Meet Emily Ciszek | Graphic Designer, Underwater Photographer, and Amateur Videographer

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

Hi Emily, why did you pursue a creative career?
I am an artist. I say this with spite. If I could choose another profession I would. I can’t help but create, it is my natural instinct and my destiny. I have creative solutions and ideas spewing out of me, no matter how hard I suppress it. It is who I am. For years I let the world, the success of others, and my own ego get in the way. I say the world because, you’ve heard it before, the starving artists. I say the success of others, because how much art does this world really need, isn’t there enough already? and I say my ego, because when you start out, you’re going to SUCK, and that’s hard… I have miraculously pushed through all the barriers. At a certain point, if you’re doing the work, your “thing” will slap you in the face. For me it was embracing my creativity, and letting it flow.

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.
What sets me apart from others, is that I have embraced underwater photography, NOT on the tropical coast, but in the mountains of Southwest Colorado. I was paddle boarding on a lake outside of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The world below, underwater, was illuminated with plant life. I thought to myself “someone needs to document this”. It didn’t matter, and still doesn’t that I don’t have the proper gear, or the best equipment… I go out and I do it. Southwest Colorado has some beautiful lakes, some require a drive, and some require a hike. It’s so easy to get discouraged, but the longer you stick with it , the easier it becomes.

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?
I live in Durango, Colorado. If I had a friend visiting, we would go paddle boarding on Lake Nighthorse, Swim in the Animas River, and go soak in Durango Hot Springs. My favorite restaurants would would eat: Zia Taqueria (tex mex), 11th st. Station (great bar and food trucks), Taco Libre (awesome interior design and food), and the Ore House (fine dinning). The shops downtown are so quaint! My favorites include Pine Needle Dry Goods, Dry Side Supply Co, Studio &, Frontera Designs, Old Colorado Vintage, and Urban Market!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The working creative professionals of Southwest Colorado! Tim Kapusta, Annie Brooks, Elsa, Jagniecki, Jonathan Bailey, Charles Newmyer, and many others! Without them, who would I look up to?

Website: instagram.com/crimsonwavecreative

Instagram: instagram.com/emciszek

Image Credits
the picture of me holding flippers credit: Brynne Mower the pictures of my under water adventures I took, credit me, Emily Ciszek