Today we’d like to introduce you to David Bazzano.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
At my core, I’ve always been very curious, and I’ve traveled down a few different career paths as a result of it. Starting off as a field archaeologist gave me an entrance to our past and a unique outlook on our present cultures. Helping uncover stories from the things we leave behind has given me the greatest lesson I’ve received; anything can behold wisdom. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a sustainable future for me; much of what you unearth gets covered again, hidden from us. What became important for me was to contribute to this narrative in a more accessible way. Our origins, our ordinary and passive moments, and our passions are important. We wear these individual and collective emotions like adornments, and I want to invite and display that feeling for others. That has led me to a career where visual storytelling is a key element.
Through all my various career journeys, a camera has always accompanied me as the best tool for the job. Over the years, it’s become more of an obsession at times. I kept getting encouraged to share my work, and by learning how to build a website and some graphic design skills, I was able to showcase myself as a creative service with a unique perspective on human behavior. It’s allowed everything I currently do to be possible. Even a few years ago, I didn’t think it ever would be. There’s not enough encouragement or reinforcement out there, and I hope, if anything, it motivates others to do it themselves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was hard in the beginning. In a lot of ways, it felt like completely starting over, and that involved having to do anything necessary to gain recognition. I felt disoriented, even disconnected, transitioning away from being a researcher of our material past. A decade ago, not many understood how any of it could relate to marketing, social media, or creative writing roles. It’s taken a lot of perseverance. I’ve had to be unconventional, and it’s made me very adaptive because of it. Engaging with my community, volunteering for opportunities, and growing new skills is what led me down a path to success. Ultimately, experience comes one day at a time. A few years ago, anthropology struggled to find its place outside of academia. Now, it’s mainstream in the workforce, and it’s happened fast. Doorways get opened now that more understand the benefit of a disciplined observer on your team.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I view myself as an ethnographer, a visual anthropologist specializing in making connections from perception and imagination. I hope to highlight in my work the wisdom of people, places, and objects. As a preservationist, photography feels natural for me. There’s something magical about displaying how you see the world within fractions of seconds frozen in time. Without a single word being spoken, our most vulnerable self is exposed in these very brief moments. I’m known for weaving narratives of passionate people and businesses into something visual. Primarily I work within the food and beverage industries, coming full circle to what’s ignited my curiosity in culture all along. Food is a powerful vessel to deep memory, both for the individual and for society, and am so proud to be in a position to share that interest with the public.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think any career path that involves creative or artistic contribution involves a little bit of luck and a lot of support from friends and family! It sometimes feels as though it’s the only explanation. For a long time, I felt as though bad luck followed me, often you do your best, and it still isn’t enough. I think out of the frustration and anger of that, it motivated me to learn more. When you accept that the important part is the journey and not the outcome, it can lead to some great things. After all this time, I think a combination of that ended up working in my favor.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.davidbazzano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fototinni/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbazzano/
Image Credits
The photo of me was taken by Kristen Loken
