Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Miller.
Hi Joe, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My first experience with photography was not even with a camera, but I had a special art class in third grade, and we learned to make photograms (look it up) in the darkroom. I was hooked! Watching the images develop in the darkroom chemicals captured my attention. By the time I was in 6th or 7th grade, I had a darkroom in my house. After high school, I went to a two-year tech school for photography, and after graduation, started working in a studio in Mankato, Minnesota. At that job, I photographed weddings, portraits and some commercial work. I also handled all aspects of the photographic process — working in the darkroom and printing the clients images (color and black and white). I quit the studio to get a journalism degree, but I continued doing wedding and portrait photography. Around that time, I discovered my real love was photographing landscape images. I have sold stock images and have had my work published in magazines and even a few books. Since I have enjoyed camping my entire life, it was a very natural fit with landscape photography. I love the state parks in Minnesota and have visited many of them to capture beautiful images. I have also enjoyed photographing in many of our national parks and captured some images internationally as well. Northfield, where I live, is a very pretty town, and I have taken many images of it over the years. I sell some of my work at the local arts guild, but I sell most of my images through Fine Art America. It is a privilege to have people love my photography enough to want it hanging on their walls.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Changes in technology and learning that technology is probably the biggest struggle over the years, whether it was a new camera or flash system or new software and high-end digital cameras. Since software is being continually updated, the learning never stops. When I am doing photography for client jobs, I need to know my cameras and flashes so well that I don’t have to spend time thinking about the settings. If I know my gear well, I can focus on the creative aspects of the job.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think the one thing that sets me apart from others is that I am always thinking about the light. Photography literally means, “draw with light,” so as photographers, that is one of our primary tools. In fact, the light is much more important than the tool with which you use to capture it. A rather mundane landscape can come alive with great light hitting it. If the light is doing nothing, the images are (usually) not worth taking. I am always observing the light of a situation, even when I don’t have a camera. I’ve commented on it for so long that my wife (who doesn’t do photography) will mention it when she sees nice light because she has heard me talk about it over the years. She has learned to observe it as well. And, time of day makes all the difference. When I’m camping, I am up before sunrise and usually done photographing a few hours later when the light is not as nice. Besides the light, I try to “make images,” and not just take images. What I mean is that I will put myself in a specific place, or find a different angle to capture an image that will stand out more than normal. Photography takes patience — patience waiting for the light and working angles to make an image. I will try to work a scene as much as I can by selecting various locations, different angles and different lenses.
How do you define success?
It depends, I suppose. Material success is measured in the money or the things a person has. But, when it comes to art, I would say if you are doing what you love and enjoy it, you are successful. I always thought that I would love to be a full-time landscape photographer. But, I have done it as a side job while having a full-time career most of my life, and I have enjoyed it. I have made some money at it, but more than that, I have traveled to so many beautiful locations and seen so many sunrises and sunsets that I would say I have been successful. Photography has given me a reason to get up early and see lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife. I feel like I’ve been successful just because it has given me a more full life and a wonderful creative outlet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joemillerphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joemillerphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeMillerPhoto
- Twitter: https://x.com/JoeMillerPhoto
- Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/joemillerphoto
