Written by: Jo Ann L.B. Duggins
Cover Photo: Sutherland Boswell
Full Name: Wiely Sutherland Boswell, Jr
Age: Recently turned 20
Currently Residing: Montgomery, AL
Currently Listening to: Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West
Equipment: Nikon cameras and lenses plus a little MacBook
It's amazing that a person so young has an incredible sense of motion and sharpness. Sutherland Boswell, at the ripe age of 20, captures such stunning images. He mainly focuses on the skateboarding world, but most everything he shoots is perfection. It only leaves to the imagination of where he will be in just a few years. His photos are magazine ready and his photos definitely sway to a more commercial level. I personally love his skateboarding shots. They display the excitement and movement of the culture but also exhibit gracefulness and power. His photos are just stark and have a bigger than life aspect to them. One of his recent accomplishments was recently used for a New York Times article on the recording artist, The Queen Killing Kings. It's apparent he has a great career ahead of him and I have no doubt his skills will heighten as he continues to have the passion and the eye. And the boy can shred!
You've been taking photos since you were 15...how has your eye changed?
I think when I started photography I tried too hard to make a photo be special entirely in itself, but now I use it as a way of sharing something that’s already a work of art for people to enjoy that couldn’t be there for that moment.
How do you see yourself as a photographer?
I’m not quite sure, I don’t feel as die-hard as some people are… I don’t always have my camera with me and I don’t enjoy taking documentary-style pictures at most events. I’m pretty picky too - I’ll shoot 200 photos of somebody and pick out my 5 favorites, and so I always end up being asked to see the rest.
You shoot quite sophisticated shots for a 20 year old, do see a commercial career in the works?
In school I’m studying economics, but my ultimate goal is to work for myself in whatever way is most enjoyable to me. Photography is something I enjoy so I’m sure I’ll always be at least doing it on the side, possibly full time if the opportunity arises and I’m still enjoying it. I just don’t want it to lose its fun aspect.
What do you really enjoy shooting the most and why? Do you ever shoot anything you don't like?
Skateboarding is definitely my favorite thing to shoot because I can go out and have a good day skating and take a few photos that everybody’s excited to see, and sometimes even end up with a photo of myself skating. It’s really putting two of my favorite things together into one. I also like doing fashion shoots just for fun every now and then. The one thing I really don’t like to shoot is the boring photojournalism type stuff… I don’t want to go to a party or big event and take pictures of complete strangers.
What would be an ultimate subject for you?
I’ve had the chance to shoot with some pro skaters a couple times, and it’s a really fun thing to do. Hopefully I’ll get to do that some more…
What photographers from the past do you admire? Who are you into right now?
Since I got into photography because of skateboarding, most of the photographers I’ve always admired were in the skateboarding world like Grant Brittain or Atiba Jefferson. When it comes to non-skateboarding photos I’ve always liked Ansel Adams and about a year or two ago got into Clyde Butcher. Another favorite of mine is Dave Nitsche and his surreal photos.
You recently went to SXSW... was this your first time? Did you have a good time?
Yeah, this was my first year at SXSW, and I had no idea what to expect. It was literally a last minute decision that I wasn’t sure about on the 12 hour ride there, but by the end I was really glad I went. I was somewhat limited because I’m under 21, but it was still a good time. Best parts - seeing Dear and the Headlights, the flatstock show, and the crazy times at the Rhodeway Inn.
Where do you see your photos in 5 years?
I hope they can make it into some skateboard magazines, onto some album covers, and maybe on somebody’s wall.
What's a photo technique you enjoy using most and do you have a certain aesthetic you want to learn?
Lighting is my favorite thing to play with. Fast action like skateboarding takes a lot of light to really freeze, so I had to learn how to use and create lighting early on. Hopefully I can keep working on it and getting better on my lighting. I’ve also always liked doing really simple photos with really limited elements, but lately I’ve been trying to take more complex scenes and find a way to break them down into a similar feeling as just a few basic elements.
Most heroic moment:
Hmmmm… I really can’t think of a moment I’d call heroic, I’m guess fortunate enough not to have been in any real serious situations. I love helping out in boring everyday situations though… like helping a friend change a tire, holding doors for people, helping somebody move, or hooking up a friend with spare skateboard parts.
For more information on Sutherland:
This made me smile...the boy can skate!
Cover Photo: Sutherland Boswell
Full Name: Wiely Sutherland Boswell, Jr
Age: Recently turned 20
Currently Residing: Montgomery, AL
Currently Listening to: Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West
Equipment: Nikon cameras and lenses plus a little MacBook
It's amazing that a person so young has an incredible sense of motion and sharpness. Sutherland Boswell, at the ripe age of 20, captures such stunning images. He mainly focuses on the skateboarding world, but most everything he shoots is perfection. It only leaves to the imagination of where he will be in just a few years. His photos are magazine ready and his photos definitely sway to a more commercial level. I personally love his skateboarding shots. They display the excitement and movement of the culture but also exhibit gracefulness and power. His photos are just stark and have a bigger than life aspect to them. One of his recent accomplishments was recently used for a New York Times article on the recording artist, The Queen Killing Kings. It's apparent he has a great career ahead of him and I have no doubt his skills will heighten as he continues to have the passion and the eye. And the boy can shred!
You've been taking photos since you were 15...how has your eye changed?I think when I started photography I tried too hard to make a photo be special entirely in itself, but now I use it as a way of sharing something that’s already a work of art for people to enjoy that couldn’t be there for that moment.
How do you see yourself as a photographer?
I’m not quite sure, I don’t feel as die-hard as some people are… I don’t always have my camera with me and I don’t enjoy taking documentary-style pictures at most events. I’m pretty picky too - I’ll shoot 200 photos of somebody and pick out my 5 favorites, and so I always end up being asked to see the rest.
You shoot quite sophisticated shots for a 20 year old, do see a commercial career in the works?
In school I’m studying economics, but my ultimate goal is to work for myself in whatever way is most enjoyable to me. Photography is something I enjoy so I’m sure I’ll always be at least doing it on the side, possibly full time if the opportunity arises and I’m still enjoying it. I just don’t want it to lose its fun aspect.
What do you really enjoy shooting the most and why? Do you ever shoot anything you don't like?
Skateboarding is definitely my favorite thing to shoot because I can go out and have a good day skating and take a few photos that everybody’s excited to see, and sometimes even end up with a photo of myself skating. It’s really putting two of my favorite things together into one. I also like doing fashion shoots just for fun every now and then. The one thing I really don’t like to shoot is the boring photojournalism type stuff… I don’t want to go to a party or big event and take pictures of complete strangers.
What would be an ultimate subject for you?
I’ve had the chance to shoot with some pro skaters a couple times, and it’s a really fun thing to do. Hopefully I’ll get to do that some more…
What photographers from the past do you admire? Who are you into right now?
Since I got into photography because of skateboarding, most of the photographers I’ve always admired were in the skateboarding world like Grant Brittain or Atiba Jefferson. When it comes to non-skateboarding photos I’ve always liked Ansel Adams and about a year or two ago got into Clyde Butcher. Another favorite of mine is Dave Nitsche and his surreal photos.
You recently went to SXSW... was this your first time? Did you have a good time?
Yeah, this was my first year at SXSW, and I had no idea what to expect. It was literally a last minute decision that I wasn’t sure about on the 12 hour ride there, but by the end I was really glad I went. I was somewhat limited because I’m under 21, but it was still a good time. Best parts - seeing Dear and the Headlights, the flatstock show, and the crazy times at the Rhodeway Inn.
Where do you see your photos in 5 years?I hope they can make it into some skateboard magazines, onto some album covers, and maybe on somebody’s wall.
What's a photo technique you enjoy using most and do you have a certain aesthetic you want to learn?
Lighting is my favorite thing to play with. Fast action like skateboarding takes a lot of light to really freeze, so I had to learn how to use and create lighting early on. Hopefully I can keep working on it and getting better on my lighting. I’ve also always liked doing really simple photos with really limited elements, but lately I’ve been trying to take more complex scenes and find a way to break them down into a similar feeling as just a few basic elements.
Most heroic moment:
Hmmmm… I really can’t think of a moment I’d call heroic, I’m guess fortunate enough not to have been in any real serious situations. I love helping out in boring everyday situations though… like helping a friend change a tire, holding doors for people, helping somebody move, or hooking up a friend with spare skateboard parts.
For more information on Sutherland:
This made me smile...the boy can skate!