Meet Harry Zimmerman | Photographer / Film Producer

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

Hi Harry, how do you define success?
How do I define success? Let me first say that I don’t believe most people would look at my career as some sort of exemplar of “success” as defined by vast recognition or monetary standards. How I define success is satisfying my internal need to achieve artistic creativity first, and then recognition, if there is to be any, from my peers and any audience I may have second.

This notion is best exemplified by my photography. And I feel it is a common artistic internal burn felt my most photographers, or any artists for that matter – that is, to make YOURSELF gratified by achieving an artistic goal. If I have moved anyone else by a photo I made, then all the better as far as defining success goes.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After film school I entered the film business working as a Camera Assistant on feature films shot all across the globe. I morphed from studying film in a university environment to what essentially become one professional apprenticeship after another having had the opportunity to work with A-List cinematographers such as Emmanuel Lubezki, Seamus McGarvey, Robert Yeoman, Conrad L. Hall and many others, and Directors such as Mike Nichols, Paul Feig, Paul Thomas Anderson, Terrence Malick, and more.

I studied how they each approached the job, and the art of the profession and luckily some of their talents rubbed off on me. I become particularly interested in composition within the motion picture frame, and I used those lessons later in my own still photography. I began to look at light, its directionality and quality more attentively. I like to think my work demonstrates a quality of strong composition, as I believe everything visually begins with that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Los Angeles. My best friend from high school does not, and in an effort to try to playfully insult me he tells people, “Harry moved to LA and become a fish IN water.”

If I was to give a first time visitor my tour of Los Angeles, it would begin with food, of course, some of my favorite restaurants ranging from getting a gut-bomb Original Tommy’s Burger, to a visit back in time of old Hollywood at Musso & Frank, to another old film industry standards: The Smokehouse in Burbank, and Dan Tana’s Italian restaurant in West Hollywood.

I would take the friend on a drive up and down the coast from Malibu to “Surf City” of Huntington Beach to the little cozy beach towns of North County San Diego. I would also take them to the Getty Museum and the Academy Museum, and of course the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during football season for a USC Trojans game.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
With regard to others who have encouraged or motivated me in my creative endeavors, it will sound extremely corny, but my Mom has always encouraged the left side of my brain, as has my Sister, so immediate family have always supported my efforts. I would also say my friends from high school, college, and from my career in film have also always been there to support my work whenever they see it posted online.

I cannot forget to mention my fellow students, and instructors at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts way back when I was a student. Those were some of the happiest days of my life and a formative period in which I was encouraged to take chances and challenge myself visually at a young age.

Website: https://www.zimmagery.com

Instagram: @fanatic_project

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-zimmerman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harry.zimmerman.144

Yelp: Harry Z on Yelp

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fanaticproject

Other: @harryzim.bsky.social / https://www.threads.net/@harryzim / https://linktr.ee/hzimmerman

Image Credits
Harry Zimmerman
©commencingcountdownproductionsllc

Image one: Keith Richards
Image two: Rapa Nui Statues
Image three: Hanshin Tigers Fans
Image four: Me
Image five: Me
Image six. Angkor Wat Monk
Image seven: Martha’s Vineyard Lighthouse
Image eight: Space Shuttle Endeavor