c r e e k w a l k e r Photography: John & Cassidy Olsen

John & Cassidy Olsen

The Creekwalker Interview

Creekwalker: Your knowledge of the artistic and commercial
aspects of photography across a variety of subject matter would
appear to be a natural basis for a curriculum. Do you have any
desire to teach workshops in the future?

Teaching a workshop is an opportunity we would welcome.

July 2007

Abiquiu Mesa

Oak Creek Rapids

Rio Chama

Coffee Pot Twilight

Moonrise Abiquiu

Red Rocks

Sedona Sunrise

Cathedral Vesper

The photography of John & Cassidy Olsen is a testiment to an inherent unity
in the world of forms, from the man-made to the natural. Whether
photographing dramatic landscapes from New England to New Mexico or
capturing the architectural elements of a modern cityscape, their photography
bears witness to the mystical capacity of all things - from the common to the
ethereal - to inspire us.

website: www.opimages.com/

Creekwalker: The journey from 9-to-5 jobs to the world of
professional photography is an interesting one. Can you
comment on the transition from your pre-photography lives
to your current status as professional photographers?

Both of us worked professional with photography as a
hobby. John was an admissions director for a small liberal
arts Junior College and Cassidy was a corporate
stockbroker. When we started the business, John would
take a vacation day to shoot for a client. After about six
months of that, he left to devote himself to marketing the
business and gaining new clients. Cassidy remained at
her job for another year maintaining benefits and a steady
paycheck. The business was officially born July 1999 and
both of us were working fulltime in it by November 2000.

Creekwalker: How do you work together ?

While we are both photographers, we each have skills that compliment the other.
Cassidy is very good at planning, organizing and facilitating all trips. Once on location,
she puts her people skills to good use finding local folklore and great places to explore.
She studies the map and moves the operation along checking out shots and shooting
along the way. John goes along for the ride, shooting as well, but enjoys that challenge
of the lighting and composition of each shot. Once the trip is over, we both review the
shots to determine which ones will make it to the portfolio as well as the best way to
present each shot. While we both shoot, the team approach works well for us.

Creekwalker: You find beauty across a breadth of subject matter, from
man-made objects such as cars, boats and buildings, to nature. Can you
matter?

We both appreciate and are inspired by design. Good design can be found in
both nature and man-made objects: the curve of a torpedo headlight, the curve
of the arches at Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, the cathedral like
formations of the Red Rocks in Sedona.

exhibitions to writing and publishing your work. How do you balance the
artistic, commerce and family aspects of your lives?

artistic, commerce and family aspects of your lives?

Creekwalker: How does the process of creating a book work? Do you suggest an idea to a publisher (in
the form of a proposal) or, at this stage of your careers, do requests come to you? What is the time frame
involved, from inception to publication?

Creating a book is a long wonderful process.
The greatest challenge is thinking of an idea that
our way but usually it is us forwarding an idea to
our way but usually it is us forwarding an idea to
a publisher, time frame from inception to
published product is usually 1 to 3 years..
published product is usually 1 to 3 years..

the US or abroad, what places would you
include?
include?

Alaska soon. We are primarily interested in all
the beauty America has to offer – again, natural
and man-made.again, natural and man-made.
man-made.again, natural and man-made.

Creekwalker: The debate between proponents of digital and
standard film remains lively. As professionals employing the
digital process - from your use of Canon digital cameras
through processing with Photoshop and printing - can you
comment on your journey from film to digital?

We have used every size format camera from 35mm to 4x5 view
cameras in just about every camera system. We have used 3
or 4 different digital systems. We can candidly say that each
system has its pros and cons and you will never know if a
system will work for you until you actually use it. We stayed with
film until digital could replicate a film drum scan. We are just
thrilled to be on a digital platform now as we feel that we
personally have total control over the entire creative process.

Creekwalker: Photographers and other artists often adopt
certain geographical places as sources of creative energy
and spiritual insight. Do you have a geography that feels like
home to you?

We are blessed with the ability to appreciate every place we
visit. We try not to get too attached to any one place and
pride ourselves in being able to see, appreciate and capture
the beauty in each locale.

Creekwalker: What advice - artistic and commercial -
would you give a novice who desires to make a living
through photography?

criticism, and, most importantly, feel the fear and do it
Business skills, if not possessed, must be learned! The
anyway. Take yourself and your business seriously.
anyway. Take yourself and your business seriously.

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