Selishots
New York’s Back Yard was created to celebrate the other half of The Empire State. We prefer tall trees over tall buildings and rushing rivers over rush hour. NYBY is a place to celebrate local business, local views and local love! In our “From Behind the Camera” series, we will be highlighting some amazing local photographers and seeing what art and Upstate mean to them. This week we had the honor of talking with Ben Seligson.
“I’m Ben. I’m from Long Island and have been living in Oswego for 3 years. I’m a cinema studies and broadcasting student at SUNY Oswego and love working with cameras.”
What brings you to Upstate New York?
I’m upstate for college. I’ve been going to SUNY Oswego since fall of 2017 and will be graduating in December.
What is your favorite place to visit in Upstate?
I love being so close to Lake Ontario. Being able to capture the amazing sunsets almost every night is amazing.
What is your absolute favorite food / bar / coffee spot in Upstate NY?
Nothing beats Rudy’s and Bevs right on the shores of the lake.
What inspired your interest in photography?
I started with photography because of my love for shooting video. It’s hard to shoot and edit videos every day and photography was able to fill the gaps between video shoots and keeps me creative.
What are your favorite elements of life to shoot?
I started off shooting landscapes(mainly sunsets) I love how it gets me out and exploring. I also really enjoy shooting cars. I’ve been able to see some awesome cars since I started photographing them.
What’s your favorite part of your job/hobby?
Being behind a camera allows me to create and share what I can do with others. Even if only 1 person sees my work, I’ve had an impact on them and that’s what matters
Do you draw any inspiration from pop culture that helps with creativity like a favorite book or movie?
I get a lot of inspiration from other creators. It’s always great to see how they go about creating whether it be photos, videos, graphic design etc...
What’s your favorite type of environment to shoot in?
As painful as it can be I think shooting in the winter is always fun. Despite the cold and not being able to use your fingers to change your camera settings the winter just makes everything look so different.
If you could think of one song that encapsulates your style of photography what would it be?
Small worlds by Mac Miller. I think photography has really opened my eyes to how much there is in the world and that song kinda represents it
What advice would you give anyone who is interested in getting into photography?
Just go out and shoot. You don’t need a fancy camera. Use your phone or the old DSLR your parents got to take family picture but never used. It’s all trial and error and the best way to learn is by doing
Visit them online or follow them to see all their amazing work and to learn more:
Website:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/selishots/
TikTok: