Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Howard.

Hi Jordan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My creative journey started at a young age when curiosity and the desire to express my point of view led me to love photography. While my primary professional interest has always been architecture, I have found that my interest in photography emerged in many different avenues throughout my life. Those opportunities have included photography classes where I learned to love film and the dark room, capturing high school sports, grad photos, clothing brand shoots, selling prints through Society6, and now working for my graduate school to capture events. The beauty of photography is that it is accessible, and that creative side reinvigorates my point of view and inspires my architectural designs. I hope to continue weaving together photography and architecture in order to capture existing fabrics and conceive better futures.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am doubtful that a creative path can be without ups and downs, especially with the reality of burnout, the saturation of content in media, and the growth it requires to work through challenges and adjust to evolving technology. The technological world has given me all of the tools I utilize to express myself creatively from cameras to digital modeling for architecture, yet I have had a complicated learning curve with these tools as I try to find a balance between expressing my vision and technology taking control of the art itself. Adapting to such a fast-paced digital world and maintaining a creative point of view has its challenges, and I am constantly trying to learn the strengths of each tool for my own journey and be patient throughout the process. There are times when reverting to “older” technology, such as film photography or hand-drawing, can reinspire and get at the core of my passion again as an escape during times of burnout. I am hopeful that as an industry we will continue to find ways to balance technology and creativity, which may require slowing down and taking much needed breaks at times to enjoy the world around us.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am in my last year of my Masters in Architecture degree at Columbia University GSAPP and will be entering into my professional career and pursuing my architecture license upon graduating. While studying architecture, I have always had an interest and passion for photography. I specialize in historic and new façades, which have an immense impact on the public sphere, sustainability of the built environment, and collective memory of place. In a similar way, photography captures memories to live on and be enjoyed by others, transporting the viewer to a particular place and time. Architecture has this power as well, being such a foundational aspect for every community to express art and culture in a profound way. This interest in the way our spatial surroundings impact our culture and memory has led me to delve into photography and architecture as lenses for understanding and appreciating people and cultural influences in the built environment.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I opened up more as the years went on. I have always been one to listen intently before sharing because I know how much I can learn from others. As time went on, I found my voice by surrounding myself with incredible, supportive friends and family, relishing in opportunities to see the world, and leaving my comfort zone. I was never one to take risks and was the cautious, responsible friend to have around. While these were strengths that have gotten me where I am today, I learned ways to be more confident and to take on more challenges. This taught me how to grow through difficult times and not view the world from solely an anxious, risk perspective that often hindered my confidence. I have had such a wonderful, blessed childhood, and that freedom of thought and opportunities to grow allowed me to creatively express myself and pursue my passions. The most formative experiences in my life have been moving from my home state of California. I went from California to Virginia for my undergraduate studies, and then graduate school led me to New York. These three geographic and cultural regions have opened my eyes to countless complexities and have inspired me immensely.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordan.r.h/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanrhoward
• Other: https://society6.com/jordanhowardphotography