Photojournalist Stephen Alvarez produces global stories about exploration, culture, religion and the aftermath of conflict. Stephen has been a National Geographic photographer since 1995. His images have won awards in Pictures of the Year International, Communication Arts and been exhibited at Visa Pour L'Image in Perpignan, France and his personal appearances include NPR, PBS and CBS's Sunday Morning. Stephen blogs from Sewanee, Tennessee where he lives with his family.
08.31.10
Life Is Strange Enough Straight-up
If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a degree in comparative religion from Sewanee: The University of the South.
What was your strangest assignment? God, they are all bizarre in their own way, how do you choose between fungal colonies called “snotites” in a poison gas cave; a Mayan spirit, called Maximon, who literally broke my camera; and the sewers of Paris?
Which photographer would you like to meet? William Henry Jackson, but Irving Penn would be a close second.
What famous person (living or dead) would you most like to photograph? Muhammad Ali.
Aside from your camera and lighting, what item could you not work without? My Moleskin notebook with pictures of my family taped inside.
Is there anything you would not digitally retouch? Life is strange enough straight-up. I don’t really need to retouch.
From where do your best ideas originate? I get inspired by the world around me, I just try to twist things a little and look at them in a different way. Also looking at the work of other photographers is inspirational.
How do you overcome a creative block? I’ve always been a big fan of working on two or three unrelated projects at a time; if I can’t make headway on one, I turn to the other for a while. Motorcycle rides help out too...
Do you have creative pursuits other than photography? I cook. Does that count?
What music are you listening to right now? This second? Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
What’s your approach to balancing work and life? When you’re doing what you love there is not really a difference between “work” and “life.”
What’s your favorite quote? “What could possibly go wrong?” —Neil Shea
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Find something to photograph that you are passionate about.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? It isn’t a career so much as it’s a life.