Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Patrick Sanford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Patrick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry.

I think the biggest trend I see in the industry of photography, is the movement away from those that truly understand the principals of photography, finding interesting subject matter and composition that supports a concept or a vision, leveraging the cameras technology and settings to capture compelling imagery.

Far too often many photographers rely on pre-fabricated presets and the ability to manipulate images with a key stroke to achieve a desired effect. I have stood on the beach next to a photographer shooting a sunset and the resulting image from the other photographer was served up as a depiction of the scene but looked considerably different than the actual sunset. Now I am not faulting these photographers, and admire their mastery of the technology, just recognizing that this is a growing trend that is taking center stage. When you ad AI into the equation this trend is only going to continue and the days of a photographer getting behind a camera and utilizing it as paintbrush to capture beautiful images may be numbered.

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

I grew up in Southern California I have always been drawn to the coast and constantly changing environment. I started shooting on film cameras and I studied painting and photography at San Diego State University. If I had to describe my style in a couple of words it would be truthful and an escape. I try to stay true to the environment I am shooting with very little post-editing. I love the challenge of being able to capture amazing imagery without relying on photoshop or a pre-set. In addition, I also try and shoot from unique or interesting vantage points so that the viewer is submersed in the image.
I stumbled into surf photography several years ago, and became immediately hooked on not only the act of surfing but also the culture and personalities that surrounded it. This quickly became the perfect foundation for where I wanted my photography to go. I spend the majority of my time exploring coastlines and travel destinations looking for unique compositions that capture the spirit of nature with the goal to create fine art images that move, and inspire. Surveying the available light and how it interacts with the environment provides a constant motivation.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal for my photography is to build a stronger following and interest into the types of images I capture. Hopefully this will facilitate a dialogue with those interested in my photography as to the specific type of images they are interested in so that this will fuel new creative exploration.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Early on in my photography I wish I had taken the time to understand the value and leverage social media as an effective tool to build and reach a broader audience. I am in the process of backtracking now to achieve this understanding but it takes time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.patricksanfordphotography.com
• Instagram: @patricksanfordphotohgraphy