Meet Thane Gustafson | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thane Gustafson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thane, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
A handful of years ago I had zero work life balance. I was at the whim of the clients when I was working in private security. I ended up taking a pay cut with a new job that afforded me to have a life again. It was the best investment in myself I could have made. For the most part I can can leave work at work and when I’m home its not nagging in the back of my mind distracting me from my home life. I was able to pick up a camera again and do something for my sheer enjoyment. I’m thankful my wife indulges me in my photography habit. We have been able to take some time off to do some traveling that wasn’t focused around a work trip and its afforded me the ability to take photo’s in some great locations. I jokingly say that photography is my therapy, but there is some truth to it. Some times when I don’t have an agenda and I have the time to wander around a city it feels a little like meditation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The accessibility of digital photography actually helped me decide to pick up a camera again. Years ago I taught my self to shoot on an old Olympus 35mm. Most of the photos I took were terrible since I didn’t know much about why you used certain setting on the camera and how they worked with each other. It wasn’t until I started getting into film and video productions that I learned how to use the exposure triangle. I later did 8 years with the US Marines where I took disposable and some point and shoot cameras with me from time to time. With the price of film and processing I stuck to my iPhone camera for a long time but found there were things I wanted to try that an iPhone camera just couldn’t do at that time. With older DSLR prices dropping it was easy to get my hands on a half decent camera where I could re-teach myself how to shoot without the worry of the back end cost. I still enjoy shooting on film and usually have my mirrorless Z6 and my Canon AE1 35mm in my daily carry bag now for whatever mood strikes me.

My photography is a bit of a mishmash of styles, over all I just like go out and shoot what catches my eye. From street scenes in Downtown Los Angles and Hollywood to the Orange County Beaches. I do have an affinity for classic car photography and am lucky enough to live in Southern California where there is no shortage of subjects. There is a monthly cruise I like to make it to that regularly takes place in the Huntington Beach area called the Quarantine Cruise (@qruisinpch). There is a wide variety of cars to shoot there, from the $800 junk yard find to the Million dollar build and everything in-between. The cruise usually starts in Costa Mesa then they will cruise down PCH through HB to a second location. It makes for a good time and some good backdrops with some beautiful cars. I have also been fortunate to shoot The Race of Gentlemen (TROG) when they have come out west. The pre-WWII cars and motorcycles doing a 1/8 mile drag on a closed air strip has been quite the experience, it’s a little like going back in time. I’m also looking forward to the time I can make it out to Wildwood New Jersey when they race on the beach.

Professionally I’d say its always going to be a work in progress. I don’t think I will ever stop learning. Meeting and talking with other photographers regularly has been both inspirational and informative. From how certain shots were taken to website tips. Having the interactions with other photographers has been a big help as self promotion is a little hard for me, I’ve always been more comfortable being behind the camera than in front of it. It’s something I have to work on regularly and consciously think about and push myself out of my comfort zone. I got lucky with my branding as I’ve used the moniker “ofGlamis” since high school when a friend of mine referenced a quote from Macbeth making a play on my first name, Thane.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Usually when family or friends are coming into town were hitting one of the theme parks. My wife and I usually try and stipulate where every we go to eat it cant be a chain. We like to try new places. There are 2 places we have gone that having friends intown would make for a good excuse to go back to. The Hobbit in Orange, its on the fancier end of the spectrum but was a very good evening. The menu is preplanned with wine pairings, I know it sounds snobby but the food was excellent and the friends we went with made it even better. The other stop was The Blind Rabbit in Anaheim, a fun little speak easy with a good selection of craft cocktails. A nice dark atmosphere with bartenders who were very knowledgeable. Both places take a little planning a head of time but were worth it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife, Jen O’Bryan, has been my biggest supporter on my jumping back into photography. While I know she gets bored coming with me sometimes while I’m shooting a location she does get excited to see the final product and helps to promote it. She has also been instrumental in helping me in my transition from hobbyist photographer to working photographer and cant thank her enough for the support.

Website: ofglamis.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofglamis/