We had the good fortune of connecting with Steve Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steve, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
I want to be all over. I want my work on the walls of hotels, homes and businesses. Ultimately, I want everyone to see what I see.  I want them to envision themselves where I was when I captured the once in a lifetime moment. My hope it that my photos bring them hope and peace.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

What keeps me busy is my 9 to 5 working for Walt Disney doing IT work. Afterwards is me, myself and I aka my time. I check out google maps and pic a location of where I want to shoot. I check the landscape and come up with ideas and angles of what and how to shoot. What sets me apart from other photographers is my inability to just sit in one place and shoot. I love to move around, try new angles, new technics and new subjects. I am constantly challenging myself to discover something new. I love being different from everyone else. Learning photography was both challenging and humbling.

Through my love of photography I had honor of getting to know so many wonderful people.  I have made lasting friendships.  It was my friends that began to critique my work and provided with alot of meaningful constructive criticism. Their guidance has helped to shape me and I sincerely appreciate my journey thus far.

A good friend will always tell you the truth. Enters Tom K… He told he “man I love your shots but you need to straiten out your horizon.” After he said that I went back and looked at all my shots and noticed he was right. They all needed to be lined up like a bad hair cut. Thanks Tom!!  Another important technique I learned along the way was “The Golden Ratio”.  So… shoutout to my man Don Browning..  Thank you!

 Apparently, I had been doing it all along but just never knew what I was doing or what it was called.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I have lived in Apopka, FL for over 10 years.  If you visited Apopka, I’d first recommend the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to check the local wildlife. Then I’d suggest the absolute best place in Central Florida for a sunset at a beautiful park called Magnolia Park. If you’re in the mood for some amazing steak and seafood cuisine then you should make a reservation and dine at the Backroom Steakhouse in Apopka.  Other really nice places nearby are Plant Street in Winter Garden, Mount Dora, Orlando or Winter Park.  All of them offer beautiful streets to stroll, take in the sights, lots of small businesses, taste  different varieties of food, and experience cultures.  If you have more time, I’d recommend a quick trip to the east coast beach to see the sunrise in the morning and the west coast beach in the evening to catch a sunset. The pleasures of living in Central Florida…. 😊

I don’t drink so I would be no fun when it comes to alcohol.  We’d most definitely visit one of the parks. Yes I am a nerd.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first shoutout goes to my momma Mattie Coleman. Thank you mom for getting me my first camera. Even though you hate when I take chances and bike near gators I always appreciate you for what you did and done. Without that Olympus camera I never would have dreamed to go bigger and to get better. Shout out to my one and only wife Yvette Coleman for pouring into me your words of encouragement and investing into my passion but getting me my first real camera the Canon T6s. Just like my mom you always worry and say just be careful and I always do. Lastly, to my teacher Lynn Marie. Who had a Canon which is why I got a Canon.  She showed me the proper holding technics, pushed me to start using manual, and taking me into the bushes to see my first painted bunting. And last but not least to everyone that has ever purchased one of my sunsets or landscapes and said it made them feel some kind of way I just want to say thank you.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetsbystevenj/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sunsetsbystevenj

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chasingsunsetswithstevenj6415

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