A beautiful display of shadows and light cast across captivating subjects is a staple of Mitch Geiser’s (@mitch_geiser) work.  His pictures are crisp and composed purposefully with a clear sense of vision yet no two photos are alike.  Being fascinated with Mitch’s photography for some time now, we caught up with him to chat a little about his passion and his process.  Read along to view a plethora of his imagery and to learn about his photography as well!

WHAT ARE YOUR EDITING TOOLS OF CHOICE WHEN CREATING YOUR ART?

I use Lightroom for all computer editing and on my phone I use Mextures, Snapseed and VSCO.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING?

I have been shooting photos for just over two years now. I've always been interested in photography so I decided to make an impulse purchase on a camera. Ever since that point it has become a huge hobby and I find myself out shooting multiple times a week.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

My photos tend to be a little dark and mystical. I really try to share photos that are thought-provoking. Scenes or images that make you think or take you to a different place.

WHAT MAKES AN IMAGE STAND OUT AND STICK IN YOUR MIND? 

An image begins to stand out to me when you can sense the personal touch of the photographer in it. It’s easy to find a beautiful location and in turn take a beautiful image, but there is nothing unique and personal about that image. So I love when a photographer takes you into the world he or she sees in that scene rather than just the interesting scene itself. There are many artists that I believe kill it at this that I am inspired by. I especially love photographers that are able to bring the human element into their photo to add to the atmosphere their scenery creates. 

WHAT HAS LED YOU TO PROGRESS THE MOST WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLE?

I think one of the biggest influences on my photography has got to be Instagram. The app opened my eyes to the number of talented photographers in my city as well as around the world. I've always been a visual learner, so to be able to watch different artists share creative work each day pushed me to create new and interesting work of my own. 

HOW DO USE MEXTURES TO ACHIEVE THE FEEL OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY? 

I tend to use mextures for my final touches. The app provides texture and haze to my photos that works well with my underexposed style of editing. Most apps really pull up the shadows when using the fade tool where Mextures keeps the photo dark while still giving a smooth effect to the photo. I also use Mextures to emphasize different colors in my photos which can be hard to achieve in other apps.

IF YOU WERE GIVING ADVICE ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH WORK SIMILAR TO YOURS, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU FEEL WOULD BE MOST IMPORTANT TO PASS ON?

One of the biggest things I've learned in photography is to take pictures of things I am passionate about or drawn to. It's tempting to want to share pictures that you know people enjoy but are absent of creativity. So I would encourage people to take photos that express creativity and break the norm. Even if it isn't appreciated at first people will grow to enjoy your photos because it is your style. 

WHY IS CREATING SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

I struggle with anxiety and can easily find myself stuck in my head. Photography has become a healthy outlet to turn my thoughts off for a little and just focus on whats right in front of me. Not to mention the appreciation I have found in nature and my surroundings. Ever since I've started taking photos my attention to details has completely transformed. I appreciate the little elements of day to day life way more then I ever have before.

WHAT ARE SOME INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS THAT YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION?

There is a wide range of style and creativity in each of these accounts. I think each of these people are breaking the norm and creating their own unique art. I like the fact that all of their styles vary so much. They inspire me in a manner that isn't just one dimensional. Its fun for me to always be trying new things and their work pushes me in a lot of different directions. 

@maria.svarbova, @takubeats, @twistdee, @ddesigns_, @521gemini, @chriscreature, and @ana.mar.

Scroll through more of Mitch’s work here!