Today we’d like to introduce you to Garett Wood.
Hi Garett, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I had no idea what I wanted to do. The future wasn’t something I really thought about in any meaningful way. At some point however, life begins to force you to look forward, even if you’re kicking and screaming!
After high school, I knew I wanted to continue my education. As I had long had an interest in photography, I enrolled in the photography program at a nearby college. I spent a year in their program, creating a solid foundation that, as it turns out, I wouldn’t build upon until decades later. For whatever reason, I didn’t have a vision for how photography could become a career, so I decided to keep it as a hobby for the time being. I shifted my major to something that gave me more future stability (for better or worse), and eventually, I graduated with a finance degree.
It was many years later when I began to pursue photography again. I believe the catalyst was my journey with my wife into the deserts of Southern California, where we found so much peace and beauty. Embracing an almost forgotten passion has been fulfilling. My wife has been so incredibly supportive of this as well. Thankfully, she loves
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?I have been fortunate in that photography has been more of a way to express myself than a career upon which I depended to support my family. That has allowed me to photograph in my own way without worrying as much about its commercial appeal. My challenge was finding my voice and vision–who I was as a photographer. The world is an amazing place, and the challenge is that there are endless opportunities to create!
As someone who has always been a bit of a perfectionist, my perfectionism and creative bent are always at war with one another. I want to simply create images of how I see the world, but I agonize over their presentation. I have settled on only using the best materials for my prints–it truly makes a huge difference, but it costs me three times as much to produce! But at the end of the day, that’s just me.
It is a wonderful feeling realizing that you have found something fulfilling and meaningful that you can look forward to in life. I see so many people let their passions fade – they seem to be forgotten. I would encourage others to not give up on them – that they can find ways to fit them into their lives.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I enjoy most aspects of photography and occasionally shoot both people and architecture commercially, my passion is fine-art photography–most often based around my love for nature. I am probably best known for my desert photography, centered around the small town of Borrego Springs and the surrounding Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. My wife and I spend a great deal of time in that area, simply exploring and enjoying nature. There is a surprising number of amazing artists living in the community and a wonderful art scene too.
Much of what I am most proud of has come from the inspiration I receive from the community and area. For me, creating images that I love is what’s important, but when they resonate with others, that is quite fulfilling. Last year at The Art of Photography Show at the Borrego Art Institute, most of my work sold prior to the opening reception and I had to scramble to add additional pieces! It truly is an honor–and humbling–when someone enjoys your work enough to both purchase and display it in their home.
A few other events come to mind. A few years back, an image I submitted of the local desert bloom was chosen to be displayed at the Sony Gallery in New York City. That was quite exciting! In addition, this last year I was honored to have been asked to be one of the judges of the annual Anza-Borrego Photography Contest. Last but not least, the Borrego Springs Art Guild invited me to speak at their member luncheon–it was both terrifying and a lot of fun!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.garettwood.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imagesbygarett/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/imagesbygarett
