Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorenzo Sandoval.
Hi Lorenzo, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Lorenzo Sandoval.
I was born and raised in Las Vegas. The heat of the desert. Many of my beginnings were learning martial arts and learning Japanese Karate with some of the best masters in the country. Martial arts helped me structure my mind and guided me to work hard in all aspects of my life. I have always been an artist before I became a karate competitor and art has been a childhood passion of mine. Seeing some of the most natural landscapes was always something I enjoyed and loved.
Throughout the years I opened up my own martial arts school, but over the years I always wanted to create art to express both my passions for the martial arts and the world. Raised by a hard-working Filipino immigrant mother who always supported my dreams, I wanted to make her proud as the first American son to be successful in my craft.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I really don’t think anything great is worth going for unless there is a struggle. To be successful in anything you must take risks and work hard in it. As artists, we take the greatest risk and give up a lot for very little in the beginning.
There were many struggles, and most of the time struggles were just getting there to photograph each location. You are alone most of the time, no one really knows who you are or cares. It’s not until they see the work they begin to actually approve of your efforts. People take for granted many little areas that are around them and are never really appreciated. As a landscape photographer, my purpose is to fulfill that void even when no one understands why you’re there with a giant camera.
The hardest part I would say is having the emotional willpower to do things when no one is watching you or your working. Paying for our meals, sleeping in our car, or feeling the cold go through our bodies. Getting criticism from many people telling you art only sells “after your dead”.
Struggles are in every aspect of life, I could easily sit there and stare at a screen that entertains me, or risk it all and give it a shot before I kick the bucket. As a Sensei of Karate, I always tell my students this, “If you live your life easy, life will be hard. If you live your life hard, life will be easy”. Struggles exist within these two factors and it’s something we must figure out deep within ourselves in order to improve our life.
There were days in the years I’ve done this where I’m alone in the mountains, and I’ve almost fallen to my death. Sat in the snow and been laughed at and ridiculed for looking odd. There were days when I wish I could do something and go somewhere just for a small break, but I wanted this art to be created so I would sit in the same spot for hours to create it. There were days when I almost fell inside a cave, and no one but my voice was there.
The beauty of my struggle is that there are stories to tell in each location I document and show appreciation to all of them.
There has also been heartbreak. All if not most of us go through that, It changes us forever and that drives us to prove we are not worthless in life. I fell in love deeply, with a woman I thought I wanted to marry. I was devoted to her every waking moment and realized it was a lie. She had secretly been with someone else, and that anger, drove me and my passion to find more places where I would be alone. Being alone in itself was a challenge because it forced me to love myself even when I was suffering from heartache.
I have realized no one cares about your story, or the pain it has caused, what they care about is the beauty and the elegance of each photograph. My struggle and emotion became part of my passion to create photographs of nature and landscapes. Struggles are only a stepping stool to create something that makes people remember each unique piece of fine art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a fine art photographer that focuses on selling prints you can display in your home and office. What makes my work unique is the colors I use in each of my photographs and the contrast I do to make each of them pop out. My art doesn’t just show the picture but it tells a story. It tells a story of how the photograph was taken and what it took to get there so you can have it in your home.
My purpose is to travel to each corner of the planet to show you the beauty of each landscape from desert, forest, water, and mountains. To see how nature itself can be beautiful in each image and in all walks of life. My drive is to show the details and the colors of each photo so you can relive what I saw in each of these locations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Honestly, I’d say my mother. My mother has backed me up most of my life in the crazy things I’ve wanted to do.
Some are not so lucky to have amazing parents but I lucked out. Also, the ability and skill I have as an artist come naturally to me. Also, the network of people that I have created and the skills I’ve learned in running my businesses.
Pricing:
- $40-$100 Small Art/ Canvas
- $120-$500 Medium Fine Art Paper/Canvas
- $600-$4000 Large Fine Art Paper/Canvas
- $30 for tote bags and T-shirts
- $20 for postcards
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thewanderingsensei.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewanderingsensei
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089454096833
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-sandoval-photography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sensei_wanders
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUVXYq2fSfT9J1_ez3Ocdiw
Image Credits
Sensei Lorenzo Photos, Solo Mio Photo, Shaugnessy, Brett Photography, KickPics.net, and Lorenzo Sandoval Photography
