Meet Galena Staroselsky | Travel and Landscape Photographer

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

Hi Galena, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work-life balance was a tough lesson that I had to learn over the years and still continue to overcome. Every job I’ve had as an adult I’ve always been a perfectionist and considered a “hard-worker.” While I’ve experienced burnout in the past, it’s been nothing compared to the moments of burnout since I started photography. I took that constant effort and hustle I practiced over the years and immediately applied it to being a photographer. I’ve always been passionate about it but quickly became hungry and obsessed with becoming successful at this new hobby. I spent absurd amounts of money on gear, drove endless hours to shoot locations, not sleeping or eating appropriately, overthinking editing techniques, and constantly comparing myself to other photographers in the community. I became uninspired, depressed, and disappointed in myself when I felt like all of the effort, time, and hard-work I’ve put into it wasn’t good enough. I lost any sense of creativity and my mental state was so poor that I didn’t touch my camera for months. That’s when I knew that I was not only experiencing burnout but also losing a true passion, which is something I never wanted to happen in my life. I felt like I failed myself and the people around me. I realized I had to change my mindset and learn to slow down and listen to my body if I wanted to continue pursuing photography. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I was pretty nervous, but with the help of friends and family and some incredible peers in the community, I dove headfirst and never looked back. There’s still stress, struggle, lessons learned, and ups and downs but it’s been worth it and nothing short of absolutely life-changing. Deciding to push forward without pushing myself over the edge has been one of the most important things I’ve done since starting this journey and I can’t wait to see what happens in the future.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a travel, nature, and landscape photographer and artist. When I began taking photos, I would simply bring my camera with and it was just that. Nowadays, every weekend, every vacation, every sunrise and sunset is meticulously planned with a single line itinerary; Capture the beauty of our natural world through my lens. I was given the amazing opportunity to study the environment in college and that’s where love grew into passion. Surrounded by peers, it became clear that my passion was unique. True appreciation for the outdoors is hard to come by and I’ve realized its made it easy to capture the stunning landscapes our world has in a more simple manner. I personally love to maintain the natural beauty of these landscapes by keeping the tones and colors bright and vibrant, but am always looking for ways to learn new techniques and get out of my comfort zone. It’s easy to get set in your ways and it’s been a challenge to push myself creatively, but I’m super eager to improve and become advanced at something I love so much. By using photography as a vehicle to share my passion, I aspire to create a sense of wanderlust and adoration for the natural world. The hope behind every photo is that people are inspired to grab life by the tripod – go outside and experience these amazing places for themselves. There’s something so refreshing and healing about exploring the great outdoors and I believe it’s best witnessed firsthand. Get out there and explore your big backyard!

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?
My friends are easy-going and open to anything, and thankfully I live in one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. Crested Butte has plenty of outdoor activities with can’t-miss spots to drink, dine, and shop as well. Start the day having breakfast or brunch at spots like McGills, Butte Bagels, Paradise Cafe, and Tin Cup and enjoy some breakfast made at home as well. Hiking/biking some wildflower covered trails or paddle boarding/canoeing at Lake Irwin in the summertime, or doing some serious skiing at Mt. Crested Butte in the winter would be a great activity for the day anytime. Strolling through the farmers market, shops, museums, and art galleries down Elk Ave are another great way to experience the historic town. Dinner and drinks at some of the best spots like Secret Stash, Teocalli Tamale, Last Steep, Dogwood, and Pitas in Paradise would be a great way to end any fun-filled busy day whether it’s sunny or snowy here. And the best part, you can enjoy all of these activities while having some of the best mountain views all around!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My friends and family have always been and continue to support my dreams, but I especially have to shoutout the photography community not only here in Colorado but also all over the world. I have met some of the most incredible, supportive, talented, and kindest people mainly through social media but also through my travels. These people give amazing advice, cheer you on, and genuinely want you to succeed in such a competitive field. It’s truly one of the most positive environments I’ve been in and is one of the main things that keeps me going. I’ve met some lifelong friends through this and I couldn’t have picked a better community to be a part of.

Website: https://galenastaroselskyphoto.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/photogalena_/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/photogalena_

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Photogalena_-109803737997466/?ref=py_c