Photographer's Profile

Andrew West

United States

I was walking on the streets of Seattle... I was given an assignment: go into the streets of Seattle and find humanity... So...I walked onto the streets. I did find humanity, but I also found a lot more. What I saw was the human faces behind what we call humanity--the faces, the individuals. I saw the eyes, the faces, the smiles, the grimace, and I recorded everything as I saw it, without judgement. I knew in that moment that photography was what I was meant to be doing. There was an exhilaration and an excitement to be recording moments of life just as they were, and more than that, the ability to record and capture the truth, so that others might see it, especially in places where they cannot go, or fear to go themselves. Time has passed, and I have, and continue to have the camera by my side, and I have now come upon the opportunity to once again be an observer and capturer of the truth, in an unbiased and non-judgmental way. For me, to be able to show equally the emotion and passion on both sides of an argument is what a true photographer does. As photographers, we go where the inspiration takes us, excited to be capturing life where we can, whether a lunar eclipse in the middle of a foggy night, a riot on the streets of Los Angeles, or society: in the throes of heavy discussion, deciding the next course of humanity. As for me, and my passion for photography, it is most rewarding when I can capture realistic, true portrayals of humanity and the human condition. I also work very well under stress and find editorial work to be challenging and invigorating. When I am engaged in my work, it is of the utmost importance to have my images balanced and free of distracting elements so that I am getting the most powerful image to the observer, and one that shows diversity in an unbiased and true light.