We were lucky to catch up with Jim Walters recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Early on in my photo journey, I found myself in Downtown San Diego for another photography gig I was working on at the time. That’s when I heard a man playing a trombone on the street corner. I was captivated and so- having my camera with me, I captured his image in what became one of my bestsellers “Playing With Soul”.
Years passed and It became a mission for me to find this man again. I wanted to learn his story and share with him all the joy my photo of him has brought to myself and many others around the world who have also become captivated with his image.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the man’s name is Bernard Hill, a homeless man that has lived on the streets for many years. A minister browsing my booth one day saw my photo of Bernard and recognized him as an attendee of his church. I gave him a print of “Playing With Soul” and asked him to show the print to Bernard. The Minister gave me a general idea of where Bernard could be found, and I searched the streets looking for him. Knocking on tents, asking other people living on the streets of downtown. After a very long journey and investigation I found him. I was at last able to meet the man that I had wondered about for so many years.
A local news station picked up on the story, and Bernard was featured on a CBS local news spot. He had since stopped playing his beloved trombone in the Gaslamp quarter because it had been stolen. Instead of his original trombone that he had played in the Navy Band as a young man, he had replaced his stolen piece with a beat up-taped together instrument that lacked the luster of the original, but due to his desire to play- he still used it to entertain the people and make his music that he held in high esteem. You could just tell by the look in his eyes how much he loved to play, and how distraught he had been over the loss of the instrument he adored. This was his passion, this was his reason for living.
The outpouring of the local community truly touched me. He has received many donations and well wishes from people all over San Diego and beyond. The community continues to show its generosity, as someone has graciously offered to donate a brand new trombone for Bernard to play. You can expect to see him “Playing with Soul” and a big, grateful heart in the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego most evenings.
Link to the news article: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/help-for-gaslamp-street-musician-whose-trombone-was-stolen/509-6f4d51fe-4af4-4040-aa44-d81e33b9b61a?fbclid=IwAR1HHR9uMLBDBEodnhSZEGFx6xSp9ye14TB5Gicihayu1EofR_AtHWqVk7c
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Thank you so much for this opportunity. It is an honor, and I am so incredibly grateful for you taking the time to get to know me and my brand, Jim Walters Photography and Fine Art.
My interest in the arts began many years ago when I was a teenager. What began as an appreciation for music and film developed into a passion for photography and fine art. I decided that in order to give it my best, I had to learn from the best and so I enrolled in Mark Holmes’s “The Photographers Journey; A personalized course of instruction and mentoring in digital photography, and I haven’t put my camera down since. I now also offer fun interactive lessons and hands-on workshops to spread the skills and knowledge I received to other aspiring photographers.
Capturing life’s most iconic and beautiful landscapes and street art is where I find my passion and inspiration most. I like to think that I bring a unique perspective of the world through my eye and lens, and then return the favor by capturing the scene and printing it for the world to see it as I do.
I take great pride in my work, and I am extremely grateful to be living my dream as an artist. My art has been proudly displayed in homes across San Diego where I am based, and well beyond- into many parts of the US and abroad including Europe, Australia, Canada and so many more. It is humbling to know that people from around the world can appreciate the things my camera and I have captured. There is no other feeling like it, I am truly grateful.
My art has been on display at many street fairs and art shows across California. I spend every Sunday in Solana Beach at the Farmers Market as well.
Readers can find some of my favorite pieces and bestsellers available for purchase on my website: https://jimwaltersphotography.pixieset.com/artgallery/
I hope that they will enjoy my art as much as I did capturing it.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I have always had a strong desire to live my dream of making a living from my art. My entire life I have always worked to live, working for someone else, just as most of us do. There came a point when I realized in order to live my dream, I had to take a huge leap of faith and do it- or forget about it altogether. So one day, almost on a whim, I decided to quit my 9 to 5 and work on photography full-time. It has been the most rewarding yet challenging experience I have ever faced. But it is so completely worth it. My advice to those who have taken a similar leap of faith to Never give up! There will be ebbs and flows, ups and downs. Both are necessary for the journey and the reward of owning your business and showcasing your art for the world to enjoy.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
There have been many influences in my life that have guided and inspired me to where I am today. One being Mark Holmes’s Photography course early in my career. His course gave me a wealth of knowledge and resources that I continue to use today. “The Essential Guide to Outdoor Photography Magazine” is a UK based magazine that offers a plethora of knowledge and detail that has significantly helped with inspiration and improved my skill set in many areas of photography and getting that perfect shot.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jimwaltersphotography.pixieset.com/artgallery/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimwaltersphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photobomb1074
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-walters-175599b9
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@photobomb619
Image Credits
Jim Walters Photography and Fine Art