An interview with Colby Blount

Colby Blount won our Colors competition with a stunning fashion-inspired image shot on safari in Kenya, that judge Neil Krug praised for its “beautifully orchestrated narrative”.

Only having recently started working with color photography, it makes the image all the more special, and one we were keen to find out more about along with Colby’s background photographing the luxury industries, his move from Atlanta to New York, and how the pandemic has impacted his work…

Hi Colby. Firstly, congratulations on winning our Colors competition. What did you make of Neil Krug’s comments?

It was such a huge honor being named the winner by Neil. His statement on my work was beyond encouraging and a perfect summation of the shot. I even had friends reach out about how perfectly his words paired with my photograph. It’s so moving to create work you connect with, but to make someone else connect and write so poetically was beyond meaningful.

It’s such a striking image – both in the dramatic landscape and pose, and also in the coloration, which is quite distinct. Can you tell us a little bit about the image and the circumstances behind it? Is it a single frame, or from a larger body of work?

Working with such strong, distinct colors has been a new experiment for me. I was primarily a black and white photographer up until the pandemic and then I really started experimenting with color grading, working towards giving my work a more ethereal feeling. This image is from a larger collection of images created in April while on safari in Kenya and Tanzania. I really wanted to photograph animals, landscapes, and people all from the same point of view. This image was done in one frame just as a storm was rolling into the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Natasha, the subject in the photo is a longtime friend and collaborator. We’ve traveled the world together creating art. She is a very talented writer, art director, and stylist. We truly speak the same language, which is why we can create work like this image.

I note that you’ve spent quite a bit of your career photographing from luxury brands, and there’s definitely a hint of that in this scene. Is that a conscious thing?

I started my career out as a fashion photographer, it’s still at the root of who I am. Over the last couple years I’ve moved away from fashion, but more towards portraits and travel. There has always been a certain luxurious element to my work, whether it was created through casting, styling, or just the moment I found.

Stepping back, tell us a little bit about how you first got into photography, and the point at which it turned into a serious pursuit…

I found photography very early in life, I want to say I was around 12 years old — I am 32 now. So nearly 20 years ago. I grew up in a small rural town in Georgia and there wasn’t a whole lot to do. During the summer while out of school I was always styling my younger cousin and doing portrait sittings, photographing nature, or some random still life I set up. I grew up in the pre wifi access generation, so all the photography I was creating was all new to me. I’d never seen anything like it before. It filled me with such a passion, I couldn’t get enough of it. I’ve always been serious about photography, but I feel like when it really got serious was when I moved to NYC with no other marketable skill sets and had to quickly figure it out.

What is it about fashion photography, and now portraiture that excites you?

Photography has been a vehicle for me to connect and share experiences with people. Being more of an introvert it really allows me to hone on the details and micro nuances of people. I love bringing out character in people, it’s the best feeling when someone puts their guard down and lets you capture them. I’ve also always been inspired by shapes and body language, which is hugely important in creating great fashion imagery. I really started to evolve when I realized you can merge the creativity of fashion with the portrait world creating stylized dreams not with just models, but real people.

You made the move from Atlanta to NYC. How was that? Opportunities are endless in New York, but it must be hard to get your foot in the door?

I’ve been in NYC nearly 9 years now. I came here with a really open mind, no timeline, and hit the pavement with any and every opportunity. I had to adapt very quickly due to limited resources, mostly relating to finances. I am very lucky to have a really great, supportive group of friends. Some of the same people I befriended and collaborated with are still in my life today, even from my quick post-college career in Atlanta. Opportunities do appear endless in NYC, but what is also endless is the amount of talent not only here, but in other cities or even rural areas. Social media has really changed the landscape of the industry. NYC is a way of life and I love being here, but it’s also great to see what’s being created all over the world.

Tell us a bit about a favorite image you’ve taken…

Favorite images, tough one. It’s always hard for me to separate the shoot scenario from the images. I am all about a story, whether the image portrays the actual events or not. One of my favorite images was created in Italy. Natasha and I had been traveling for nearly 24 straight hours to get to our final destination, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. As she was unpacking she unpacked this voluminous purple taffeta robe. I knew immediately we had to shoot it with her jumping across the bed. We shot for 2 hours trying to get the right shot. When we sat down and looked at the frames, we ended up using the first frame and it went on to win an APA award. We still laugh about that to this day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, or would want to share with your younger self?

You really have to believe in what you’re doing, the passion will show through and you can always tell when you’re faking it. Also, always look for beauty in the small details.

And finally, what’s keeping you busy right now?

I’ve been very fortunate to have stayed busy during the pandemic with personal work and client work. Having such an expansive background with many interests, I have a diverse group of clients, including still life clients. Currently for my personal work I am getting ready to release more work shot in Africa, circling back around to my cyanotype series, and working on networking and building a stronger photo community for myself in NYC.