Gavriel Jecan, age fotostock photographer, lives quite literally between two different worlds, Seattle in the U.S. and Khon Kaen, Thailand. Maybe it is this double residency between the “East” and the “West” what enriches his photography and allows him to create such sensitive, at times spiritual images of the places he visits. At a time when to travel to exotic places and burn up the camera’s battery with nonstop shooting has become commonplace, these quiet, glowing images of animals, people and landscapes are a breath of fresh air.
But don´t get the wrong idea from my focus on his sensitive and spiritual imagery, Jecan also shows himself to be firmly rooted and active in contemporary business culture, promoting himself actively through Facebook, Twitter, a blog and a website. Click the links to see how Jecan does it. Look and learn.
Q: Choose 3 words that describe you.
A: Visual, Observant & Spontaneous.
Q: Why did you choose to be a photographer?
A: I was influenced by my father, he was an artist and he bought my first camera when I was 12 year old. From then on, I felt the need to document and tell the stories of our weekend hikes with my family and friends and later on my climbing adventures and escapes in the wilderness.
Q: Do you have any special artistic influences?
A: I was influenced by many photographers and modern painters.
Painters that I admire who inspired me in my work : Robert Bateman (wildlife composition) Claude Monet , Georges Seurat, Vincent Van Gogh, Sally Anderson, Jackson Pollock, Romare Bearden, Mark Tobey.
Photographers that I’ve learned from and whose work I admire: Art Wolfe (landscapes and Indigenous culture), Franz Lanting (wildlife), Galen Rowell ( Outdoors, Adventure), Nevada Wire (Travel Photography), Jay Maisel ( Rural Photography), etc.
Q: What equipment do you carry when you’re packing light?
A: Usually I travel with two camera bodies and with these lenses: 16 to 35 mm, 50 mm, and 70 to 200 mm, plus an extension tube and strobe.
Q: Where is your favorite place to photograph? And where are you still hoping to go?
A: Every place I am at that moment is my favorite, because every place provides a variety of subjects to photograph. I would like to see and document West Africa and Greenland, before it melts away due to global warming.
Q: Do you plan your trips beforehand or do you make it up along the way?
A: I plan my trips few months in advance. If something unexpected happen when there, I change my planes.
Q: How do you promote yourself through social networks? (facebook, twitter, blog, etc)? Is it helpful?
A: I do use Facebook to share info about my work and latest trips with my followers and the Blog/website to promote my work. Yes, it is helpful.
Q: Why did you choose age fotostock to represent your photography?
A: I chose Age fotostock due to their efficiency in running the business, fast editing and their communication with photographers.
Q: What is the best or worst photographic advice that you have ever received?
A: Best advice was when my photographer friend Art Wolfe told me, “Wherever you are, don’t stop looking.” And worst… too many to mention.
Q: If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
A: Probably an adventurer or something that could accommodate my family in it.
