Meet Peter Scheu of 1224 Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Scheu.

Peter, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For me, my journey into photography started the summer of my sophomore year in college. I had some extra money and had my eye on a camera for quite some time, so I finally got it. That was back when everything was still film, and it cost $0.50 every time you pressed the shutter. When photos cost that much money, you learned very quickly to think about what you were doing before you did it.

Thankfully my parents were very supportive and even helped with developing my film before I finally went digital a few years later. And I just kept shooting. I’m self-taught, but I’ve used the example of other amazing artists to drive my learning. And hundreds of thousands of photos to slowly teach myself the intricacies of light, and color, how the camera treats each, and how that can be very different than the human eye.

And after bringing my camera with me almost everywhere I go, I’ve slowly grown into what I specialize in today – a landscape and aviation photographer. Initially, I realize those two subjects don’t seem like logical partners in crime, but I’m a pilot by trade and fly with my camera a lot. Mostly though, I love to treat life as a great adventure, to travel, and see new places. So, whenever I’m not flying, that’s what I do.

I’ve been lucky enough to have visited over 20 countries and 35 national parks, and I know the day I stop traveling will be the day I’ve died. Perhaps my best example of this is when I was between jobs in 2014. I took a 3 month, 14,000-mile road trip through the US & Canada and spent a lot of time in the national parks (of both countries). It’s a little more difficult now that I’ve settled on Coronado, but I still do my best to just get in the car and go sometimes.

Over time I’ve learned people don’t want “just” a photograph. While the raw image may be attractive to their eye, what they really want is an experience, a way to emotionally connect with what it is they are seeing. If they don’t have their own experience or that image doesn’t spark anything in them, then you’re going to come up short. So you have to create that spark for them, and I’m very fortunate because that’s what I love to do.

For me, my camera is my enabler. Yes, I’d go to see all these places, but when I have the opportunity to share that experience with others and give them some sliver of it, then that’s very rewarding on its own.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are so many people these days with a digital camera… and I’m not even talking about iPhones and Androids, I mean DSLRs. It doesn’t mean they know how to use it, but the technology has absolutely become ubiquitous. On the other end of the spectrum, when I look through many of the online photo forums, I am humbled by the large amount of incredible talent that is out there in all facets of photography.

I realize that my work is just a drop in what is really a small ocean of amazing artists, and so generating sales in a market saturated with talent has been a challenge. In the end, I feel strongly you have to be able to take the adventure to the viewer and allow them to share that experience with you.

To find the story that goes along with that image that viewers will love. Everyone enjoys and wants beautiful things, but what they love even more is an incredible story they can tell all their friends about because it creates such a strong feeling within themselves. Creating that connection – that’s my plan to work through this challenge.

1224 Media – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
1224 Media is a Coronado based photography company; I have an eclectic array of subjects, but I specialize in and truly enjoy shooting landscapes and the unique world of combat aviation photography. All of my work can be printed on multiple different media, including classic prints, metal prints, acrylic prints, wood prints, and canvas.

When it comes to landscape photos, I pursue an adventure first. It could be a planned or impromptu trip; sometimes just up the coast, other times a multi-month adventure that takes me across the country. These adventures and the places they take me are the drivers of photos full of bold colors, deep contrast, and inspiring panoramas.

Because the power of nature instills in me a solace I can find in nothing else, my passion for capturing these moments and sharing them with others is what motivates me as a photographer. On any adventure with my camera, I never know what each day is going to bring; what the light will be, when the scene will develop itself, or how that experience and story will unfold. This is why 1224 Media is different. It’s not just an image, it’s an experience.

Aviation work comes with its own sets of challenges – photographing aircraft in tight spaces, through canopies or windows, all when moving. But there are so many incredible things that you see at an altitude that very few get to witness; like landscapes, I take great joy in being able to capture and share those moments with others.

I’m very proud of the fact that while I shoot all digital, I don’t exploit post-processing software to create something that didn’t exist. I use it only to replicate the scene as I remember it in my mind’s eye.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Winning the grand prize in a photo contest sponsored by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine titled “capturing the best of Italy.” I submitted a photo taken at my sister’s wedding; she worked at the Guggenheim in Venice and had her reception on the roof overlooking the Grand Canal. It was like something out of a storybook.

Between the location, the light, and my sister’s friends, I was able to capture a moment I didn’t think too much of when I submitted the photo, but apparently, the judges loved. My reward was a trip back to Italy… but when they first called I didn’t believe it and thought it was a phone scam!

Fortunately, I finally remembered the contest I had entered on a whim and had an incredible experience upon my return.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.1224media.com
• Email: petescheu@me.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petescheu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1224Media
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/petescheu

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