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Brian Rapaport
@brphoto.co
Photographer based in the US
My passion for creating visual art and taking photos comes from just a love for creating art. Closely related to my passion for art and photography is my love. If I had to source where my initial passion comes from, I think it would be from the many people I’ve met in my life and the good experiences I’ve shared with them. I’m also driven by other creative people who are relentlessly pursuing their passions, that drives me a lot to create.
When I began college in 2010, music became a significant influence in my life. One pivotal moment was the first music festival I attended. That set the stage for me, so to speak. I remember watching some of the shows and seeing all the visuals and just thinking to myself; this is what I want to be doing with my life.
"The culture, the people, and the lifestyle were all appealing to me as well. But it was watching the visuals on stage that inspired me the most."
From then on, I slowly started moving my life in that direction to be a visual and 3D artist. I worked many other jobs at the beginning and along the way, from door staff and security at a venue to running merch and street team, as well as being a stagehand for multiple venues and various one-offs. But photographing the shows was always the main thing that I did, and creating the visuals was the main thing I wanted to do.
Music has always been a foundational element in my creativity. I constantly am listening to music, and I often use it as a tool to drive my creativity in specific directions. It’s something that beats inside of me even when I’m not listening to it. I listen to various types of music depending on my moods, and sometimes when I transition through one of those genre phases, new ideas will form. I did this as a designer for a few years which later led to me getting into photography as an event photographer & videographer, making recap videos.
"That photography work grew into me directing promotional videos for larger events and festivals in the region."
Music festivals have undoubtedly played a significant role in my passion for music and arts early on. Every time I would travel to go to a show, it seemed to have a lasting impact on my perspective. A perspective that I think shapes the way I take my photos to this day. However, I believe this is mainly down to the experience of traveling.
Being able to capture these travel adventures with my camera makes the trips even better. But I haven’t always owned a camera. When I first realized I wanted to delve deeper into photography, I was in college, and I didn’t have the funds to buy a camera. However, when I finally had enough to buy the Canon 5D Mark II, I bought it. I pretty much instantly quit my job into photography, which may not have been the most advisable idea, but I knew straight away that this was where I wanted to focus all of my time & effort.
In the beginning, the technical aspect of photography was the biggest challenge. Learning the software and the hardware dynamics of how cameras work was the first big obstacle for me. To overcome this, it took many years of repetition and practice. Having learned editing software in depth with my design background, I was able to cross that over into my photography and develop a unique editing style with my photos. I built an excellent technical knowledge of how the light entered the camera, processed through the censor, passed down the signal chain through to post processing, and eventually went to the final print result. This was very helpful to understand what was really happening when I capture a picture.
I continuously took photos where I was to develop an eye for capturing a moment in time. Eventually, after years of practice and repetition, my understanding of the technical side and the creative side intersected. I finally found myself at a point where I was taking photos I was consistently satisfied with.
Being outdoors and seeing new landscapes inspires me a lot. But the most significant source of my inspiration is from the experiences I’ve had in life.
"Being able to draw back on my memories paints the picture for how I see the future."
I’ll often travel to areas with the sole intention of absorbing the natural environment. I can then draw on that experience as inspiration later when I want to create something new. Sometimes even a simple bike ride is enough to spark my imagination. Other times, I’ll travel hours till I’m by the mountains. I’ll stare at them and soak in the new perspectives that way, and from there, I can come back to my studio with a fresh perspective.
Being constantly immersed in art where I’m creating new work helps me grow as a creative and become a better photographer. Currently, I’m learning focus-stacking and stacking to reduce noise in landscape photos along with astrophotography. These are areas of photography that are challenging and fun to shoot, so definitely somewhere I want to focus my efforts.
My process of learning to improve is similar to anything I want to learn in life. I first spend hours studying all the aspects of something and then learning everything I can about what I’d like to achieve. This also includes learning how the technology in my hands will allow me to do that. Once I feel like I have a good grasp of all the elements required to do something, I start going out into the field and take photographs. Sometimes I’ll go out and take pictures first and then learn by trial and error. Often, I’ll learn from my mistakes until I understand why the photo is not coming out exactly as I would like. It comes down to repetition and practice.
"The most surprising moments on outdoor adventures have usually been when I’ve seen a wild bear."
That’s happened to me on numerous occasions. One time I was on the tail end of a 15 mile hike in the Flathead Valley forest when I looked up the hill and saw a small brown bear sitting, just eating berries. He was maybe 100 yards away, just sitting down enjoying the view. It was pretty cool to see, and thankful he ran away.
Where I live in Montana, we have stunning landscapes throughout the whole state. It’s the most beautiful state in the US in my opinion. There are, of course, drawbacks to living here as there would be living anywhere else. However, when you can get in your car and drive in any direction, you always experience something magnificent. You can see incredible landscapes or get lost in forests, or go on 15-mile hikes to glacial lakes. It’s hard to beat a scenic place like this for me.
Going to all these incredible places has definitely helped me develop as a person. But I also owe many people credit for helping me get to where I am today. The list of people who’ve somehow encouraged me is long, my parents being the biggest supporters. I love surrounding myself with fellow entrepreneurial, ambitious people who push me and help me grow. Most though, for better or for worse, every person I meet inspires me in some way, even if it’s just in passing.
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