Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Oscar Rodriguez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Oscar, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
For me, the things have have helped me through mental health challenges are empathetic friends who don’t judge. and letting go of toxic friendships/relationships. Therapy and studying ourselves are helpful ways to reflect and realize what we can do to change our mindset and environment if need be. I like to think that a mental health challenge is a sign or a calling from our subconscious and our bodies asking for us to change an unhealthy situation or way of life that we might be stuck in.
Another aspect is self care. Like yoga, breathwork, meditation, various exercise, sauna, sensory deprivation tanks, cryo, being in nature, massage, good sleep, etc. Any or all of these can be a life savers during a difficult time.
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?
I’ve built my professional career through 17 years photo retouching and as a Senior Imaging Specialist in the publishing industry. I worked on many titles covering a broad range from sports to high fashion magazines and spent years working in-house for Playboy Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard Magazines. I started freelancing in 2017 and have worked freelance or contract projects with leading agencies on Key Art posters for the film industry.
I’m really excited now to be doing more photography projects shooting models and public figures. Photography is a passion I’ve had for almost 20 years but I didn’t have as much time for it when I was working in publishing. This is a chance for
me to work on location while getting away from the monotony of computer desk work. Through photography I can balance my creative time better and have some variety in my projects while also having opportunities to meet wonderful people.
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?
Raw talent, desire for perfection, and people skills (in that order) have helped me along my journey. I’ve loved art since I could pick up a crayon and I was lucky enough to have an uncle who worked in the animation industry who inspired me and taught me from a young age. As many artists do, I’ve struggled with perfectionism because of its pros and cons. But in many cases it’s helped to make me stand out above others. Being shy didn’t help me much early in my early career and working with large companies with many employees was hard for me at times. I realized how important it was and have tried my best since to be more open. It still goes against my nature today but I feel so grateful to work with and know such talented people. It’s an honor and pleasure to know and team up with others to create a great finished product.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My photography skills have grown so much the last year because I’m pushing myself to experiment more with lighting and color grading when it comes to portraiture. I’m self taught. I’ve have come a long way since my days of shooting primarily landscape and astro photography because of the excitement I feel to create something new.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.o-scar.com
- Instagram: @oscar.imagines
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-rodriguez-b48ba873
- Other: www.oscarimagines.com
Image Credits
Portrait Photography by Oscar Rodriguez Key Art posters – copyrights owned by their respective studios. I contributed in ways ranging from production work to finishing.
