We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zander Fieschko a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Zander thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
An octopus has a brain in every tentacle, but all eight work towards a common goal through various tasks. When I take on a project, I collect my current interests and the tools at my disposal and see if I can will them into a purpose. Hence Photography, Sociology, Esotericism, Progressive and Horseshoe American Politics, and Vintage Fantasy Illustration honed into this portrait series of the Los Angeles Occultist. This new study also formed organically. Many friends have found security in the ritual practices of various witchcrafts, traditional and contemporary, both as a personal comfort akin to the community of a mainstream religion as well as a progressive alternative to those religions tied to far right fascist conservativism. This curious mix of political movement and spiritual escapism needs to be documented, and the intensely visual, performance art aspect of the various rituals lends itself to a visual medium like photography. Showing these practitioners in their space, viewed in their ideal forms, or performing their crafts, rather than attempting a clumsy block of text to explain the nuance of the cosmology, allows a more honest representation. Stripped of academic judgement, this movement blooms and changes American society of its own accord.
This approach allows me to get closer to the subjects without judgement or agenda, and somewhat selfishly, shows off a higher concept, campaign style of photography. Having friends in a variety of esoteric circles also means I have the beginnings of a social web to work off of, beginning with first degree contacts and asking for introductions as the series progresses. The goal of these parts rests in the documenting of the members and leaders of as many occult practices as possible, possibly bridging the political gap and photographing fringe leaders of mainstream religions as well.
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?
My home is Northeast LA and my craft is editorial and product photography. I’ve lived here fourteen years, working in the film industry and taking that cinematic look to local brands. I want to provide a high fashion, campaign style look for up and coming brands, working in a variety of budgets and imaginations. Like the ghoulish photographer William Mortensen a century ago, I am able to use my connections in the film industry from makeup to set decoration and location scouting to push the boundaries of possibility in what would ordinarily be basic and quaint. I want to move into larger fashion brand editorials while continuing my passion projects like the current sociology series on Los Angeles occultists, so it pays now to make the extra effort in establishing a style that will reflect higher concepts in the future. In the meantime, expect intense collaboration, creativity, and authenticity in the studio and on location.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Being my own angel investor has been the most important facet in the growth and resilience of my photography, but the financial gains come at a physical price. Working in the film industry is a 60 hr/wk commitment, often starting early morning Monday and working into nights by Friday. For this I gain excellent health insurance and a stable wage in an inspiring field surrounded by creative freelancers, many of whom also fund their art on their terms. The film industry is full of musicians, writers, illustrators, and theater actors who have the privilege of calling their own shots. The cost? Finding the energy to keep going through the weekend working for yourself and you art. It means I have to find time to network and market myself as a photographer during film studio hours, edit after work for a couple hours every night to meet deadlines, and schedule my shoots over the weekend. It takes a special passion for the craft to drive someone to push past the day job fatigue, but it means my photography looks above and beyond most hobby photos. If you find yourself continually skipping out because you don’t have the motivation, it might be time to figure out why that is and what you need to get there.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
There’s a gleaming castle floating in the sky, and I want to pave the road to get there. Some people pave it with the bodies of those they’ve slain in their drive to get there. It’s important to know not just the castle, but the way you pave that road. My experience in photography has taught me some pitfalls and the value of patience. Who or what am I willing to sacrifice to achieve that aim? As I grow older, I am aware of how little and how much time I have. As I mature, I learn about the cages that hold me back and the foundations I want to maintain. Most of all, I have to be careful not to doubt the scope of the goal, because if I spend the rest of my life trying to achieve it, I’ve lost nothing in trying.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zandervision.com
- Instagram: @zandervision
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
All photographs Zander Fieschko 2021-2024