We recently connected with David Waage and have shared our conversation below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I spent ten years visiting Lebanon during the Syrian war. The war drove over 1 million refugees to safety in Lebanon. I met and began photographing these Syrian refugees, hearing their stories and gaining some understanding of what these people had been through.

The place I met them became a key element of the story. Along the Mediterranean waterfront in Beirut, the refugees would gather to relax, to swim, to play soccer, and to spend time with their families and friends. They were enjoying what I termed moments of refuge. While they were happy in the moment, behind the happy smiles were stories of incredible heartbreak and loss.

I named the project “Syrian Refuge” and it is a tribute to the resilience of these beautiful people. I gathered ten years of portraits and produced solo and group exhibits of the series. Connecting their stories with new audiences has been tremendously meaningful to me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in Fergus Falls, MN, and became interested in photography at a young age. In college, I worked as a photographer in the PR department, my first paid gig in photography. I credit Mary Hekhuis, who hired me at California Lutheran University, for giving me my first chance. I studied photography as well, and enjoyed the company of artist friends.

During a detour in the business world, I kept photography as a side hustle. I knew at some point I would be able to pursue it more fully, and eventually that wonderful moment arrived: I became a full-time photographer. My path may have been unusual, but for me it made sense. By working in a conventional job, I was able to hone my craft and prepare for the day when photography became paramount.

I pursue projects that appeal to me creatively or that have a social impact. I have worked on fashion and travel magazine editorials, portraits, and experimental photography. I turn down assignments if they don’t appeal to my sense of mission and esthetics. I want to do great work that I am proud of.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Artists and creatives enrich our lives. I grew up with parents who knew it was important for us to have exposure to art, music, culture, and ideas. I took this with me into adulthood.

I think it is vital to support artists in any way possible. For me that means attending as many exhibitions, openings, readings, and shows as I can. I think it’s important to engage with the work being shown by thinking about it, talking about it with friends, and by meeting the artists to try to understand what they are trying to communicate.

If I have the cash, I try to buy work that I love, never for investment, but because I want to live with it.

When I show my own work, I want to engage the viewer and learn from their interpretation of what I’ve produced. It’s a thrill to connect with people through art!

The artist’s journey is often tough, but by providing strong moral and financial support, we help artists thrive and enrich our own lives.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

To be a good photographer takes many skills, some obvious and some not so much so.

Technical skill with the camera is only the beginning.

A strong creative vision is essential: what are you trying to say?

An engaging personality is incredibly helpful and necessary. In a fleeting moment, a photographer is called on to connect with someone, often a stranger, make them feel comfortable, and in a way intrude into their lives to take a picture. It’s an intimate act and requires strong trust between photographer and subject.

It is very rewarding when I can successfully establish this trust and produce beautiful pictures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidwaage.com
• Instagram: david.t.waage
• Facebook: david.t.waage
• Linkedin: david-waage
• Twitter: DavidWaage
• Other: VIMEO:
  David Waage

Image Credits

Photos by David Waage (c) David Waage Photography, LLC