Some nice press! Here is the write-up in Rangefinder Magazine about my new artist portrait series.  , SAW

Rangefinder Magazine “The Art of the Portrait”  |  An Interview with Stephen Austin Welch

FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER, STEPHEN AUSTIN WELCH

I just completed the edit of my portfolio and reel for TidePool, my new photo rep Brooke Embry.

Together we curated my images to calibrate my work in the direction of the commercial imagery that I enjoy shooting - which includes loose, candid lifestyle and portraits that have soul, yet effervesce spontaneity.

The review of my work started me thinking about how I have evolved as a shooter; how I interact with my subjects; and how I shape light on the fly. Thus I began a personal project - that of documenting artists I admire.

My artist portraits have been liberating as to who I am as a photographer NOW, resulting in the shucking of a lot of gear. Gone are the strobes, 12 x 12 silks and second setup motion camera. In making this series I am breaking a lot of rules, using mostly bounce light and sponging off of practicals. I am crafting shots with a Canon 5D Mark III and a couple of prime lenses.

In one regard it is funny how creating a portrait of another person ends up being a self-portrait of the photographer.

In this portrait of the renowned and ever playful artist, MOCÓ, I wanted the viewer to sense the flavor of how MOCÓ blurs traditional boundaries between high and low art. Blending themes of Pop Culture with Renaissance, MOCÓ has trumped initial naive strategies by choosing subject matter that is filled with not only cultural connotation but also a tremendous amount of irony.

MOCÓ’s vocabulary ranges from cryptic to innocent - treading a fine line between nostalgic cliché and disturbing archetype. Seduced by his whimsical platters, the viewer is confronted with MOCÓ’s juxtaposition of childhood innocence and the perception of modern consciousness.

It is very apparent why I am so intrigued with this fellow!

FROM JACQUELINE TOBIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Environmental portraiture excites me. It serves as an anchor of sorts, not just seeing a great image of the subject but also getting to experience them in their surroundings−in this case MOCÓ’s residence/work space in an old military barracks building in Benicia, California, built in 1872−that furthers the connection for me of who the subject really is.

When I first saw this series of artist MOCÓ by Stephen Austin Welch (who has been a photographer and director for over 20 years), I was immediately struck by the whimsy and lightness in the underlying context of the image, but I also immediately got the sense that this person is important; that we should know him and would want to know him. As SAW explains it: “I revel in creating portraits that mirror not only the artists themselves but also reflect the pulse of their work.”

lifestyle & portraits

I strive to have my images identifiable by the genuine connection I create with my subjects.
Whether they be models, actors, celebs, CEOs or ‘real people,’ I always enjoy finding a way to ground and connect.

tv spots

KN+SAW specialize in filming lifestyle, kids, families & real emotion story telling.

Hi there. I’m Stephen Austin Welch, a commercial director & advertising photographer. My specialties are capturing authentic lifestyle images, genuine portraits and dramatic landscapes. I also enjoy shooting intriguing interiors and graphic still lifes.
See ’em all on my websites:  spots  »  knsaw.com  &  stills  »  sawphoto.com

We shoot tv spots & still photographs for ad agencies, creative firms, companies and magazines both locally in California and around the globe. Be it macro or micro, all productions are handled with the same care and attention to detail to create inspiring images.

For photography projects, I am represented by TidePool.

For directorial projects, we work with a select handful of brilliant Executive Producers and above-and-beyond Line Producers strategically located across the country to give our productions an insider advantage.

Call me, SAW, for the next visual story you want to tell.

We love to shoot!