Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Floyd.
Hi Josh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I got into photography at a young age. I won a statewide historical photography contest around the 4th grade and had my photo on display for a year at, I believe, The North Carolina Museum of History. It was a long time ago haha
My mom was really into photography, and so naturally, I got interested in it. A few years later, my dad let me start playing around with his Olympus OM10, which is a 35mm camera, and I truly fell in love with photography! Ever since then, I have just been trying to hone my craft and constantly learn new techniques and skills.
Over the years, I have come to love action and sports photography. I jump at any chance to capture sporting events, and the bigger the better! What I consider my first “real” sporting event was the Season opening game for Appalachian State Football, where they played UNC Chapel Hill. The stadium was so packed that they broke a home game attendance record of 40,168! That was the day that I knew I wanted to do this full-time! The adrenaline rush was unlike anything I had ever experienced before, and I grew up skateboarding and surfing! Since then, I have captured several App State football and Basketball games. Just recently, I was fortunate enough to capture the Premier Lacrosse League in Charlotte and had an absolute blast! I also got connected with our local NPSL Soccer team Appalachian FC this year and was the official photographer this past season!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am very fortunate when it comes to my career, and I can’t truly complain, but anything worth having isn’t easy to achieve. I’ve always said, “Go big or go home!” and it’s not always easy to do, but in those situations where something is trying to keep you from your dream, you just have to remind yourself that you are stronger than the problem and you will get through it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I got my college degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham in 2013. So, when I approach photography, I think about it in an artistic way instead of a “technical way.” Ever since I was a little kid, I have been a fan of the master painters and the way they composed their paintings, the lighting, the drama, the story of it. So, I try to think about my photos as if they were paintings. I like to tell stories with them, and I always think of my favorite quote from the famous photographer Don McCullin, “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
What were you like growing up?
My teachers always told my parents that I was a social butterfly and that I could never stay in my seat because I wanted to visit everyone! Haha, I feel like I have been very colorful my whole life, and I get bored very quickly if sitting still!
Contact Info:
- Website: astroyetiphoto.com
- Instagram: @astro_yeti
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Astro.Yeti
Image Credits
Ian White
