Visual Candies

Can you shortly introduce yourself and how/when you started photography?

I’m Bryan Schutmaat, from Houston, TX. I started taking pictures in 2003 for fun

Did you study photography at school/university?

I’ve taken a few photography courses in college but I’m actually a history major.

Do you think it’s important to have good technical skills to be a good photographer?

I think it depends on what you want to achieve as an artist. Some photographers that I really admire display no technical proficiency yet still make magnificent work. Jacob Holdt comes to mind. But for me, yes, I think it’s important that my work is technically sound.

How would you describe your work?

Last month had to describe my work in a different interview using only five words. Thus, I’ll recycle that answer: Diverse, dreamy, genuine, quiet, loud.

I’m interested in an array of subjects so it’s hard to pinpoint this. But I definitely like day-to-days objects and ordinary places. Such subject matter challenges what are acceptable figures of beauty and also gives insight into cultural identity etc. Not surprisingly, this interest was provoked by some of my favorite photographers. I’m also getting a lot more interested in portraiture and human relationships.

I am aim for an array of things so it’s hard to say, and what I attempt to capture definitely varies throughout each project I do.

To the viewer of your work what feeling or impression would you like leave?

Some of my recent work tries to evoke feelings of remembrance and times past.

What do you think about when you shoot?

When I shoot I analyze the color and composition, striving for simplicity. Sometimes I think about the philosophical implications of the scene that I’m shooting, but other times I just think about what
I’m going to have for lunch.

What material (camera and light) do you use?

I use all available light. The sun pretty much tells me what I can and can’t shoot, and I’m okay with that. I’ve currently been shooting on a Mamiya RZ67, a Rollieflex, and a few various 35mm cameras.

Right now I’m working a series consisting of mostly portraits. They are about being young and anticipating nostalgia.

What are your main inspirations?

My friends and things on the side of the highway.

What do you look for in other photographers work?

Clarity, consistency, concepts—the usual stuff.

Van Gogh, Garry Winogrand, Bob Dylan. Those are some of my favorite artists and I’m sure the conversation would magnificent.

Many deserve attention. I’m part of a few websites that were started in order to shed light on some of these young artists. I’d encourage you to explore fjordphoto.org, ypu.org, and wheattoast.org.

Thank You Bryan

Bryan Schutmaat Website