Photographer of the Week: Alex Wright

By Alex Wright
Berklee College of Music, Boston

Photography found me at age 12 on a family vacation to Northern California.

My dad bought a small point-and-shoot film camera for me to use during the trip. Knowing little to nothing about taking pictures, I tackled a few of America's premier photo opportunities with the abandon of a total amateur. Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, and the spectacular coastlines of Monterey and Big Sur posed for my endless shooting. As a native Marylander, I was awestruck by the vast difference and beauty of the California landscapes compared to my familiar East Coast turf.

That trip sparked my interest and love for photography, and influenced the way I shoot today. My toy camera produced a new kind of awe when I saw the magic of alpenglow on Halfdome, captured by pure folly.

After a couple of years shooting around for fun, I became more serious about photography during my freshman year in high school. A close friend was involved in the photo department, and encouraged my interest in photography. I was intrigued by the techniques and strategies he used to get inventive photographs. He convinced me to upgrade my old film camera to a Nikon digital point-and-shoot, and began to teach me everything he knew about photography. Soon, I was immersed in the hobby and I began to look forward to family vacations for the photo opportunities more than for the beach.

I moved to Boston after high school to study at Berklee College of Music. I am actually more a pianist than a photographer. Berklee provides me with an incredible opportunity to develop my music career, and it also locates me in the middle of a city famous for its architecture. During my initial months as a Bostonian, I spent my free time walking around the city exploring the various neighborhoods. I immediately fell in love with the towering buildings of the Back Bay, the old streets, and the quaint mom and pop shops in the North End.

I currently shoot with a Canon 20D, and my 17-85mm IS lens gets the most use. Architecture and nature are my favorite subjects, and I love shooting from different perspectives and angles. Getting on the ground makes the subject suddenly new. Trying a bizarre angle until your neck hurts may bring the magic. Frozen fingers can still press the shutter when the light is finally right. Photography is creative nourishment. I love to snap the split seconds and hold on, smiling at the way my world lives on for me on photo paper.

About Alex Alex Wright, 19, grew up in Rockville, MD and is currently studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, majoring in music business. When he's not creating art with his camera, he's making music with his band around the city. Enjoy more of his photos by visiting his Flickr account, or listen to some of his tunes on his music website. See all Photographers of the Week

Here's a sample of Alex's photos. For the best effect, click on the "Full-screen" link.