For more than 25 years, Vincent Musi has photographed diverse subjects—traveling Route 66, global warming, life under volcanoes, illegal immigration, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, in 1962, Musi studied journalism at Ohio University and began photographing in 1981 with a series of internships at the Troy Daily News, The Palm Beach Post, the Missoulian and the San Jose Mercury News. He was also a staff photographer with the Pittsburgh Press until it ceased publishing in 1992.
Musi began as a freelance photographer with the National Geographic Society in 1993, contributing to two book projects and many National Geographic magazine articles, on subjects ranging from the Texas Hill Country to Central American hurricanes. Musi is also a contributor to Time, Newsweek, Fortune and the New York Times Magazine.
06.22.10
Legos, Radio-Controlled Helicopters and Making Fresh Pasta
If you have a degree in what field is it? I graduated high school and attended a university for many years but never graduated (one quarter short). My degree would have been in journalism although it should have been in fine art. I do have a driver’s license from Legoland and I have a lapel pin that says I am a Certified Photographic Counselor.
What was your strangest assignment? Photographing Sicilian mummies was strange, animals that talk and count and drink coffee was also right up there, as was photographing Reinhold Messner’s feet (six of his toes were amputated in 1970). Maybe I’m the strange one...
Which photographer would you like to meet? I’m a huge student of the history of photography and it’s a very difficult choice. This week it’s Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. Last week it was Richard Avedon. Next week I’ll probably pick Walker Evans and next month it will be William Eggleston.
What famous person (living or dead) would you most like to photograph? Elvis Presley. But honestly my parents were pretty famous to me and I miss them and wouldn’t mind having another chance to photograph them for my son.
Aside from your camera and lighting, what item could you not work without? My family. I’m helpless without them.
Is there anything you would not digitally retouch? I tend not to mess with reality even if it messes with me.
From where do your best ideas originate? I’m fairly collaborative: My wife, my son, neighbors, editor, friends and butcher are all on my creative team.
How do you overcome a creative block? Legos are a great thing as are radio-controlled helicopters and making fresh pasta. Of course these are all good things to do just to keep you from getting blocked in the first place.
Do you have creative pursuits other than photography? I love to cook, am a frustrated musician and have been good with a fly rod at times.
What music are you listening to right now? The Elastic No-No Band and an incredible iPod filled with the history of rock-and-roll. It was left here accidentally by my friend Stacey; I haven’t told her yet that I found it.
What’s your approach to balancing work and life? My life and work are very much the same. I’ve never been good at separating them and both have suffered whenever I’ve tried. I think I could have other jobs but still be a photographer; I’ve been fortunate to find a “photographic life” of sorts.
What’s your favorite quote? I read a lot and quote many people but simply don’t have one that is a favorite. Maybe I should have one.
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? There isn’t a booth at the job fair for this one but photography is an honorable profession. Unless you have great wealth or are a lucky participant, I can’t imagine a better way to experience life than as a photographer—it’s a great way to live, just not always a great way to earn a living.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? A photographer is something that you are, not something that you do.