Profile Spotlight: Photographer Jimmy Wilson
If you had a passion, a
real passion, how long would you be willing to pursue it and
turn your dreams into a career? To take all which stirs within
your heart and watch it build and develop despite any obstacles
which may come your way. A year, maybe five? Let’s be
honest. For many of us, unless we receive immediate
gratification, most would likely give up, take one setback as a
"sign" to stop and move on. Now, how about twenty years? Twenty
years of working hard and pursuing your craft with little or no
assurance that eventually all that hard work would pay off.
But while most would quit, one man-photographer Jimmy
Wilson persevered and worked day in and day out until he turned
that passion and parlayed it into a successful career.
Born and raised in
Minneapolis, Jimmy has always loved the outdoors. As a child, he
would ride his bicycle within the surrounding areas of his
neighborhood while spotting wildlife such as deer, owls, foxes
and eagles. After graduating from the University of
Minnesota, Jimmy pursued other successful careers: first in
commercial real estate, and then a stint as a bush pilot. But
his true passion was always photographer and film making.
Eventually, he would
combine his love of film making with his other love–nature.
Though the path of success was often not picture-perfect, Jimmy,
nonetheless, has always maintained his optimistic nature. And in
a world where fortunes are sometimes made overnight and many
artists may enjoy an immediate though often fleeting taste of
success, Jimmy kept his feet to the ground and pursued his
passion with a quiet determination.
His photography journey
began when he started taking pictures on morning walks five or
six years ago and began receiving compliments from friends and
family. Eventually, he caught the attention of an experienced
art agent. After working together with his agent for a year,
Jimmy eventually decided to embark on a journey on his own and
open up his own gallery in his hometown of Minneapolis.
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| Jimmy Wilson Gallery |
Located in the picturesque neighborhood of Linden Hills, a place where you can shop, meet friends, grab a cup of coffee and feel like life’s pretty darn great, Jimmy’s Gallery is an oasis of calm and beauty, a fitting setting to showcase his work. No clutter, no loud music, it is for those who want a break from the noise and the rat race of the world.
I remember not too long ago
when he expressed to me his desires to open his gallery. A
daring move for both an artist and a businessman, but he was
determined. It was a gut thing. Jimmy follows his instincts and
so far, they have paid off. Soon, he showed me the beginning
stages of his gallery: the construction, the color scheme. And
though there was some trial and error, one had a feeling that
Jimmy had a clear vision of what he wanted. It was just a matter
of making that vision come to life.
I met Jimmy a few years
back when I wrote an article on his film career and his award
winning children`s series. I spoke to him a few times and
since we live in different states, we communicated by Skype and
phone. But soon, the distance became of little importance; and
soon, I learned a couple of things. For one, he takes walks
daily. When I say everyday, I mean everyday. Whether it
would be on a frozen morning (he bundles up) where most would
not dare to venture out, or a warm summery day, he will be out
there walking, saying hi to the other walkers, enjoying life
while occasionally stopping to capture a photo.
Second, he is lovely to
talk to. He knows a great deal about photography and art, but
also about music (He played in a band and continues to sing) and
business (he was a commercial Real Estate agent). He also
does something which I find rare: he likes to ask questions and
seeks other peoples’ opinions. But most of all, I noticed there
is an inner calm, a gentleness that remains even when stirred.
And I believe this part of Jimmy clearly comes out in his
photographs.
The photos reflect
Jimmy’s inner calm. Whether the colors are vibrant or subdued,
the photos remain clear and uncluttered. They evoke a sense of
serenity, and they represent simple but stunning moments in life
that are beautiful. Indeed, when life often seems heartless,
noisy and tragic, Jimmy, through his art, reminds just how
lovely life it actually can be.
Gaya Lynn: The last
time we spoke, I wrote an article about your work as a
producer, director, and creator of the award winning "Jimmy
Wilson Films Children`s Adventure Series". In this body of
work, you literally went to all corners of the earth to film.
Places such as Churchill Manitoba and the Serengeti National
Park in Tanzania Africa. In these videos, you filmed stunning
shots of many of the world’s most beloved and endangered
creatures. What was that experience like and what lessons did
you take away when you were done?
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| The Boat by Jimmy Wilson |
Jimmy Wilson: The filming,
the actual filming was one of the favorite parts for me.
I went everywhere.. From filming jets at international
airports, to the wilderness of Churchill Manitoba, Africa,
and the north woods of Minnesota. I became a pretty darn
good shooter, and years later this helped and made photography
easier for me.. Watching and filming polar bears, lions,
moose, and wolves up close was pretty exciting to say the least.
Because of the diverse
climates in most of these areas, I had to find special ways to
keep my video camera working. I was in climates ranging
from -30F to over 100F. The heat wasn`t as much of a
problem for the camera but the equipment did not care for
extreme cold. So I figured out a way to keep my video
camera warm in the cold by using disposable hand warmers which I
wrapped around the camera and the batteries as well. Many
extra batteries were needed to be kept warm because my filming
days were 10 hrs long, and I was off grid, so there was no way
to recharge them in the field.
After a ten hour day of
filming, I would review every frame of the footage I shot.
If I got 1 to 3 minutes of usable footage per hour of film
shot I was overjoyed. And it took many hours just to shoot
an hour of film.
The lessons I learned?
As usual my number one lesson has always been to keep your
eye on the prize. Producing a film takes time and you must be
focused. It`s a multi layered project that does not only
include filming, it`s just one part of the whole, although a
very important part. So you must keep focused for its
duration. Most of the 9 films took six months to produce,
from inception of idea to retail ready product. My longest
film project happened to be my ninth and final film; it took 3
years to produce! So always keep your eye on the prize,
which is completing your task at hand to its end. And when
it`s over, it`s over, so do the best you possibly can.
GL: You had a career in
commercial Real Estate and then decided to pursue your dreams as
a filmmaker and photographer. Tell me about the process
and did it turn out well for you?
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| The Silhouette by Jimmy Wilson |
JW: It was a very difficult
process; there was no road map. I had never been on my own
before, I had always worked for someone else. I had just
spent 13 years dedicating my life to a company and job…. I
would take the skills I learned in that career and use them for
the rest of my life. I remember being very scared at
times, but I`m a risk taker, so there was no looking back, no
matter what. Then, suddenly I was the owner, the employee, the
boss, the worker, I was everything! I wanted to do what I
wanted to do career wise, not have someone else tell me what
career I would have. I remember that quite vividly.. I remember
I had the proverbial imaginary little man sitting on my shoulder
waving his finger and saying into my ear, "Just wait until you
see what you`re getting yourself into!" But all in all
it`s turned out quite well thank goodness. But it took
twenty years! So when people ask me,"Jimmy how did you make it?"
Or, "Jimmy, how do you become successful?" I always
say, "Do ya` have 20 years?"
GL: It seems looking
back at your life and career, everything has come together
almost like a mosaic. Your directing and filming has helped you
develop such a keen eye and capture only the best images; your
real estate expertise has helped you in marketing and social
media. I know many of us do jobs that feel are so far away from
our purpose, and we are frustrated and feel stuck, but we do
them to pay the bills. Do you feel that all your previous
experiences helped you as an artist today?
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| Outside of Jimmy Wilson Gallery |
JW: Yes, very much so..
I take lessons I learned from all my past experiences and
from other people as well that I`ve met.. The experience of not
giving up is something one has to teach themselves though, and
maybe the greatest lesson of all.. So few artists of any
kind are able to make a living producing their art form.
It however does not mean that those artists who cannot
support themselves producing their art are failures. I`m
just saying, there are so few. If you produce
something, you`re successful..
So my experiences in
the past of not giving up, focusing and sticking to something
has helped me immensely as an artist. There have been so many
times through the years that I have wanted to stop and maybe
move onto something else because I wasn`t where I wanted to be
professionally. Although thank goodness I always believed
in the art and what I was producing. I was just a break here, a
break there away that could change things for my art and me. I
didn`t stop because of habits I learned long before becoming an
artist that would serve me well when I became an artist.
The work habit of basically not giving up when you really
believe in something.
GL: You are mainly a
photographer now, tell us about that journey and what are your
main subjects you enjoy taking photos of?
JW: I was a filmmaker
for over 15 years before I became a professional photographer.
Film making really developed my eye. Being a film maker I
believe made photography easier for me, or maybe it was just
refining my craft, or both. In film making, I got used to
34 frames a second, that`s 34 pictures every second. With
photography I deal with one image at a time, so it`s simplified
in a big way. Film making I believe made me a good
photographer. When I capture images I usually do not have
a plan. You can capture a masterpiece right out your
front door. I bring along my camera and I look for
something to catch my eye. That`s really how I work,
something has to catch my eye, I trust my eye more than
anything. I like simplicity, uncomplication, classicness,
and a touch of elegance. I try to capture and look for the
‘Cary Grant’ of images.. That`s my goal and what I go
after, the image above and beyond all others. "I want the
best and get rid of the rest." I like the simple
things in life and I try to see them look as beautiful as I
imagine them when I capture them. I shoot mostly outside
but not exclusively. The number one thing is something
catches my eye that immediately stimulates my imagination.
So the two most important factors in photography in my
view, are having a good eye and an even better imagination.
GL: After years
of hard work and perseverance, your work began to get recognized
a few years ago. Your photos were featured in art shows,
galleries and in the media. How did you maintain such patience
during those years when it must have been frustrating and not
give up?
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| The Surfer by Jimmy Wilson |
JW: It wasn`t easy, I had
gotten to a point many times of giving up. And after
producing the 9th children`s film, I knew I wanted a change,
something new but I didn`t know what. So I made up my mind
after the 9th film that it would be my last. I felt 9
films was a good number for a series, and someone told me right
about that time that the number nine means completion as well.
So maybe it was meant to be after all to stop film
making.. I then decided to bring a little camera with me
on my early morning walks before work. I began taking
pictures and posting them on social media. To my surprise
people liked them! I kept taking pictures and got better
quickly and more and more people would comment how much they
liked my images. I gained more and more confidence and
found what I was looking for, a new career that I would call
‘Jimmy Wilson Photographs’!
GL: Congratulations on
your new gallery. I saw photos of the space from the ground up.
I remember you saying you were thinking about opening a gallery,
then everything just fell in place. You found a great location,
tell us about the process and what it has meant for you.
JW: I was thinking of
opening up a gallery off and on for a while. I had an
agent for a year, a person who knew art like the back of his
hand and was qualified as well as anyone, and knew exactly what
he was talking about. He became a mentor to me. He
showed up at the precise time in my life where I could accept
mentoring and needed mentoring. I`m basically a rebel and
unmanageable in the first place, but this man settled me down
and guided me on the path to success. He had me focusing
more on what I did best, we talked about art and the art above
the art, and the art inside the art for a year or so. He
had a lot on his plate and still took the time to be interested
in my work. Why? Because he knew I was good. He knew
what I could do and how I could focus. He knew my attitude;
which was, "There isn`t another photographer on this earth that
can kick my ass artistically.." He knew my eye and
imagination was as good or better than anyone’s. That`s
the two most important qualities you`ll want to have to be the
best. Although I wasn`t getting ahead professionally with
him at the time, and felt I had to go off on my own. I
did, but I always replay in my mind all the wonderful advice I
received from him..
I had a successful show
a few months later and a few months after that found a space I
could mold into a perfect gallery! I took the risk, signed
a lease and moved in. I now work in a place surrounded by
beauty every day, the place is called the ‘Jimmy Wilson
Gallery’! A place I couldn`t even imagine 5 years earlier
when I decided to take a little inexpensive camera with me on my
early morning walks. Sometimes, a magical moment happens
in one’s life when you don`t have an exact plan and you want a
change. When that experience happened to me, a plan
materialized right in front of my eyes, and I was ready..
GL: Thanks Jimmy.
You are a true artist. Any special announcements?
JW: Special
announcements? Yes, If I wake up it`s a great day!
Appreciate every moment. That`s my most important
announcement…
_________________________________________________________________________
55410 Minneapolis
For more:
www.jimmyfilms.com
and www.jimmypicture.com
*All photographic images
copyright Jimmy Wilson Photographs*