Meet Phil Evans | Photographer & Visual Storyteller

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

Hi Phil, what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the beautiful vistas of the West Coast, and have been since I was a kid in West Virginia. That inspiration was actually my back door entry into photography. I was determined to be in California, and ended up refining that craft as a residual benefit. Constantly editing the images allowed me to relive the initial experience and learn back-end skills. Of course I have other inspirations as well: images from people who can chase and shape light much better than I can are always pushing me to learn how they created something. Learning from the styles of others helps you create your own. I also love beautiful type, architecture (anything Art Deco like the Golden Gate or the Eastern Columbia Building in DTLA), subway tile mosaics, clever wordplay and successful logos (to instantly convey information graphically is always inspiring). My ideal day is simple: just walking around Southern California in good light with a camera, looking for moments to capture.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I believe one thing that sets me apart from other photographers is that I was trained as a designer and had a successful career in design. Maybe I see things a bit differently. Now when I’m behind a camera – or walking around observing – I look for a scene that appears to be designed, almost like a still from a film. My creative journey is about visual storytelling, and my photography is about learning to observe and think about my subjects and their stories. I love capturing that random moment to share with others, and sometimes assigning it a brief narrative.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First on the list would be the Griffith Observatory in the golden light of late afternoon. The Art Deco building on the hillside above the expanse of LA below is as much beauty as anyone needs, and gives a great sense of the city. Then hike the trail above the parking lot up the mountain and watch the city below turn to a million lights as the sky becomes purple. Cut. Scene. The Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad downtown are both worthy architecturally even without stepping inside (but please do… that’s a solid afternoon). Dinner or drinks at Bird (sit outside and admire how the palms perfectly hug Franklin Ave westbound) followed by improv comedy at UCB down the block makes for a fun evening. The Hollywood Bowl Overlook on Mulholland lets you experience an amazing view and that famous winding road. The Troubadour for live music and an appreciation of its history, or the Hollywood Bowl for a bigger show under the stars. Finally, rent bikes in Santa Monica and ride the beach path down to Venice, stop at the skatepark there and watch some daredevils before returning. Then watch the sunset through the Ferris Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier while sitting on the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Michael Going is a renowned photographer in Los Angeles who is considered the master of the Altered Polaroid, a form of art where you take a Polaroid print and manipulate it with tools until it looks like an impressionist painting. Michael was on the cover of Communication Arts for this early in my design career, and I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen… a combination of photography and drawing. Eventually I met him and he taught me the technique, and it was inspiring. When Polaroid stopped making the SX-70 film, Michael went back to traditional photography at about the time I started getting serious about it. His encouragement and mentorship has meant a lot to me. My daughter Karli Evans, also a professional photographer, has also inspired and encouraged me. She helps me make sense of the technical aspects and also to think about new ways to see.

Website: https://www.philmade.com

Instagram: @philevansdesign