We recently had the opportunity to speak with Baltimore-based photographer, Zephan Moses Blaxberg, and chatted about his photography and interests.
Zephan is an exercise enthusiast and enjoys participating in everything from CrossFit to strongman to rowing. As his self-started business, ZMBMedia, has continued to grow, he has taken jobs such as shooting video at the White House and the set of TV show House of Cards. But capturing images of the of the sports he loves remains as one of his biggest passions.
When we asked Zephan how he first started seriously experimenting with photography as an art form, it turns out that his path started from a perceived step backward:
Quite possibly one of the greatest things to ever happen to me when I was in college was getting fired from my job as a photographer for the school newspaper. I had somehow managed to apply for a job I knew nothing about and when they soon realized and let me go, I still had a craving to learn. So I picked up a DSLR and started reading manuals, online blogs and did everything I could to learn from others.
After persisting beyond this initial challenge, Zephan started to home in on the things that make him unique as a photographer. When we asked him what he feels are the aspects of the images he captures that sets him apart as an artist, he told us:
My main inspiration for photography is really to capture a vision in my head. Often times photographers have been known for “seeing things differently” and that is exactly what I do.
He continued explaining:
Ever been to a wedding and seen ten people with their smartphones out taking photos next to the photographer? It’s because they think that’s the best vantage point. However often times there is a completely different story to be told if you were to take photos from the opposite side.
Sometimes, you have to do the opposite of what might be your intuition for taking a “good photo,” even if it means going against the grain. This is advice that can not only apply to photography and art, but our lifestyles and training routines as well. Zephan followed up his thought with some words of wisdom:
Often times there is a completely different story to be told if you were to take photos from the opposite side. I always try to look at where a “normal” photographer would stand and then go to the complete opposite location. Photographers have been known for “seeing things differently” and that is exactly what I do.
You can connect with Zephan and learn more about him through his website.
