My photographic art is  used by interior designers, architects, graphic designers, collected by private collectors and museums.  Images have been published in books, magazines, corporate annual reports and advertising campaigns.

To discuss licensing images and or buying prints contact me at: WayneEastep@Gmail.com

phone 941.355.9605

Visit my Image Archive at: WayneEastep.com

           Wayne shooting on a fashion assignment for Nautica in Grenada 

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Merging my avocation and vocation has always been my goal. I don’t make a distinction between professional and personal photography.  Photography is the art form I use to make a living creating advertising and corporate communications images.  It is also the visual language I use to explore cultures and  create books.  What I learn shooting commercial assignments   has always found a way to make my editorial and personal work stronger.  My goal is to make a photograph  rich with information and graphically strong.  Photographs are a visual form of poetry for me.  I carefully focus my  composition and leave unnecessary content out.  As an artist I must have a point of view and commit fully to my choice.  I believe that the power of intention and energy  put into making an image will make it more effective.  Whether  shooting an ad a book or personal work this attitude and approach is the common denominator.

My professional career began researching a Bedouin tribe in southern Afghanistan.  What I discovered was the unique Al Marri tribe in Saudi Arabia.   My focus shifted from Afghanistan to Arabia.  After 10 trips over two years to Arabia the  Bedouin invited me to live with them and document their lives and culture.  The result was an award-winning book BEDOUIN and a film for National Geographic.   The success of this project created opportunities for extensive field work  in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan resulting in a number of books, feature stories, exhibitions and a film.   Museums, colleges, professional organizations (photographic and cultural), and the Foreign Service Institute of the US State Department have invited me to present my images and lecture on cultural and historical subjects.

Eastep preparing for aerial photography of an FPSO offshore production site Angola

The specialty of my photography is fieldwork produced worldwide under a range of complex and sometime extreme conditions involving weather, logistics, social and cultural mores.  Assignments in the field present demands  for technical problem solving and acquisition of new skills.  My assignments include advertising campaigns, corporate communications, fine art commissions, and editorial project usually resulting in a book, sometimes an exhibition.

Wayne with Shaikh Jaber of the Al Amrah, Saudi Arabia

As a nomad I lived and worked in the deserts of Saudi Arabia photographing in sandstorms, extreme summer heat and dust. Working on the book THE SOUL OF KAZAKHSTAN I photographed in winter conditions, the steppes, deserts and high mountains, including high altitude aerial photography at 22,000 feet.

These assignments  require careful work practices, critical thinking and preparation. Often I work alone without and art director on in the field.  I routinely  make decisions about subject choice, composition, angles of view, choice of cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, and technical and creative solutions to produce high quality images under difficult conditions.

Shooting outside helicopter at 6,000 ft for a corporate annual report assignment, St. Croix

I am a “fixer” a visual problem solver.  The goal of my images is to have them be smart and graphically strong.  I value the times when I collaborate with a graphic designer, creative director or editor.

Wayne Photographing underwater for the book The Living Seas, Little Cayman

The information rich nature of my assignments requires that I conduct thorough research, careful planning, attention to detail, project organization and budgeting before going into the field.  Post-production requires maintaining accurate information for fact checking, records for accounting, extensive keywording, complete metadata, and use of industry best practices for filing and indexing.  I have applied these standards to assignments for National Geographic, Smithsonian and many multi-national companies.

Wayne with daughter Layla in Havana Cuba after Raul Castro became President of Cuba 24 February 2008

A characteristic of my career has been as a citizen diplomat creating understanding of cultures in The Middle East, Central Asia and Japan. I have built strong lasting relationships of mutual respect and collaboration resulting in  books, exhibitions, editorial stories and  film.

Wayne speaking at the Folger Shakespeare for the launch of The Soul of Kazakhstan

Wayne presenting keynote to PACA members in New York