The Quiet Adventurist: Rob Schanz
Some photographers have all the fun. With his insatiable love for travel and his unique knack for being in the right spot at the right time, photographer Rob Schanz (currently of San Francisco) captures the spirit of adventure in his photography, easily epitomizing the character of L.A. one minute and a remote cabin on a lake the next. But don’t let his mastery of landscapes fool you— Rob is also a force to be reckoned with in the fashion photography space, most recently showing off his prowess for capturing personality in ELEGANT Magazine. Hoping to discover some of his secrets – all his images have in common a sense of effortlessness – we caught up with Rob to find out about his beginnings, his style, and of course, his favorite travel destinations. Read on below.
How did you discover photography? What was the first image you shot that you were proud of?
My dad is photographer – a hobbyist – and he definitely turned me onto it. I owe most of my career to my photojournalism teacher in college, Mr. Eaton. A small local newspaper contacted him looking for a student with good grades to cover the Jacksonville Jaguars home games. He asked me if I was interested and that was the first real photographer job I ever had. I got some really cool personal images from that job— Aside from the standard journalism sports photographs, I tried to take different photos of the players that I found interesting. I also took a lot of photos of fans in the stands that were more candid.
You’ve moved around a fair amount in your life— Which of your “homes” has made the biggest impact on you and your art?
Where I am right now in San Francisco has definitely had the biggest impact on my art and career. It’s such a special city that has some many people who are motivated and driven in their own ways.
Is that your favorite city to shoot in?
As far as street photography, I think [my favorite] has to be NYC. The scenes you come across are so strong and the people are unique. I love how much character everyone has (whether it’s good or bad)!
We know you’re into surfing as well—is there any parallel to the way that you approach photography that carries over from surfing?
A lot of surfing is about patience, whether it’s waiting for waves in the water, or checking a certain spot countless times until one day it’s finally working, and then having an amazing session. After you have that amazing session, of course you continue to check [the same spot] over and over, hoping to see it looking as good as it was that day. With photography, there is a degree of patience that’s necessary as well. That might mean being patient and working with one subject until you finally nail the shot, or maybe just being patient and as calculated as possible with your business decisions.
“I’m trying harder now to really envision what I want before I shoot and then make that possible”
Is there a particular look that you’re trying to capture when you’re shooting for your own purposes, or does it just come naturally?
I think when I’m shooting, regardless of what it’s for, I want to try to capture moments that seem real and convey some sort of feeling or emotion. I still have so much to work on (and I always will), but I’m trying harder now to really envision what I want before I shoot and then make that possible. This is one of the hardest things about photography: Knowing when to take the photo, how to make the subject comfortable, and how to get them to give you what you’re looking for— Those organic interactions.
Who is someone outside of your field that inspires you and informs your approach to photography?
[Interiors and lifestyle photographer] David Tsay is one of my biggest mentors. I really respect his work, his attitude and his work ethic. Over the last year or so, he’s been one of the most helpful and inspiring individuals for me. He gives me honest and sound advice— Every creative person needs someone like that in their lives. I guess technically he is part of my field, but he shoots a different style of photography than I do, and focuses mostly on interiors.
We’ve heard you have a bit of a wanderlust spirit— What is it about travel that most inspires you?
I’ve always loved to travel— I think part of it is this problem where I can’t be in one place for too long or I get really antsy. I always need to have a trip planned to look forward to, even if it’s just a short trip to L.A. I think the most inspiring thing is the people and the vibes that I get when I’m in a foreign city. Just observing their ways of life and how they communicate can be very captivating. Aside from that, the culture shock in general— Trying new foods, seeing historical buildings and art, and not knowing a language but finding a way to communicate and making new friends.
What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in a new location?
The first thing I do when I’m in a new place is look at a map and walk around! I hate when I don’t have a sense of direction and know nothing about my surroundings.
You do a lot of fashion photography as well— Is there a particular aesthetic that you’re drawn to in terms of fashion?
I honestly think that, for me, it isn’t as much about just the clothing— It’s about the combination of the model, clothing and location. I love shooting people because you can get different emotions and looks out of them, whereas when shooting landscapes, still life and food you can really only change the angle you shoot from.
For you, what’s the difference between a great photo and an almost-great photo?
Sharpness is something that really bothers me, but realistically it’s probably got a lot more to do with composition. There have been so many times where I get home and I’m looking at the photos and thinking to myself, “Why did I frame it like that?”
If you had to be in front of the camera instead of behind it, who would you choose to shoot your portrait?
As far as feeling comfortable, probably my ex-girlfriend. She knows me better than most people and could probably get the most natural look out of me. If not her, definitely Billy Kidd. I’ve worked with him before and he has a really good sense of what he wants out of the models— I think that would be really helpful for me. On top of that, his work is amazing.
Besides your camera, you never leave the house without…
The most recent issue of Interview Magazine.
To keep up with Rob Schanz, follow him on Instagram: @RobSchanz
Words by: Emily Bihl, Photography: Gabrielle Humphrey
All clothing shown is from the ONS SS 16 Collection currently available at 71 Greene Street, Soho.
If you liked this story, check out more in our Urban Transplants issue.
