We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daniel Jester a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’m about halfway through a project that has become quite a bit more rewarding than I was expecting. Since June I’ve been working on a still life photography series featuring the signs of the zodiac. Starting with Gemini (which is my sign), I’ve been researching each astrological sign, learning the mythology, interviewing friends and social media contacts about their experiences with their own sign, and then coming up with a concept for a still life photography that represents each respective sign in some way.

I don’t know a lot about astrology, but recent events in my personal life has brought some new perspective and a real openness to learn. The process of creating each piece has brought its own reward through connecting with new people and learning about how they see themselves. Sharing the pieces at art fairs has also brought new connections, and watching people connect with the work that was made to reflect their own star sign has been truly incredible.

Daniel, 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?

I’ve been interested in photography and the visual arts since I was a kid, and I count myself fortunate for being able to make a career over the past 15 years as a commercial photographer and creative team leader. Those years being on set shooting almost any thing you can imagine for companies like Nordstrom, Amazon, Farfetch helped me build a strong understanding of photographic technique, and studio lighting. I now like to primarily apply those skills to artistic projects. My thinking is that I’ve spent a long time helping other people make money with my photography skills, I’d like to contribute something more to the medium as an art form, and hopefully find and connect with people who enjoy my work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Far and away its the moment that one of my pieces connects with someone. Still life photography as an art form can be kinda hard to understand at first. It’s sort of like equal parts assemblage, lighting design, and photography. Through those elements you try to tell a story or convey a feeling.

One particular piece in my Signs of the Zodiac series is called “Astraia’s Desk” representing Virgo. One very clear trait shared amongst multiple Virgos that interviewed as research for the piece was that they love organized while practical workspaces, they love attention to detail, and they absolutely LOVE a puzzle. So I decided to make the piece itself a visual puzzle. Written on the notepad at the center of the frame are 8 clues for things you can find in the image itself.

The moment that people discover this, and it clicks for them what I was trying to achieve with the piece, that moment has been so special to experience.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I really want to undo the harmful thinking I engaged in as a young product photographer, where I felt like I was second or third tier creative for being a product photographer. Really I’ve stopped thinking that only some people are creative. I believe that creativity is a human trait.

Every human is creative in some way, whether it be in the things we’ve labelled visual or performing arts, or in other ways. Have you ever watched someone who’s really good at using Excel do what they do? Don’t try telling me thats not creativity, I’m not buying it.

Humans are inherently creative, it just manifests itself in different ways for different people. It’s like any other personal interest or taste.

So my mission to own my own version of creativity, and try to make things that connect with people, because that’s what I find really fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danieltjester.com
• Instagram: @danieltjester
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danieltjester

Image Credits

These images make up my Signs of the Zodiac Series so far. Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, and Taurus are coming in 2025.