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

Hi Thomas, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Although the sales end of the fine art photography business is very socially engaging, the creative side can be quite lonely at times. It’s difficult to get friends or family to commit to getting up early, staying out late, and not running from the weather when things take a turn for the worse. Fortunately, I enjoy the solitude that you get when your high up in the San Juan mountains alone waiting on the light!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After spending many years photographing typical Colorado nature images, i.e fall colors, wildflowers, mountain landscapes, I was lucky to stumble on a historically timeless project that I ended up spending the next seven years working on. Photographing what remained of our mining history in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado really took my photography to the next level and helped distinguished my work in my profession. There were many times that I questioned myself and my project since I didn’t show or market any of my images until it was all done. It was difficult to sit on 7 years worth of work but I kept telling myself it would be worth it! I ended up becoming a bit obsessed with it towards the end but I believed that is what it takes to create great work. I reshot many of the mining sites to get just the right light and ended up delaying the project release an extra year since there was one mine left that I needed to reshoot. It was a lot of work hiking into many locations but I told myself that if it was easy, it would have been done already! I plan on donating my proofs and book to the Historical Society in Silverton. I think its important that future generations can learn and enjoy our mining past since many of these old mining structure won’t survive much longer

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.
I would definitely take them to some of the old mining sites that I photographed for my book and photo series “Historic Treasures of the San Juan Mountains”. If it was in the summer season we would go check out the San Juan County Historical Mining Heritage Center. You can spend hours in their learning about Silverton’s past. If they were up for a real adventure, I might have to take them to my secret cave! As for food and drinks it would have to be the Avalanche Brewery and the Eureka Station in Silverton.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Christine Fonner has helped me learn to not to sell my photography short and to take my business to the next level!

Website: thomaslivingstone.com

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN0dbMdSP8-aMhivpudp30Q

Image Credits
Thomas Livingstone Jon Allen

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