romayo photography. professional & affordable photography in minnesota.

Q & A with John Mayo Anderson:

Location
I live in and love Minneapolis more than any city on the planet. With that said, my second love is to travel and shoot in new areas. In the past year I enjoyed shooting in LA, New York and London (how could you not) as well as Israel, Jordan and the Philippines.

Years Shooting
As an art form / mad love addiction? About 11 years. Although I took my first set of travel photographs when I was ten. My parents saved for months and, over spring break, sent me over the Atlantic to visit a family friend living outside of London. This was literally an eye opening experience for me.

My Gear
My faithful baby is now a Nikon D2X, I generally also carry a little Sony T-9 in my pocket. For the most part it is important for me to travel and shoot light. I never want to be that tourist annoyingly taking a million pictures. I enjoy trying to blend in, to find the right spot where you can capture life and people in an unobtrusive manner — I think it lends to more honest photographs and also shows a level of respect for that which you are capturing. Even during a professional photoshoot I like to keep things simple and genuine — that doesn't mean skimping on quality. The truth is, your gear is only one component of producing a great image.

Photographers I Admire
Lisl Dennis has been a recent inspiration when it comes to travel and candid personal photography. Annie Leibovitz for never ceasing to do amazing portraits. Paul Strand is a classic. Picasso actually shot some cool photos showing the breadth of his artistic abilities. Ansel Adams, though so well known, was still a revolutionary.

Favorite Location
The answer to this question will probably change every year of my life. Paris and London never cease to amaze me, they are different every time I visit. The towns, landscape and people of Tuscany exude life: Siena, Firenze, Pisa, Marina di Cecina. It's no wonder to me why the Pyramids were one of the 7 wonders of the world...they're unbelievably fascinating to explore and photograph — do whatever it takes to go there at some point in your life! I love the people of Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, such love for life and family within their cultures — it is humbling and encouraging to be a part of.

I Dream Of
Give me anyplace on the Mediterranean Sea in the late summer heat — when the setting sun paints the world with a vibrant coating of gold.

Areas for Growth
I have the hardest time taking photographs in my home city. For me familiarity breeds a lazy eye. I am also working on strengthening my portraits of people while traveling. I've found it challenging to photograph people's faces when I don't speak their language and they fear/resent a camera.

Philosophy on Photography
These thoughts also morph over time. Whenever my camera is in hand I feel as if my body has been given an additional sense — I interact with the world differently. Time moves slower, sometimes faster. Mundane details become abstract patterns; everyday people become beautiful in their unique way. Shooting photographs causes me to be thankful for everything I so often forget to be thankful for: sunlight, subtle colors, changing clouds, the diversity among people, this abundant life we have been gifted with.