Last Updated on 04/21/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
National Geographic Photographer and Sony Artisan Ira Block was our guest recently.
It was a pleasure speaking with Ira Block – a photographer who says he’s mastered both the creative side and documentary side of his craft at the moment due to his wanting to continually push himself forward and always create different images. Ira joined us in front of a live studio audience at the Adorama Event Space to discuss his background, how and why he creates, and to share a few key stories about his travels over the years. Ira also showcased lots of his new work in his book Cuba Loves Baseball: a Photographic Journey.
Ira first started out using a camera and then got seriously into photography for his school newspaper. Those skills carried on with him later in life as he began doing more local stories and learned how to talk himself up. It landed him a job at National Geographic where he’s been for many years now. Ira shared with us some of his first assignments as well as some of his other favorites things and so much more. He has worked on a series about 9/11 and has traveled to document various lifestyles in Asia. He finds Asia the most appealing simply because he believes America and Europe to be too similar, and he enjoys much of the Asian cultures and histories that they’ve kept alive for many years.
Of course, being a Sony Artisan, he’s using Sony gear right now. Ira prefers zooms simply because they allow him to get the shots that he needs and wants. But there are times where he’s doing more personalized shooting and where he reaches for primes instead.
Please enjoy our recent episode of Inside the Photographer’s Mind. And for more, click here.
