projects and keep showing fine are work globally. I feel it’s best to leave something great behind in the world for people to enjoy.
Bryan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Graduating from the Alberta College of Art in 1999, with a B.F.A in Photography I immediately moved to Toronto to work at a studio and learn the commercial photography and advertising industry. Learning what I could at Westside Studio for a year. I left the studio and started my career shooting ad campaigns, My Goal was to build my book and move down to New York. Making Inroads to New York between 2000-2002 I moved there once I signed on with an agent. I need as petitioner in order to get a work visa. I wanted to move down there legally and not have the immigration worry as quite a lot of other foreign photographer at that time in New York had.
Working in New York for 20 years has been quite a roller coaster. Primarily being an advertising people photographer, I started to branch out to more documentary assignments. Documenting Cultures off the beaten path, motorcycle culture, Rodeo, Mud trucks, Automotive, and Stuntmen to name a few. I gravitated to anything with excitement and interesting characters.
Coming from a time of printing your own photos black and white, and color in the darkroom. I’ve still kept these looks and techniques in my body of work 20 some years later. Some vintage black and white looks have become to be my signature style in my motorcycle culture work. As well as trying to get more of a dynamic angle or adding movement to a frame
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Growing up overseas in Africa and Indonesia as a child I was constantly traveling with my parents. My mother was an artist and always had me in art classes after school or doing creative homework assignments. Getting older when the time came to figure out career paths, something art or creative based was always at the forefront. I was leaning towards being an art director and creating commercials, but then I thought I’d be stuck in an office or boardroom all day, Ive always had the travel bug and get bored staying in one place too long. Photography would be the career passport to explore new countries and meet interesting people. Travel has always been the reward. Getting paid for adventure and new experiences is a win win,
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind. ” — Anthony Bourdain,
I’ve always thought strongly about this quote. Cooking is another art form in my mind. Except you can cook for someone and give them instant gratification and happiness. Cooking, another form of nuture.
With all my side photo projects, and documentary bodies of work. My end goal is to have a tangible object that encompasses the project as a whole, A photo book. Even better if it goes hand in hand with a fine art show.
Future generations can see this sliver of time captured and forever preserved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bryanhelm.com/
- Instagram: bryanhelm
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-helm-a2a35513/
- Twitter: @helm26
- Other: Fine Art representation: The Cardinal Gallery https://www.thecardinalgallery.ca/artists/34-bryan-helm/overview/
Image Credits
All imagery Bryan Helm