Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Long.
Hi Patrick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started working as a professional photographer when I was 16. Shot weddings, products for advertising, and some work for small newspapers. In my early 20’s, I moved to Missouri. This was the time before the internet, email, and digital photography. I decided to pivot and got a BS in Physics and MS in Electrical Engineering. I spent the next 25 years traveling and living in different parts of the world while working with some of the biggest names in consumer electronics on optical systems. I always worked on my photography craft.
Several years ago, I moved back to NW Arkansas and went back to photography full-time. I founded Lumina Creations and offer limited edition photographic art.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been challenges along the way. Being a small business owner requires a lot of time that has nothing to do with your product or craft. There is a tremendous amount of overhead that required a lot of planning that still allowed me the time to focus on being a creative artist. I also spent several decades developing products that would change the user experience for products on a global scale. It took some time to refocus on what would be interesting for people on a more regional scale.
What would art would they spend some of their expendable income on, especially during the pandemic? Of course, the pandemic was a challenge for everyone. One of the most surprising challenges for me was the amount of time that social media takes. It is a critical piece for modern small businesses and it was a huge learning curve. Talking to other small business owners is a common challenge and there are many ways to approach it. It is one aspect of the business that you can never rest on or you can be lost in the online noise.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today I offer mostly landscape, cityscape, and architecture photographic art. Starting in the days of film, I have had an affinity for black and white images and capturing nature in places that people wouldn’t normally see. For landscapes, I spend a lot of time backpacking to get off the beaten path.
For architecture and cityscapes, I try to find that angle or moment on the day or night that offers a unique perspective. It could be the time of year that offers long shadows or the middle of the night when a place looks completely different. I don’t alter images through massive digital editing. What I offer is closer to the classic film artist of the past and I see people have really responded well to that.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic was hard on everyone. Financially and emotionally. The changes in the way we purchase were altered.
Online presence became very important. Two things stand out.
People still want to have a personal interaction with the artist, maybe even more so as we came out of the pandemic. The second is your online presence cannot be ignored.
Contact Info:
- Website: luminacreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumina_creations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuminaCreations/
