To be honest, I’m kind of jealous of San Francisco-based editorial and advertising photographer Jayms Ramirez. Not only has he been able to travel the world, visiting exotic places for his photography, but he’s also had my dream job… twice. Jayms is (usually) a travel photographer with a serious case of wanderlust.
I’ve always loved the romance of travel and far away cultures. I’ve been traveling and guiding adventure trips for over a decade, which fits nicely with my passion for the kind of work I was drawn to. I love the road with all its’ mysterious characters and beautiful places, which has always inspired my photography. I always try to reveal a mood, or a dramatic feeling through my travel images.
While across the country on a still assignment for Saatchi & Saatchi S, a friend mentioned to Jayms that the Travel Channel was seeking a new host for a show focused on sustainable tourism. Jayms was excited with the premise and decided to put together an audition tape. He got to work right away. “I rented an HD camera, wrote an episode, had my friend film me, and I edited it all that same night. I then sent it into the Travel Channel’s production company.”
A few weeks later, Jayms heard back. The Travel Channel loved his audition tape. They soon negotiated shooting a pilot for the new show, Fact or Fiction, and a short run series entitled Eco-luxe. Before long, Jayms was on the road, and for the next five months found himself on the other side of the camera,
We traveled through India, Africa, Indonesia, Australia, South and Central America, hanging out at some of the most unique and beautiful places you can imagine. The shows dealt with travel mysteries and boutique hotels that were remotely luxurious, but had a focus on sustainability such as renewable energy, organic food and cultural preservation.
To Jayms (and me!) it was a real dream job. Not only was he traversing the globe but Jayms was also able to photograph alongside the production. The Travel Channel then used his images on their website,
Every chance I got, I would rip off the microphone, grab my camera and chase after some buttery light until I was called back by the crew. I didn’t have too much time to shoot stills, but I was in heaven every chance I got.
As a host, Jayms job was to interact with locals and lodging staff while bringing his own personality and opinions into the mix. When the camera wasn’t rolling, Jayms was soaking in the experience. He also took the effort to learn as much as he could about film production, hanging out with the producers, director, cameraman, and crew, asking hundreds of questions. He now hopes to bring what he learned into his portfolio with motion work.
Behind the scenes and on the road video with Jayms:
The five months on the road was truly an amazing experience. Since returning to the States, Jayms has used what he’s learned through the shows to improve his photography. He says that he’s incorporated some of the techniques of the fast, run, and gun style of video shooting, such as keeping his gear minimal, production lean, and staying very organized. Jayms has also landed some cool projects due to being a tv host, including shooting for a few NGOs that took him around the world once again. Right now though, his attention is on building his portfolio,
I’ve been focused on new work, a new website and trying to convey what I love to shoot—and hoping it will translate to new client’s needs. I’d like to shoot more commercial work for companies I respect, where my style will work well with a message of travel, adventure and healthy lifestyle.