Meet William Gabriel | Photographer & Storyteller

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

Hi William, how do you think about risk?
The decision to shoot exclusively on film in 2023 not only was a risk to my wallet but my creative credibility! But that’s kind of the fun, isn’t it?

Risk has become an essential part of my photography because it allows me to communicate and express myself in ways my voice no longer can. Being unable to speak without pain has been challenging, but what’s been harder was figuring out the best way to capture something correctly without the crutch of a phone camera or digital screen.

That uncertain nature of the artform is not only nostalgic but inspiring, and the StepsAndStones Youtube channel is just a further extension of that feeling.

In many ways, my creative risks symbolize reclaiming control and agency with my voice. They allow me to connect with others and share my truth, proving that communication isn’t limited to spoken words. The risks I take in photography are not just artistic—they are personal. They represent resilience, adaptation, and my determination to continue being heard, even when my throat won’t let me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
A distinctive quality is my connection or general thread of excitement to explore the places I capture. I gravitate toward magical, evocative and sometimes dangerous spaces that not only inspire me but seem to guide my storytelling. Because when is an abandoned building out in the middle of the desert NOT the move? These places may do a lot of the “heavy lifting,” but it’s my perspective and interpretation that bring them to life in my images. Or at least that’s the goal.

The act of shooting basically a short-form documentary series to accompany every outing, I’m able to not only further the story I want to tell, but clearly define the experience I had making it. Sure I roughly script out my videos ahead if I can, but allowing the chance for discovery in real-time makes for a much better product.

Above all, I prioritize capturing a theme in even the most ordinary places. We spend so much time wrapped in the comfort of familiar voices and shared experiences, that we often miss a whole universe of moments happening right next to us.

By stepping into these orbits and analyzing the fleeting nature they have, I’ve found new perspectives and deeper connections, even without a word exchanged. But I guess a smile every once in a while never hurt anyone.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It would be nice to think I have a bit of selective insight over others to showcase a night-out worthy of you latest journal entry, but in reality I’m a creature of habit.

There will always be that next pop-up or once in a lifetime event we HAVE to experience, but if I’m with my best friends I’d find just as much comfort in a cold beer, some good music and at least half a plate of tacos!

Also Providence is pretty nice.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Vivian Maier! It’s a bit cliche, but I’m not even sorry.

Despite her living a quiet, private life as a nanny, she took incredible risks in her photography, capturing raw, unfiltered moments of humanity with unmatched depth and perspective that perfectly illustrates a time we no longer recognize but feel a connection with. Almost all of us in one way or another are unknowingly plagiarizing her on the daily, which speaks volumes to how influential her eye really was. Her story is a constant reminder of the power of finding your voice through art or expression, no matter the circumstances. Her images talk louder than anyone I know, and that resonates profoundly with me as someone who now relies on visual storytelling to predominantly communicate.

Website: https://willjgabriel.darkroom.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willjgabriel/

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