Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Mason.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was drawn to photography at an early age. My father nurtured my interest in two ways, first, he believed that a house was not a home until it had art hanging and second, he fed me books by the masters. From those books, I learned the social significance of photography, how it could move lawmakers and society in general for just causes. I was also influenced by the photographers themselves and their stories of adventure and hard-fought battles. I started photographing on my own and with friends who possessed similar interests as soon as I was able to get my driver’s license.
I attended a now-defunct Photography school in Santa Barbara, California. From there, I worked in NYC for many well-known and acclaimed photographers as a photo assistant. I ultimately met my wife while working together on a photo shoot. She was the stylist and I was the assistant to the photographer. We moved back here in RI, where I am originally from, in 1986 and I started my commercial career at that point. My fine art work began a couple years later. I needed an artistic outlet and an emotional reminder as to what it was about photography that I had originally loved so much. I have had many galleries shows as well as having my work hung in corporations. I have, to date, two cohesive long-term personal projects as well as. My latest is now a published book on Americas last lace manufacturing facility, entitled Leavers Lace. I travel the country for clients but always keep an eye out for something that will raise a curious photo-eye.
Please tell us about your art.
When I started shooting for fun I decided that shooting for a project, was confining and was not for me, I wanted to photograph completely free from any outside pressures. However, over time I have come to see the value in self-imposed assignments that are based on a particular interest. These may be short-term or spaced over a very long-term, depending on how or when the end becomes apparent. For my book Leavers Lace, I knew I was done when I saw the words “all dark” written on a workers table, yet others are not necessarily so clear. If there is any message that I hope people will see it is that all people are so much more than what you think or expect. We say hi to so many people that we think we know every day yet so many leads such fascinating lives that we are completely unaware of. The extraordinary is around us everywhere, however, it does not grab us we have to go out and find it.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Absolutely. Think long term and don’t throw anything away. Shoot what interests you now with a look at how it may be affected by time. Will it still be there, how will it look, what will its relevance be, will that change as well? Revisit things, places, attitudes every few years. You will learn more about yourself than about your work world. If you need to do it than figure out a way to make a living at it when you do the business part and the art part will grow into each other and are not exclusive to each other. Listen to others, intently! Seek out your heroes and do not be afraid to approach them and ask for what you need, help, information, guidance, mentoring! Just do it because as someone very wise once said to me “the more you do, the more you can do”!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work can be viewed at my website, stevemasonphotographer.com, a teaser video of my book, Leavers Lace, can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxmHXRFT2DY&t=8s and purchased through me or at Stillwater Books, https://www.stillwaterbooksri.com. I have a show on at The Museum of Work and Culture, 42 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895 (https://www.rihs.org/museums/museum-of-work-and-culture) To support my work one can buy local, visit Museums and Art Galleries as well as take an interest in their local photography scene.
Contact Info:
- Website: stevemasonphotographer.com
- Phone: 781-710-7693
- Email: sm@stevemasonphotographer.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.mason.7568
- Other: Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemasonphotographer/
Image Credit:
Images from “3 mile radius” a photo essay on Rhode Island and Leavers Lace a photography book on Americas last remaining lace manufacturer. Lace from this factory is made on machines from 1890-1910 and it is some of the worlds finest, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress had lace from Leavers Lace in West Greenwich, RI
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