Southwes and the Thin Place

Southwes and the Thin Place

The creative art of Wes Walker

When did you first become interested in photography? I started shooting in 2011 when I worked at a camp in the mountains in New Mexico during the summer.

Were you self-taught or did you learn in school/from a mentor? My older brother was into photography first and he showed me a lot. My mom is also a painter and we grew up in a very creative environment. But I started to work and figure out my route and style after a few years of on the go learning.

How did you develop your style? I don't know exactly what to call my style. I love western life, and I love the outdoors, and especially love shooting in low light situations and seem to give photos a sense that they might be on another planet. Basically I want to create a world that is different from everything else you might see on social media, but is still real and out there somewhere.

What themes do you explore through your work? Western life, semi-adventure, and minimal landscape. I love strong colors, and it's one of the main things I look for when shooting.

How do you find and choose you subjects or locations? I actually shoot at a lot of the "hot-spots", but try to portray them in a different light. Other times I'm on a road trip and just find something I think looks cool and try to find a way to turn it into art.

What inspires your work? Music and God. I think music and visuals go hand and hand, that's why most favorite movies have good scores, why special memories trigger a certain song. There's a certain spiritualness to nature, when you're in it you can't exactly describe it. But certain places on earth feel "thin." Call it God, call it magic, call it a "thin place" it's a place that we feel is special and inspires us to be more than we currently are.

How do you compose an image? Do you go into the shoot with a specific shot in mind, or does the inspiration strike when you place your model in the setting? Rarely do I have a certain shot in mind. I could almost count on one hand the number of times I've dreamed up a shot, planned it, and then it has actually panned out. It's like expectations are predestined let-downs. When creating pieces that are just for me I go into it with an open eye. The opposite of a commissioned job.

What has been your biggest lesson learned through creating your art? That waiting is everything. I waited and worked through a desk job three years after college. Spending every weekend and all of my time shooting photos where ever I could. Then making the jump to a full-time creative...but then still wasn't getting to shoot the kind of content I wanted because that's not would pay the bills. It's a process, big time.

What do you hope your art says to people? That there's a world full of "thin places" for everyone to go find and make memories at. I hope it conveys emotion, no matter what kind.

Why did you choose your craft (photography)? I actually started as a sketch artist. Drawing anything I saw for years and years. I never really choose it, it chose me haha. I just wanted to do something more, try and capture the beauty and it found its way to me.

If you couldn’t be doing your craft, what would you do instead? More into music, I play a handful of instruments and have a dozen or so songs I need to try and develop but just not really the time right now. Or flipping houses, a different type of creativity.

Any favorite moments of your career so far? I stood at the base of Cerro Torre at night in March of 2019. I realized just how small I am. How millions of people have stood and seen this mountain. All the stories that have happened and mine is one of them. It was when I realized that I had to start developing my own story and stop doing what everyone else was doing.

Is there a defining moment in your career so far? Probably taking the jump from working for a company to working for myself. Being able to plan trips whenever I want and take them is incredible and opens a huge door to possibilities that just are not there otherwise.

Is there anything you really enjoy in your craft vs another line of work? I love editing. But it truly depends on the content. I used to edit for the company I worked for and would've never made it through if The Office wasn't on full blast in the background. Now I edit my own content and it's light jazz that's in the background. 

Biggest pet peeve about the industry? Companies wanting creatives to work for comps and free goods. I get it, I've done it. On both ends. I would save the free stuff and comps for influencers and actually pay your creatives and photographers. They are creating viable content that is going to drive marketing, something most influencers would never begin to do.

Is flannel really always appropriate? Cabins. With pancakes. To impress the country girl I have a crush on. All appropriate occasions.

Where do I Want to Adventure to Next? — Mayank Thammalla

Why do you adventure / Why do you explore? I grew up in a small coastal town in New Zealand, exposed to nature and this has influenced me to always explore more of the natural world.  I had started to appreciate the outdoors more once I began to take photos about 7 years ago, so photography and adventure go hand in hand for me. Photography to me is a very therapeutic process. To be able to take away a framed memory of a certain place or moment comes with a certain privilege.

Why take risks in life? I think big strides forward can never be taken in the comfort zones of life.

Where are you from? Born: Hyderabad, India. Home: Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Currently: London, UK.

What is your 9-5? Currently a Junior Architect working in London.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I wanted to be astronomer. My grandmother bought me a telescope when I was 11 years old and I remember spending countless nights staring at the stars.

Favorite place you've visited? Very hard to answer because there are a few places that come to mind. Tongariro National Park in New Zealand is mind blowing. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were on the top of my bucket list and I finally visited a few months ago!

Place you most desperately want to visit? Northern Norway, Greenland and more of Iceland!

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Traveling through India with my parents in 2014, my dad wanted us to experience some authentic modes of getting around Jaipur; one being the man powered rickshaw. I was very uncomfortable with the idea, even more so when the cyclist of our rickshaw changed in the last minute to an elderly gentleman who would have easily been around 65-70 years old. I shared the rickshaw with my mom who was also felling very uncomfortable. Throughout the 15-minute journey I was trying jump off and help him to push us along or to make him stop but I didn’t.  It still makes me teary thinking about it. My mom and I decided that this was wrong, but it was his only source of an income; she grabbed his hand and closed them with a few notes in it. He gave us the warmest and whole-hearted smile and hugged my mother.

What has changed about you because of your adventures/ travels? Slow down and be in the present – that moment will never come back! I used to tend to always let my mind wonder and think about yesterday or plan for tomorrow when not realizing that the best moment you have is right now (sounds cliché I know but it’s true). It wasn’t until I heard the whispers of the mountains or the deafening silence of the woods that really got my attention and created moments where I lost track of time…  Made me realize how beautiful and rare our time is on this planet. I feel, the more you pause and awake to the present, you will realize how great your life is.

Who is the most dynamic and thought-provoking person you've ever met? For me, not one person has been most dynamic or thought provoking. My family and my very small knit of friends are all dynamic in their own way who have all impacted and shaped my life.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? My grandfathers. I never got to spend too much time with them and it would be amazing to hear all their stories and adventures while going on an epic hike!

Must haves for travel: Sketch book, camera, open mind.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Be patriotic towards Earth as a whole. Not just what is good towards your country.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? Give it a go, you won’t regret it!

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? No one is you, and that is your greatest power.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? Doing a TED Talk in 2017! I had absolutely no prior experience or confidence speaking in front of people, let along a large crowd. But with months of work and practice, anything can be achieved if you are well prepared!

What would you say to your former self? Be you… The world will adjust…

What gives you hope? I have always believed in the ‘good’ in people. There is ‘good’ in everyone, if they like it or not.

Where to next? Eastern Europe and Tromsø, Norway!

Is flannel always in season? Always (wearing one now)!

Learn more about Mayank’s travels and a glimpse at their life at her website and their Instagram account!

A Conversation with Jörn Henn

German based photographer Jorn Henn has quickly become one of our favorite photographers. His moody vibes and greens and blues have us captivated. The landscapes he shares have us dreaming of escaping the cities and heading deep into nature! We sat down with him to learn more.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore?

My biggest motivation is keeping moments. I love to be outside in nature feeling the elements. I am a very curious person as well. That’s why I love to visit and explore new countries or places.

Why take risks in life?

It’s more fun. Without risks, life would be boring and you would not be able to surpass oneself.

Where are you from?

Cologne, Germany.

What is your 9-5?

I am an art historian.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

A famous architect.

Favorite place you've visited.

Rio de Janeiro and the Dolomites.

Place you most desperately want to visit.

New Zealand and South Africa. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling?

Meeting poor people. Like, really poor people. And the fact that when you realize that their struggle is connected to the global economy. 

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I became more attentive about my needs and about climate and environment.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

I met Edda Moser, a German opera singer, during a lecture at the Cologne Opera House. Her voice was recorded singing Mozart’s Magic Flute aria “Queen Of The Night”, which is part of the Voyager Golden Record. 

If you could travel with one person in history or in present, who would it be and why?

Otto the Great. He was a Roman German emperor in the 10th century. The kingdom of Germany was a travel kingdom, meaning because of its huge size, the German kings and emperors had no static residence. Several spread over the whole country, and he had to live a nomad’s life, like a lot of explorers do now. Well, and I’ve loved knights since my childhood.

Must haves for travel / travel tips?

Good shoes and a good jacket.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader.

The feeling of slowing down when you are in the mountains. No rush and no stress. And the fact that you have to choose your equipment since you cannot carry everything with you.

Based on your travels, what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

A change in economy. I think big multinational companies and their urge of growth is one of the causes of the climate change and crimes against humanity.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before?

Travel and collect moments and take off your blinders. That you don’t need to travel fast. That there are nice spots just around the corner.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

My grandfather. He thought me to ask questions, not following the mass and trust one’s own heart (he was a soldier in WWII).

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson?

During exams or just when I have to give proof about my skills. E.g. when you ask me for this. But I learned to fight against these fears and keep them small. Hiking helped me as well. The first glimpse of a mountains I wanna climb is always frightening. But on top, you feel like a king! 

What would you say to your former self?

Trust yourself and your skills!

What gives you hope?

That love always wins.

Where to next?

Italy and Rome in October.

Is flannel always in season?

Flannel is always classy. Love it.