Boise-based photographer reimagines the commonplace for NatGeo, Forbes, and 250,000 others
Meet photographer Brett Sayles
Unflinching landscapes, forceful renditions of well-worn tourist destinations, and emotion in motion: Brett Sayles doesn’t just see things differently, he articulates that viewpoint. And he articulates it well; his photos have been viewed over 400,000,000 times and used on over 250,000 websites, including National Geographic, Forbes, and Time.com. Scroll down for the interview.
How did you get into photography?
I started shortly after high school, around 1983. I can't remember the reasons why exactly, but I purchased a Canon AE-1 and just started shooting. I fell in love with the idea of taking an everyday scene and trying to turn it into art. I think I may have gotten the bug early, watching my family set up a sheet and projecting slides on to it. I think I also got addicted to getting that little box back from the film processor! It was like Christmas any time you wanted!
What are your favorite subjects?
I don't have any favorites. Well, I don't have any favorite categories. To me, photography is about finding something that is normal, something that you see all the time and pulling the beauty out of it. That could be anything. When I get to feeling like I'm in a slump, with nothing new to shoot, I search for the ugliest, most mundane thing I can find and make it my quest to find and capture the beauty in it. One day while on a walk, I came across a dried up twig laying on the side of the road. I decided to take it home and rip whatever beauty I could find out of it. That photo ended up on the cover of a poetry anthology if you can believe that!
What barriers did you overcome to become a photographer?
I'm not sure it's a barrier exactly, but it took me a long time to realize that photography has almost nothing to do with cameras. A camera is just the tool we use to record what our mind perceives. 99% of what makes a photo good is somewhere between your eyes and your brain... I think beginner photogaphy classes should only introduce cameras in the last week.
What equipment do you love?
I shoot Nikon Z series cameras and love them.
What's some advice you can give other photographers?
Gear doesn't matter. Sure, get the best gear you can, but that's not where the magic happens. If expensive gear made great photographers, there would be a lot more great photographers out there!
What inspires you?
Beauty. It's everywhere. Even when you can't seem to find it, it's there. Finding it and capturing it inspires the hell out of me.
What's next for you?
We'll see! The only thing I know for sure is that I'll keep looking for God's beauty in everything I see.
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redhavenphotography.com
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twitter.com/Shadowburn
