We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ian Patrick O’Connor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ian Patrick below.

Alright, Ian Patrick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I would have to say the “Transcend” body of work. The series spawned out of a feeling during mediation, and took me a few years to develop before I ever made an image. Now after 5 years and 30+ photographs made, when I see the body of work as a whole it brings me great joy. Also the reception of the work from the viewers and owners of prints confirms my intention that the images can bring peace and calmness into their lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always been drawn to photography, and one way or anther known that it would be an important role in my life. Starting out as a young teen I would photograph my friends in Key Largo skateboarding, and that lead me down a path of shooting professional skateboarders as a job for about 10 years.

At the time I was using photography as a to document, both the skateboard stunts, and the lifestyle that the clients need the images for. Every so often I would be approached to do an art show with the skate photos, but to me it was never art, or better put a form of expressing who I was or what I wanted to put out to the world as “Art”.

It took many years to feel comfortable with the word “Artist” and really go deep within my own understanding of who I was to produce work that resonated with me, regardless of what the outside would say. As of the last few years I have devoted myself to working on the craft to continue to use still images as a tool of self expression, and I can honestly say that it feels right when I see a finished piece.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2009 I was on retainer for a large action sports brand to shoot all of their skate ads, catalogs etc. It was my dream job, travel the world and shoot my favorite skaters. I will save the long part of the story but in that same year I ended up moving to South America, and with the financial recession the company I worked cut the marketing budget and I lost my job. It was a difficult few years down there, but I started seeing images I wanted to create, and exploring using the camera as a way to express ideas and feelings. I know its cliche but it is true that those difficult times are when you truly grow.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I’m glad I never tried to sell you one…hahaha. No, I do have an idea for a set of NFT’s but it’s really hard for me to find any NFT’s that resonate with me. There are a few that I have seen that I love, the Urs Fischer ones in particular, but overall it’s a difficult area to navigate. I would have to feel comfortable on the platform that they are being offered, and know that there is an audience that would understand and appreciate my work in a digital form. In general I shoot on film, and my final works are tangible, and I am ok with that. It seems that the irrational exuberance in the NFT world is fading, so it will be interesting to see what survives and how it moves forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ianpatrickoconnor.com
• Instagram: @ianpatrickoconnor

Image Credits
All work is my own, except the portrait by Cora Perez