Stephen Carter was born and raised in Arkansas and he currently lives in San Jose, Costa Rica where he works at the U.S. Embassy. Carter has traveled to 22 countries and enjoys capturing the essence of every location he visits. Carter completed his M.A. in Digital Photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design and holds B.A. degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science. Carter has a decade of experience in the field of digital photography and enjoys educating others about the ever-changing field.
So that’s the formal bio. I’ll rewind about ten years and tell you more.
I grew up in Arkansas, “The Natural State,” and it was there that my love for photography was born. In 2001 I signed up for a photography class after acting on a friend’s recommendation. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In that class, I found a hobby that changed my life (pardon the tired cliche). I can say that in the purest sense, because I never considered myself “artistic” until I enrolled in that class (I couldn’t paint or draw a bit–still can’t). But then something changed. To this day, I can’t pinpoint what it is about that class that changed me. But something did. I was fascinated with the chemical darkroom and the ability to see something visually, capture it, and print it in the finest quality I could. I particularly enjoyed outdoor photography–landscapes, wildlife, and nature. To use a metaphor, it was like I could take my camera out into the woods and let the trees compose music for me. I simply got to record it and reinterpret for the world in print form.
Photography was for me.
At some point along the way, people started telling me they really liked my work. Then I entered a couple of national competitions and did well–all things that pointed me into the direction of pursuing the field professionally. I took that idea through college and that’s just what I did. I photographed weddings, families, and events to help pay the bills. I ultimately began to do some contract work for a couple of Fortune 500 companies and then served as the Photo Editor at my undergraduate university.
After a couple of years, I decided I wanted to continue my photographic education. After receiving a generous fellowship from The Savannah College of Art and Design, I took the deep dive into a Master’s program at one of country’s premiere Fine Arts schools. Another great decision.
One of my proudest achievements from that program is that it simply reaffirmed my love of photography and reminded me that it’s a field in which I could thrive. My Master’s studies also allowed me to refine my vision and technical craft. I realized that fine art landscapes were my passion.
Over 10 years, photography has taken me a lot of wonderful places. I’ve photographed two Presidents of the United States and worked with clients big and small–from the Federal Government to small-town shops. The most special thing about photography is that it helped guide me to my wonderful wife, Melissa, who is also an accomplished photographer in her own right. As I look back now over a decade of work, it’s obvious that I’ve grown and learned a tremendous deal about myself, the field of photography, and what it is that I’m ultimately after: the music of a moment. If I can inspire others through my vision along the way, then the reward is all the richer.
