We recently connected with Dylan Rocamontes and have shared our conversation below.
Dylan , so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
Music.
I developed an obsession with music, particularly drums when I was twelve years old. That carried me all throughout middle school and high school, when I ultimately decided to study music composition in college. During my formative years, I dedicated all of my time to practicing and teaching myself how to move my limbs independently of one another as well as vastly improving my rhythm. I also became obsessed with discovering new styles of music, which would give way to new styles and techniques of drumming.
In 2015, the same principles applied when I began to delve into photography. The obsession that radiated through me from music and learning drums coursed through my veins once again for photography. I began photographing on an iPhone 4S around my college campus at the time. Whenever I would show my closest friends what I was doing in between classes, they encouraged me to pick up a camera and pursue it. Through much trial and error, I eventually started to have rhythm with the camera in a similar fashion as I had with music and drums.
I especially credit my musical background for my discipline in photography, especially in the darkroom, which I consider the music studio of photography. Photography and music go hand in hand for me. I usually hear certain sounds when I compose an image and vice versa. Every album needs a cover and every image possesses its own sounds.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Photography originally began as something I would do to pass time in between classes. After some convincing from my best friend to pursue it seriously, I purchased my first digital camera a few months later in the spring of 2015. The first few years of photography came with a considerable learning curve. I had no clue what functions the buttons on the camera served, nor did I know anything about lenses. A few years passed with no significant developments until early 2020, when a friend of mine told me about a camera he found while cleaning out his grandfather’s garage. That fateful 35mm camera served as the flint that would reignite my love of photography, this time of the film variety.
For the last four years, my primary focus has been shooting film and learning the intricacies of the medium, while also rediscovering my purpose as a photographer. I’ve since entered into the world of large format, where I’ve found my metaphorical bread and butter shooting 4×5 and 8×10 compositions. To me, large format is like a large oil painting; the time and effort put forth into making an image reaps the rewards of image detail, quality and a greater eye for composition.
I currently have a few projects in the fire. I’m working on a photo book that reflects on personal experiences, such as love, loss, regret, and pondering the future. I second shoot with my friend Mike Ferreira for weddings and elopements. Also, I’m shooting a series with my friend Brian that explores cowboy and rodeo culture, which will be photographed exclusively on black and white large format film. Lastly, I’m endeavoring to attain a National Parks artist residency to grow my career as a landscape photographer.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One quality I attribute to my photography journey is discipline. Discipline has helped me remain grounded and remember to not become too frustrated with mistakes. I’ve learned how to learn from and push through my mistakes while remaining deeply invested and obsessed with my work.
Another quality I attribute is imagination. I believe this is the bedrock for any artist seeking to further their craft. I find it necessary to be periodically absent from photography to allow my imagination to refresh and expand. This way, I can apply what has helped expand my imagination to photography in ways that I couldn’t have envisioned previously.
The last quality I attribute, for better and for worse, is my perfection seeking. I believe this quality to be a true double edged sword. While the need for perfection constantly pushes me to better myself, at some point I have to acknowledge that “perfection” in the literal sense will never occur. With that being said, I believe everyone has their own definition of what perfection looks like. I am always refining my definition.
I’m not entirely sure if I’m at a place to offer advice, but I would like to offer this: I highly encourage those who are early into their endeavor, whatever it may be, make it a point to remain true to themselves and the direction they want to explore, no matter what outside influences may inflict. Artist identity most certainly has the ability to affect personal identity.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Oddly enough, this book had just as significant of an impact on me as the movie adaptation. Atmosphere was front and center throughout every chapter and the description of the dystopian city further pushed my imagination. Overall, this book helped me realize that photographs can act as chapters or scenes in a book. One photograph may hold certain detail or tell a partial story, but a series of photographs can tell a much greater story. To play my own devil’s advocate, simply having a larger quantity of photographs doesn’t automatically guarantee great storytelling. Photographers must experiment and discover the best sequencing for the photographs to create a story that is not only compelling, but flows seamlessly between themes and ideas.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @echolensphotography
Image Credits
All photographs by Dylan Rocamontes (Echo Lens Photography)
