Meet David Bazzano | Visual Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Bazzano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Investing in myself and being adaptable has been the greatest factor to my success. Upward momentum by chance is rare, and like most creative endeavors you face a lot of discouragement and self doubt. You have to commit to the journey, and above all else though; believe in yourself. I’ve made it a habit to practice my skills every day and never give up on learning opportunities. There’s so many free resources to improve your skills and knowledge out there. From the public library, to online communities, there are many ways to access knowledge and experience for free, including courses and workshops!

Starting out, I had the support of friends and co-workers to take their portraits, and at the time I was working in the craft beer industry where I had access to glassware (and tasty beer) to photograph. I learned quickly about lighting and reflections, and made mock photo ads. Soon, I had the confidence to make a portfolio which quickly caught the attention of a few marketing departments. Showcasing my passion for visual storytelling, and learning skills like web design, graphic design, and marketing has transformed my photography from a wishful hobby into a personal brand and a career path that gives me several creative outlets. Photography for me has always been meditative, it’s all about patience, and being part of the moment. Experience comes one day at a time so I try to just enjoy the ride.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work hopes to highlight the wisdom of people or places. I tend to fixate on fine detail, or making small objects larger than life. I think that’s the beauty of photography is to be able to transform our perspectives of the world around us. What I’m most proud of is being able to use my creative skills and passions in professional settings. It never gets tiring watching the work I’ve done make an impact, especially when it involves growing someones business, or life experience. For the longest time I never thought it’d be possible to do what I do. I started my career path as an archaeologist and have pivoted a few times since with the hopes that it would fulfill some sort of outlet for what interests me. But that desire to document the curiosity of culture, behavior, and telling stories to a wider audience has continued to carry over and motivates me to keep being creative.

How I got to where I am currently certainly wasn’t easy, and it still challenges me as things evolve quickly. How I overcame those challenges can be boiled down to adaptability and perseverence. Being a creative person comes with the difficulty of subjective opinions, dismissal, and rejection. Gaining the confidence for me was the hardest part, it can be a long journey taking the high road, but looking back on that struggle, it’s all been worth it. There’s always an internal struggle of balancing what you need to do professionally versus what you want to do out of pure joy, separating the two isn’t always easy or fun, but in the end it’ll make you a better composer. The biggest takeaway for me is it’s all about finding the right fit somewhere for yourself where you can merge them together. For me, that’s been seeking out industries or agencies that emphasize cultural traditions and experiences, or passions that want to be shared. Food and libations are what I researched as an archaeologist, and I continue to need that outlet. In many ways I am able to share stories, and expose the continuity of these important parts of humanity greater than I ever could as a scientist. That in and of itself is a learning experience. The more you immerse yourself in your craft, the easier it becomes to see what others want. Remaining persistent, and auditing my own work from time to time to see where I can stand out best has been a healthy exercise for finding the right opportunities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Francisco is such a unique place. It’s a palimpsest of history, empire, migration, and natural forces that get peeled away in layers with each neighborhood through its differing architecture and communities. One of my favorite places to take people to show this side of the city is Fort Point. It all collides here quite literally. Set atop a military fort that spans 3 different empires, and directly underneath the belly of the Golden Gate Bridge with unique views to explore of where the city, bay, and mighty pacific connect as one. Few visitors know it’s there and there’s always something to photograph every time.

North Beach and Chinatown are a must. The cities rhythm and vibrant, eclectic status lives here and isn’t stuck in the past. Cruising the connecting alleyways in Chinatown will give you an authentic perspective of life for so many residents here. Crossing Broadway into the Italian district will also show you how the past shapes the present. Lush Gelato and Tony’s pizza followed by a cannoli and coffee at Cafe Trieste is a must for anyone who pays me a visit. This area also rubs up into FiDi, where you quite literally are standing atop water and shipwrecks whilst underneath iconic skyscrapers, it’s a wonderful place for a photo-walk.

Land’s End, Baker Beach, and Fort Funston are great open spaces that offer sweeping views and give you a small taste of San Francisco’s past. Concrete ruins, old forgotten bath’s, and crumbling cliffside’s will teach you about how nothing here is truly permanent.

People are very loyal to their neighborhoods here and it shows. Cultures settle close to each other here, as do lifestyles. Dolores Park in my view is the living room of San Francisco and is where the Mission District and the Castro District collide. All walks of life view this park as a shared or neutral space and is the best place to people watch and to take in San Francisco life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I’m at professionally or skill-wise without my partner, Victoria de Aranzeta (https://vicdearanzeta.com) or without the support and encouragement of my family members or friends, there’s too many to mention but they know who they are! Victoria’s guidance and experience, especially with learning graphic design and web-building has been a huge part of my success in having my work become visible.

Website: www.davidbazzano.com

Instagram: @fototinni

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbazzano/

Image Credits
David Bazzano