Today we’d like to introduce you to Anchazia.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m originally from Australia and moved to the US in 2012 when I was 24. I had recently graduated from university, was a few years into my career at a Big four accounting firm, but I wanted to travel and experience more of the world. So, I transferred to the Chicago office of the company I was working for in Australia. I decided I’d move to Chicago for two years, then reassess my next move, but ended up staying in Chicago for more than four years.
My accounting career gave me a lot of amazing opportunities and travel, but my schedule didn’t leave me with much time for my usual creative outlets. In 2017, when I moved to LA, I started making time for those creative outlets again. I was also traveling to Hawaii for work at the time, and would stay on the islands some weekends to hike and explore. I was going to all these amazing places and wanted to capture it all, but I felt like my iPhone photos didn’t come close to doing it justice. I’d always loved taking photos, but my time in Hawaii was the final push I needed to buy a camera and really pursue photography.
I started off with landscape photography, taking photos when I hiked and on my travels, but more recently I’ve been focusing on portrait photography.
Please tell us about your art.
I like to say that I first got into photography when I was three, back in the early 90s film days, when I was gifted with a camera. I took ‘portraits’ of my family while we watched the sunset by the beach, coincidentally during golden hour, and landscapes of the nearby cliffs. I still have the photo album from my first roll of film.
I love to combine my passion for photography and travel. I find that photography makes me pause and take in more of what’s around me. Some of the photos below are from my Mt. Fuji photo series, taken last year during a solo trip I took to Japan. There’s also so much happening around us at any given moment that we don’t take in the details the same way we do when we see a photograph. I often look back at the photos I’ve taken and see details I didn’t notice at all at the time.
Portrait photography, what I shoot the most right now, is something I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I do. There’s nothing like the natural beauty of a landscape, but I find that portrait photography is such a fun, creative outlet. There’s more creative control, you get to connect and create with other people, and it’s so rewarding to capture images of people that they love. Whether it’s a creative or professional project, collaboration energizes me and inspires me to keep creating.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes we’re unable to do what we’re passionate about all the time. There may be periods in life where we have other priorities, or lack the time or resources. At the end of the day, do what’s good for you mentally and financially. And make time for the things and people you love.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can check out my website at www.anchazia.com and find me on Instagram at @anchazia.photography. I’m open to collaborating and have bookings available for portrait and lifestyle sessions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anchazia.com
- Email: anchazia.photography@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/anchazia.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anchazia.photography
Image Credit:
Portrait of Anchazia by Brian Joseph (IG: @b.k.joseph)
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