Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Elliott.
Hi Adam, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up in the Southeast United States and first came to Utah in college. I started working in the National Parks during the summer and saving all my money to pay for the upcoming college years. This was in the mid-1990s and I moved to Utah days after I got my degree in Studio Art.
Later that year, I got laid off from my job working on the boat docks at Lake Powell. I had another job lined up but it fell through and, unable to find any other work at the time, I moved to Seattle for a few years where I worked as a graphic designer for several magazines. Eventually, I moved to Alaska to do some hiking and mountaineering for two years — but I stayed for 16 winters. That’s longer than anywhere else I’ve lived so I consider myself Alaskan now. In fact, that’s longer than most Alaskans. Lol.
At the time that was more than 1/4 of the State’s history! I finally got tired of winter so in 2016 I moved back to Utah, this time to St. George where I opened a retail franchise store. That didn’t work out for me and through a series of random events I ended up doing what I do now, which is largely architectural and real estate photography, although I also sell my landscape photos.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has certainly not been a smooth road, at least in Utah. This is the third time I’ve tried living here. The first two times I was laid off and left the state due to a lack of jobs.
This time my original plan, opening a franchise store to provide myself a job, also failed and I was left searching yet again for another career in job poor St. George. I’m lucky to have other skills and investments so I was able to mitigate that financial disaster.
But of course, it wasn’t long before the pandemic hit, and now there’s a major housing crisis and an oncoming water shortage.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a photographer for most of my life and I’m pleased to have won national contests and sold some of my landscapes in galleries.
I’ve built a name for myself in the last few years as a technically skilled architectural photographer with strong compositions and a sense of place, but my bigger passion is landscape or adventure photography. However, I have to say I get the most pleasure out of compliments and recognition from people who are experts in their fields, whether that is a world-famous Alaskan explorer or one of the world’s experts on Neon signs.
For my personal interests, I like trying to take semi-abstract compositions of large landscapes or find and explore beautiful natural areas that don’t seem to exist on the internet. I’m also a bit of an arch hunter.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Working enough to create stability while staying healthy and building memories that make you happy.
Contact Info:
- Email: adam@adamelliottphotography.com
- Website: https://adamelliottphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_elliott_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamelliottphotographs
