Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Salcido.
Hi Joel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first photography epiphanies, if you will, came early in life in Mexico. First, while playing hide and seek with friends in my grandmother’s home I accidentally discovered the camera obscura. I happened to hide inside a cardboard box and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could see a replica of the outside world come through a hole in the box and projected on the a side of the box. That visual impression left me mesmerized. It wasn’t till many years later did I realize that I had actually been inside a camera obscura. At about the same time, my family would occasionally drop by to visit my Tio Chico who worked in a photography studio in downtown Juarez. I vividly remember watching him inside a dark and cavernous room retouching 4X5 negatives that were back lit by a huge pyramid-like light box. The 4X5 negatives appeared like ghostly imprints of human beings covered in ash.
These two surreal moments became my hypnotic introduction to photography.
In high school I borrowed a 35mm camera and began to teach myself photography and soon after I joined the editorial staff of my El Paso High School campus newspaper, The Tatler. These years became the foundation for my love affair with photography. It was a glorious time of exploring, experimenting and evolving as a photographer. This experience got me a job as the chief photographer for my college newspaper at UT El Paso.
During my stint at The Prospector I won several collegiate awards that got the attention of the photo editor at the El Paso Times and in less than a year I was working as a lab technician at the newspaper.
When the photo department was stressed with an overload of assignments I was asked to help out as a photographer.
On one of these occasions I landed my first front page cover photo that impressed management enough to eventually offer me a full time job.
I remained with the newspaper for more than ten years and resigned as their photo editor when I realized that my creative drive was being suffocated by my daily managerial duties, amongst other factors in experiencing the human condition, up front and close.
I then naively charged forward and dove into a freelance career that had a series of ups and downs along the way.
In the beginning I did everything and anything to pay the bills but always relied on my love for magazine reportage work. That led to more awards that further inspired my commitment to fine art photography.
Throughout this time I never stopped doing personal projects that fulfilled my restless creative drive.
It is this personal work and commitment that eventually morphed into book and magazine projects that have been incredibly rewarding in indescribable ways.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
All art-making involves some psychic risk!!. George Woodman
(A famous quote by George Woodman, father to the phenomenal photographer, Francesca Woodman, who committed suicide.)
I think most artists experience that psychic risk of creating in a vacuum of uncertainty. You may believe you’re an incredible talent but turn out to be merely mediocre—or, conversely, you might see yourself as mediocre when in fact you possess extraordinary talent.
I’ve had layers of ups and downs but I must say that suffering is overrated. Why, because in those moments of deep despair your most brilliant leaps of faith morph into incredible revelations and success.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m primarily a reportage fine art photographer that takes years of world experience as a journalist that allows me to humanize the core soul of the moment, person or landscape.
My Spirit of Tequila is now out of print and one of my images from that book was inducted into Mexico’s National Art Heritage Collection and now resides in Mexico City. As a Mexican-born photographer that is hugely rewarding.
Now looking ahead at two future book projects that have evolved from years of commitment, passion and poetic visual interpretations of real-world subjects and landscape.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost, my wife deserves enormous credit for remaining by my side through the highs and lows of this crazy and very risky journey.
My best boss ever was my photo editor at The El Paso Times, Luis C. Villalobos. What a treasure of a man. He alone set the foundation for all things creative. His creative talent was contagious and his guidance and trust were priceless.
In that realm is by far my earliest creative influence, my grandmother Victoria Ruiz, who was an incessant example of creative energy.
And then there is my most admired journalist hero and friend, Paul Salopek. A two-time Pulitzer writer that always acknowledged my potential and clearly stressed that one’s creativity would have to morph into a way of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joelsalcido.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelsalcido/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joel.salcido.16
Image Credits
My head shot was taken by: Owen Schwartzbard, Texas Monthly Video Producer,
