CREATIVES

Where do you live?
given that photographing
video heading with regards
O P P O S I TE PA G E
Right now I am based in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
I split my time between
San Francisco and Lake
Tahoe. I don’t see myself
moving any time soon.
What are the most
memorable locations
you’ve worked on?
The most memorable locations
I have filmed in so far have
been Mongolia’s Darkhad
Valley and Ethiopia.
How would you describe
the style of images and
videos you capture and
what stories you try and
show through your lens?
Most of my work is
documentary. Whether it’s a
I’m inspired by
imagery with
a story behind
it from places
that are hard to
people (including children) to travel and tourism? C LO C KWI S E F R O M TO P:
Locals chat in Tigray Ethiopia;
poses different issues as What I enjoy most about Under stormy skies, a Darkhad
opposed to photographing video is that it’s a medium herder, Mongolia; Ethiopian
landscapes or architecture? which allows you to expand Orthodox Church priest and deacon
The best way I have found on the story you want to tell. in training in Lalibela, Ethiopia.
B E LO W: Jeff Colhoun in action.
to approach photographing It’s also more challenging
people (especially with a than capturing photographs
language barrier) is to hold but I think as cameras keep
your camera up when someone getting smaller and editing
sees you and you will either software gets more user-
get a nod or they will shake friendly, we are going to see
their head. Taking a photo of a lot more travel videos.
someone is taking something
from them, and every creative
should remember that.
Could you tell us about
some of the not-for-
profit organisations you
actively work with and
what causes you are
passionately supporting?
My most recent project was
with the non-profit Operation
International. They are a
group of surgeons who offer
medical aid to adults and
children in impoverished
countries. I travelled with

Jeff Colhoun
them to the Ivory Coast
in West Africa where they
reach or access outfitted the hospital
PROFILE with new equipment and
performed 76 surgeries. The
documentary film for a non- documentary is coming soon.
profit or covering a subject As a photographer actively

This Californian-based photographer and cinematographer talks about discovering, for a travel publication, I
find myself trying to tell the
through his lens, the culture of off-the-beaten-track destinations. By Katrina Holden
story of what it’s like at that
place, in that moment.
With your work, what do you
believe defines the ‘culture’
of a destination and how
do you seek it out when
photographing and filming?
The culture is defined by the
people living there. I always
try to avoid tourist attractions
or ‘what everyone likes doing’
when they travel somewhere.
Instead, I prefer finding scenes
from everyday life in locations
very far off the beaten path.
When photographing
people, what etiquette or
ethics do you consistently
use in your approach,
using social media, what
types of content do you
view as inspiring and
examples of best practice,
and conversely, what
content sometimes leaves
you shaking your head?
I’m inspired by imagery with a
story behind it from places that
are hard to get to or access. I
have a hard time connecting
with imagery when I have
seen the place photographed
100 times before. I can’t
get inspired if I know the
photographer just checked a
box on their vacation itinerary.
What do you love about
working with video as a
cinematographer, and where
do you see the future of
© ANNE CARNEY
How can creative people
help educate and inspire
travellers about the
cultures of the world?
Travelling has a way of shifting
your perspective. The best
way to teach people about
the cultures of the world is SCAN
for them to travel the world. TO WATCH
Creatives can help by inspiring With your smartphone’s camera
them to go somewhere, try program open, simply hover your
something new and experience phone above this QR code to
other cultures first hand.  watch Jeff Colhoun’s video in
Ethiopia. Your phone will activate
a link. Alternatively visit
jeffcolhoun.com jeffcolhoun.com/video/2018/11/24/
@jeffcolhoun ethiopia-cradle-of-civilization.

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