We were lucky to catch up with Greg Fugate recently and have shared our conversation below.

Greg, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

First, let me say that I’ll never be finished learning. I also don’t think there is anything I could have done to speed up the learning process. I would describe my first 5 years learning photography as a technical skill-building boot camp. I focused my attention on understanding exposure, light, composition, color theory, post-processing techniques, etc. I did a lot of reading, watched a lot of video tutorials, and signed up for several workshops. I also practiced constantly.

As I’ve matured as a photographer, my learning process has shifted more toward focusing on what photographer and author Guy Tal described in his recent book The Interior Landscape as the act of practicing those attitudes (mindfulness) and honing those personality traits (openness) that are conducive to creative expression. To paraphrase, mindfulness is consciously focusing attention on recognizing and acknowledging the qualities of your present experience, while openness is staying receptive to a broad range of possibilities and experiences. It’s the intersection of mindfulness and openness where creativity blossoms.

I recently experienced this intersection firsthand while exploring Capitol Reef National Park. If you’re familiar with the geology of the area, you know well the purple, red, and gray bentonite clay-dominated layers of the Chinle Formation that sit at the foot of the dominant sheer-cliff-forming Wingate sandstone layer above. I was out one evening photographing a cluster of large boulders that had broken free from the Wingate sandstone layer and come to rest in the bentonite clay folds of the Chinle layer. While looking through the viewfinder composing my photo, I suddenly got an idea for a new photographic series. This idea was probably percolating in the recesses of my brain long before it suddenly snapped into my consciousness. All I know is that, from that moment on, I spent the rest of my trip actively thinking about this new concept, and I started seeing new compositional opportunities all around me. I had experienced a palpable creative spark that wouldn’t have occurred had I not stayed present in my fascination with the colors, patterns, and textures in those fallen rocks.

Greg, 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’m a landscape photographer based in Denver, Colorado. I don’t earn my living through photography; for now, it’s purely a creative pursuit. I first caught the landscape photography bug about 12 years ago during a trip to Utah in May 2011. One evening I ended up at the Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park just before sunset. This is a well-known and popular overlook because it’s very accessible and affords a spectacular view of the Green River carving its way through the vast desert landscape far below. The photograph I took that evening remains one of my favorites because it marks the start of my creative journey. Since that initial trip, I’ve continued to explore the scenic byways and backroads of Colorado’s mountains and the desert landscapes of southern Utah and northern Arizona with my camera.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Many years ago, probably about the same time I got started in landscape photography, I was in leadership training at work, and we were asked to come up with a personal mission statement. This was the first time I really thought about and tried to articulate those values that define and motivate me as a person. I jumped into the exercise with gusto. The words that I penned that day continue to be the mission driving my creative journey: Live with purpose; act with honesty, integrity, and compassion for others; and recognize the natural beauty that surrounds me every day. As long as I remain grounded in this personal mission statement, I know that I’ll continue to produce photographs that are meaningful for me and others.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of pursuing landscape photography as an artistic and creative endeavor comes from the experience of exploring the natural places that I visit. Getting out into nature allows me to slow down and calm my mind, recharge, and, most importantly, connect with a greater sense of belonging and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gregfugatephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregfugatephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GregFugatePhotography

Image Credits
All photos © Greg Fugate.