New Member Shout-Outs: January 2018 Edition

New year, new site—these photographers wasted no time getting their sites up and running. Coincidentally, they’re all using the East template, ...

New year, new site—these photographers wasted no time getting their sites up and running. Coincidentally, they’re all using the East template, but we love how they’ve each made it their own through their branding and strong photographic styles. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these impressive new PhotoShelter members.

Feature image by Harrison Brink

Murad Ahmed

PhotoShelter template: East
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Instagram: @muradah
Specialty and background: I’m 19 years old, and I’ve always had a thing for images. I started at a young age playing with Photoshop and trying to edit pictures from the internet. As I got older I realized I could get my own camera, take my own pictures and edit them myself. Living in a small city in Canada, it was very easy for me to get the word out about my work which helped me land some amazing opportunities and work with some very talented people. I specialize in portraits and concert photography, and I enjoy working with artists/creators to capture moments within their lives.

The story behind the photo (below): This has to be one of my favorite pictures, as this was my first big show I got to cover. Being able to capture moments like this is what I love so much about my line of work.

Harrison Brink

PhotoShelter template: East
Location: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Instagram: @harrisonbrinkphoto
Specialty and background: My goal as a photographer is to be as versatile as possible. I graduated from Temple University with a bachelors degree in journalism in 2016 and have since been teaching myself lighting for portraiture and product photography. At the moment, my photo endeavors are propped up by my job as a bartender. Cocktails and mixology are also often the subjects of my work.

My portfolio is currently a somewhat eclectic mixture of portraiture, food, and live music photography but I aspire to work as a photojournalist focusing on food access and justice stories. I spent time in school exploring the urban farming community in Philadelphia and was inspired by the characters I met along the way; hardworking people who were trying to make a difference in their communities through educating people about and producing fresh food in areas where it might otherwise be unavailable. Having my work affect people in the same way would be an extraordinarily gratifying experience for me.

The story behind the photo (below): This is perhaps the earliest image I’ve taken that I think holds up with my work today. My sophomore year in college, I produced a project where I documented the Philadelphia drag queen scene for a few months. It marked a big transitional period in my life where I became very serious about school and photography. I was a very shy kid growing up and the interpersonal side of photography was a huge obstacle for me when I started out. I was able to get great access for the project and this photo of one queen helping another with makeup before a performance is my favorite from the set. The concentration of one, the determination of the other…it’s a great representation of the passion, creativity and support that I found in the community.

Tyler Parker

PhotoShelter template: East
Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada
Instagram: @tylerparkerphotography
Specialty and background: Originally from just outside Vancouver, British Columbia I now reside in Banff, Alberta. Seven years ago I chose to move to the heart of the Canadian Rockies. I quit my job, said goodbye to my family and friends and hopped on a 1 a.m. Greyhound headed directly for this quaint yet bustling mountain town. It wasn’t meant to be permanent, I was just looking for change.

The years that followed would shape who I am as a person—living in the middle of the Rocky Mountains humbled me. It was here where I picked up a camera again and started to look at things differently. I just wanted to show people what I saw and how I saw it. I spend most days wandering and exploring, trying to do justice to the rugged beauty that surrounds me.

The story behind the photo (below): It was the last week of October and we had been having the most amazing sunsets, evening after evening. I decided to sneak out of work early and took a drive towards some lakes just on the outskirts of town. On the way there we passed a meadow with a few elk who just seemed to be milling about. I set up my tri-pod and started to shoot. As if to put on a show, the male elks started to rut. It was like I didn’t even exist to them. They eventually got too close in their fight, so I had to pack it up and get out of their way. However, I was able to get this shot before being chased off.