We recently caught up with travel and documentary photographer, Kevin Dyer in his hometown of Phoenix. We asked him a few questions about his work and what led him to decide to take on the challenge of becoming a professional photographer.
ephotos: Hello Kevin, let’s get right to the basics, where are you based?
KD: I am now based in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. I decided to put some roots back down here a few years ago figuring it would be the most convenient place to launch my career from. However, for about five years I was based in Asia. I lived in Thailand for a couple of years and in Japan for three. I have found that, while there were no doubt some advantages in being based here while I was establishing myself, with the technology we have today and the international content of my work, I could be based just about anywhere.
ephotos: When did you realize photography was your thing?
KD: When I graduated with a degree in Media Arts and Journalism, I still had no idea what I really wanted to do. For a few years I tried my hand, or should I say my patience, at several different careers. Television broadcasting, multimedia production, pharmaceutical sales and finally teaching. I had always had a strong case of wanderlust and was realizing more and more everyday that I needed to do something extraordinary lest I fall into a deeper rut. Luckily, in 1997 the pharmaceutical company I was working for decided to make some cutbacks. I couldn’t have accepted that severance package fast enough. I used it get certified as an E.S.L. teacher and bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok. From the moment the plane landed, my life started to change. Strangely, I felt in my element even though I couldn’t have been further removed from my home and culture. I became an insatiable traveler and did my best to document the “sense of place” I was feeling. Almost immediately, I found that I had a natural eye for photography and the passion to go along with it. That first year in Thailand was like an epiphany for me. My personality, education, passions and talent all finally came together and formed a synergy that was all but palpable to me. I knew then that I had actually found what I was meant to do. It was in me all along. It simply required me removing myself from all that I knew to expose traits within myself I had never known. Looking back now, it all makes sense but it had to take place naturally.
ephotos: Was there a photographer that inspired or influenced you?
KD: No, and I think in several ways that has benefited me. First of all, the fact that it was all the inspiration and influences from within me and my own life that led me to my “eureka” moment is what made it so powerful for me. It certainly isn’t the easiest way to make a living, but no matter how tough it gets, I know it’s what I’m meant to be doing. Also, I had already been shooting for quite a while before I started studying the industry and was exposed to other photographer’s work I really liked. This allowed my own style to evolve without outside influences and having your own style is paramount in this business. That being said, nowadays I can’t get enough of the world of photography. I’m into the history, I read the magazines, blogs, etc. to keep up with all the rapid changes and general pulse of the industry and I love looking at other photographers work. By far, my two favorite photographers are Steve McCurry and Sebastio Salgado. As far as I’m concerned, McCurry’s photographs are the benchmark by which I measure my own work. He seems to have the same vision of the world that I do and a photographic style most closely resembling my own in capturing it. His environmental portraits in particular, are amazing; they cross the boundary of editorial work and become works of fine art. Salgado’s work has that ability as well. My first exposure to his work was while I was living in Tokyo. It was the traveling exhibit for his project, Migrations. I was not only moved by his images, but was also blown away by the scope of the project. He traveled to 39 different countries over seven years to shoot that project. Nobody else combines that level of talent and commitment in shooting the human condition.
ephotos: What type or what style of photography do you shoot?
KD: I guess you could call it travel or documentary photography, but I think “a sense of place” describes it best.
ephotos: What type of equipment do you use?
KD: My first SLR was a Minolta, but my dream camera was always the Nikon F5. After a few years I finally got one and have been a Nikon shooter ever since. I still love using my F5 but had to add digital to my repertoire a few years ago in order to satisfy the needs of many clients. Nowadays, I shoot both film and digital. It really depends on who the images are for and what their needs are.
ephotos: What’s the worst thing that has happened to you during a shoot?
KD: The worst thing that has happened to me personally was when I was mugged in Rio. I was walking down a small street behind the Sambadromo during Carnival when a young guy approached me and started accosting me for tickets. I grabbed my camera with both hands, which I had around my shoulders bandolier style, and kept on walking but he simply wouldn’t go away. Then I suddenly felt someone going through my backpack. I turned around and grabbed the woman’s hand just as she was pulling whatever she could grab out of my pack. It turns out that was just an empty film canister and a travel pack of Kleenex. She dropped them and they both turned and ran. I had been warned several times about the dangers of carrying a camera around the streets of Rio but as a photographer in Rio during Carnival it’s a calculated risk you’re forced to take. Whereas, I definitely felt a bit violated in that instance, I had a greater sense or relief that I got off unharmed and with my camera intact. That was the first and only time I have been accosted in all of my travels so I feel very fortunate. It definitely helps serve as a reminder to always be aware of my surroundings and to be on my toes.
ephotos: Do you have a site? Is it flash or HTML?
KD: Yes, it’s www.aworldinfocus.com and it is flash.
ephotos: Do you have a rep or agent?
KD: No, I don’t but I’d like to look into it. Anyone? Anyone?
ephotos: Where have you been recently?
KD: Well, I’m always taking road trips to take advantage of what Arizona and the Southwest have to offer but my last major trip was to The Bahamas last summer. I also went to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong last year.
ephotos: Do you ever just shoot for fun?
KD: Yes, of course. Like most people, I enjoy shooting family, friends, etc. and I think it’s important to shoot as often as possible. Actually, I find the big challenge, as a photographer is to force myself to leave the camera behind sometimes and just enjoy vacations or days off without worrying that I’m missing something.
ephotos: Do you deal with any stock agencies?
KD: Actually, I recently joined Digital Railroad to manage my own stock. Once I have my archive built up the way I want it, I am going to look into some other agencies in order to take advantage of their marketing power and hopefully broaden my stock presence.
ephotos: Do you feel like you’re being treated fairly by your agency?
KD: Yes, there is no question that the self-managed sites are going to be the most fair, however, the price for that is a lot more time and work uploading and key-wording everything yourself.
ephotos: What do you think will be the next big trend in the photo industry?
KD: I think more and more photographers are getting frustrated with the paths that stock agencies are taking and it seems the trend is going to be to take back some control by managing your own stock.
ephotos: Do you use a resource site or publication?
KD: I’ve been on PDN’s Photosource for years now and I I’m also listed on ASMP’s Find a Photographer page. My experience is that whereas it is necessary to have your name and images out there as much as possible, I think that resource books are geared much more towards advertising and corporate photography.
ephotos: What are you working on next?
KD: I’m working on a story following the Chinese National Baseball Team during the Olympics this summer in Beijing. Only an estimated 20,000 people in China even play baseball but Major League Baseball has been going out of its way to promote the game and help the Chinese compete. The team’s manager and coaching staff are all former big league players and they have even brought the team over here to Arizona to participate and compete with other MLB franchises during instructional league. Of course for their part, MLB is hoping to reap the future financial benefits should a player from China ever crack the major leagues, not unlike the NBA has with Yao Ming. I met with team officials while they were here and received permission to exclusively shoot their instructional league practices and games. I am currently shopping this story to various magazines and grant organizations. I’m also looking into doing a larger scale story on baseball and how “America’s Pastime” has truly gone global. My father was a big league baseball player and therefore I grew up in the world of baseball. Also, having seen the culture of baseball in places like Japan and Puerto Rico, I want to do a comprehensive story on the game and how it fits into various cultures around the world. I see this as a once in a lifetime project in which I can combine the three things I am most knowledgeable and passionate about, photography, travel and baseball.
ephotos: Is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your work?
KD: I have always said that that A World in Focus is not only my company's name, but also a state of mind. Appreciating the beauty of our planet and celebrating our cultural diversity, is the essence. The world is getting smaller everyday and the better we understand other people and places in the world, the better off we would all be. If my photography can influence others to do that, even in a small way, that’s all I can ask for.
ephotos: Thanks Kevin for taking the time to talk to us and remember to keep the focus.