Meet Geoff Decker | Photographer

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

Hi Geoff, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Conventionally photographers are taught to focus on one genre, one niche to excel in rather than chasing multiple interests. I’ve never been good at that thought process. Call it a lack of attention span, or a desire to experience what this artform has to its fullest, but I like to diversify and experiment. I jump between mediums quite often; from a low-light sports show such as Lucha Libre and Laughs, to invoking the portrayal of imagination of cosplay artists. The ever changing dance and balance between person and living light that flow artists master to capturing the light unseen in near infrared photography. Or capturing the great expanse of the infinite around us through astrophotography, or the often unseen in the microscopic world of macro. There is such a large world around us, it would be a shame to waste life on one genre.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So to put it bluntly: I am a photographer. I push buttons and things happen. I know I spoke about this before but one of the major aspects that sets me apart from others is the willingness and need to diversify and experiment.

To date, my biggest accomplishment is creating the astrophotography style known as a nexus panorama. A nexus panorama is an astrophotograph where the Milky Way links two landscapes, without artificially placing the milky way in to the photograph. Its typically about 35 frames in about 270 degrees worth of a viewing angle combined into a single image. I actually just won first place in the Louisville Art Association national photography show for one of my panoramas, Deadspace.

Was this easy? No. Fun sure but if any of this were easy it would not be worthwhile. The biggest hurdles often included bad advice from collogues or professionals who would try and steer me in a direction that made sense for them. And it took time for me to find my way back to my path. And some of them truly had the best intentions, some had selfish intentions. But all and all it was a good learning experience. Mistakes make the best kind of education.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First and foremost, plan your trip around when the next Lucha Libre and Laughs show is because its the best show in town from a totally unbiased opinion. If you visit and one’s not playing, well I won’t say you messed up, but I sure will be thinking it loudly.

I’ve been to many a fun comedy show at Ratio Beerworks and Mutiny Cafe. Both highly suggested.

I love taking a midnight drive up to Loveland Pass, Jacksone Lake, or Mt Blue for some easy star gazing. For the less timid, St. Mary’s glacier is a nice moderate night hike.

The Oriental Theater, a historic theater that always has a number of fantastic shows throughout the week. Including being the home of Lucha Libre and Laughs, hint hint.

Yak and Yeti is a must and the best Indian cuisine I’ve had in town.

I love walking around Olde Town Arvada and Louisville.

And for the funnest (yes, I am using a non-existent word) near death experience you’ll ever have, Lakeside Amusement Park is where its at.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
While there is such a claim as being self taught, I don’t truly think that exists. So many people deserve a piece of credit in my success and story, and really this is such a small list of those who helped me along the way. Starting back, way back to my days in Orlando, Ben Sawinski who introduced me to the art world in Orlando and through encouragement and friendship and overall just a fan of my work taught me how to value what I did. Andrew Vega for constantly challenging me in my style and always pushing me to explore. Morgan Wilson who I did my first duo art showing with. NIck Gossert for giving me a chance to shoot and continue shooting wrestling at Lucha Libre and Laughs. To Josh (Phenetic) Phreeman for sticking by on some of my more whacky and unprofitable ideas. To Tera Bravo who was probably the first flow artist and fire breather I had ever interacted with and let me practice my technique on continuously. To my girlfriend Erin who, while minds getting lost, continues to get lost with me in the dark hiking up at night looking for the right Astro spot. To everyone who honors me by letting me teach and guide them. To everyone who ever comes out for a show and supports my endeavors.

Website: hiddenvisionphotography.com; infraspective.org

Instagram: @hiddenvisionphoto; @infraspective

Linkedin: meh

Twitter: @hvphoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HVPhoto

Image Credits
Black and White Wrestling photo (left to right) Royce Isaacs Dax Draper WildCard Anaya Color Wrestling Photo (left to right) Abadon The Monster Bryn Thorne Fire Breather Miguel Moon