Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Wasylko.
Hi Gabe, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was young, I always found myself around creative media and entrepreneurship. My father built a career in corporate video and Public Relations while my mom started her own gift basket company when I was only a few years old. As I grew older and explored what I wanted to pursue as a career, I wanted to do something completely different than my parents.
In 2015, I graduated from Brunswick High School and pursued a Pre-Med degree from The College of Wooster. That career path was short-lived as I found that my passions didn’t live in Chemistry and Biology class, but in another STEM field – Mathematics. I quickly adjusted my course work, added another major in Political Science, and structured my next few years to pursue a career to become a sports agent.
During my years at Wooster, I also worked in the Creative Services Department of the Akron RubberDucks, the AA-Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians). During these years, it become evident that I did, in fact, have a passion for the creative field and telling stories, evoking emotion, and capturing the beauty in the everyday.
Upon graduating from Wooster in 2019 with a degree in Mathematics and Political Science, I moved into a full-time role with the RubberDucks leading their Creative Services Department and managing everything from video production, marketing, social media, and the game-day presentation. I found that I not only enjoyed creating final videos, headshots, and social campaigns, but I enjoyed the process of building these projects from start to finish. I enjoyed the story.
At the end of 2020 during the midst of the pandemic, I found myself looking for a new creative outlet. Sports was on hold for the time being and the world was still opening back up. I turned to my trusty camera, which I used mainly for video, and challenged myself to learn the art of photography. What started as posting a photo each day to Twitter turned into the opportunity to meet new people, start a new career at Destination Cleveland as their Social Media Manager, and become a better photographer and person.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Learning photography has been a fun challenge to take on a get better at. Although I’ve learned a lot this year, there is still lots to explore and improve at – which makes photography such an exciting craft. Picking up photography as a hobby with no background in the craft was a challenge at first, but everything from YouTube videos to shooting a little bit each day helped me develop a robust skill set and find my personal style in capturing the art.
Another challenge was a commitment I made to myself in January of 2021 to post one new photo each day to Twitter that I took of the surrounding Northeast Ohio area. At first, I struggled to find a photography niche and different compositions to make, but after a few weeks, I started to brainstorm different locations in my day-to-day life and look at them through a different lens – and the process became easier. Everyone’s support on Twitter and in real-life means the world and was truly instrumental in my growth as a photographer and person.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Cleveland-based photographer with the goal of capturing Cleveland and its surrounding area through an authentic lens. I specialize in everything from sports photography, landscapes, portraits, and events and work to capture the beauty and special moments in the everyday. Although there isn’t one specific form of photography I’m known for, one of my favorite things to capture are sunrises and sunsets taking place over popular Northeast Ohio landmarks.
The thing I am most proud of is not the pictures I’m able to capture, but the people I’m able to meet and learn more about. Northeast Ohio is such a vibrant community with amazing people doing amazing work. Being able to capture their hard work on a daily basis is an honor, and is hands-down what gets me excited about photography each day.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The one thing I love about photographing Cleveland is that there’s something new to explore every day. In day-to-day conversations with local Clevelanders, I would hear comments that “Cleveland is boring” or “10/12 months in Cleveland are cloudy and cold.” As I would hear these statements, I would reflect and think, “that can’t be true.” As I’ve gone through the year photographing Cleveland, there is so much to love about the area. Everything from the architecture to the food and recreation scene is so vibrant and interesting and there is truly something for everyone. At the end of the day, it comes down to the people that make Cleveland so special. We’re a resilient bunch in Northeast Ohio, but more importantly, we’re a family that supports one another in everything we do.
Contact Info:
- Email: gabewasylko@icloud.com
- Website: www.gabewasylko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabewasylko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabeWasylkoPhotography
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabeWasylko
- Other: https://gabewasylkophotography.pic-time.com/art
