Meet Tony King | Photographer

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

Hi Tony, why did you pursue a creative career?
I wouldn’t know what else to pursue other than an artistic career. I can’t remember a point in my life that didn’t somehow have cameras involved, whether it was my parents filming home videos, or me starting to film sketches in my bedroom when I was only 7 or 8. Eventually that graduated to working on more serious video/documentary projects in high school and majoring in film production in college. No matter what I cycled through when it came to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” there was not only a camera involved, but a story to be told. Now one of my primary creative outlets is photography, which I have a strong personal connection to through my family. My focus is to document and tell the story of the world I see around me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would consider myself a documentary photographer, with the goal of capturing the world around me and tell the story of what I see. I take a series of photos, whether it be on a walk or just a random day at home, and turn them into “Photo Albums” that are videos I post on YouTube. Some photo albums have 30 pictures, some have 150…it just depends on what I’m able to capture. My goal is not that every photograph is my most perfect favorite one, that would be pretty unachievable, but to document the experience I had. Tiny details along a path, people I walked past, friends/family, or the bigger landscapes I see, shapes of light, shadows, animals, whatever it may be. Someone who watches a photo album video should be able to follow along in my footsteps from that day and see through my perspective. It would be unrealistic to try and make each photo one of my favorites, but I do only choose ones that I like. After all, if you ask me, there’s no real way to tell what makes a good/perfect photo. Someone’s favorite photo might be a blurry picture of their child laughing, taken on a phone camera that doesn’t in any way resemble what is popularly considered great photography. I find that to be the brilliant subjectivity of art in general, but more specifically photography. Anyone can do photography, so anyone can take pictures that they love! I ascribe to this belief that what makes a picture great is what it means to the person viewing it. Of course I hope people enjoy my photography as a whole. Some pictures hold amazing value for me, that others wouldn’t understand. I might share a photo that I like, but to someone else it can evoke incredible feelings that might make it one of their favorites. I’ve received such feedback from friends and family who connect deeply with some of my photos, and just don’t get what I see in others. I try to embrace this subjectivity as it helps me avoid competition and mimicking other photographers that I admire.

I started this project after my father passed away and it has been an amazing therapeutic experience, and I would encourage people to believe they can still connect with their loved ones even when they are gone, through activities that continue the relationship you shared when they were still with you. I’ve shared more than 100 photo albums in the last two years since I began this project. I’ve been challenged with being consistent and the constant practice it brings has challenged me to improve and see more when I take photos. Overall, I feel it has made me a better photographer and a better storyteller.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
On a week long trip I would love to show off how green Atlanta is. There are so many amazing parks that I love to visit, many hidden gems. Murphey Candler Park is my favorite place to go, Piedmont Park is a must, Hahn Woods, Lenox Park, the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, all places I like to go to often. I’d take them out to West Midtown, get some dinner, then drinks at Ormsby’s. If there’s an Atlanta United game I’d take them to the stadium to experience that. Atlanta Photography Group has a gallery near Piedmont Park that rotates different exhibitions that feature great local work.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a few people, of course, who deserve credit for what has come of my photography. First and foremost my father, David King. He and I were extremely close growing up, and he himself was a photographer when he was a teenager and into his adulthood. However, he became disabled and was unable to accompany me around the world, so the way he could show it to me was through his photography and stories he would tell. When I would go out, he would always ask for me to tell him about the world I experienced and photograph it as well to return the favor. He passed away in 2022 and it was only right that I continue his legacy and make it my mission to document the world I see around me. This is my constant drive to take more photos and my main reason why. Therefore, I dedicate all of my photography to my dad.

The second person would be my wife, Taliya King. She is my biggest supporter every single day, encouraging me to take more photos, giving me insightful feedback and the validation most artists need to “go for it”! She also happens to be one of my most constant subjects so I also appreciate her patience and gracefulness in front of my camera!

I would also credit my mom, Chiarella. All too often I have met people with amazing, raw artistic talents and abilities that are however discouraged by their parents at a young age, in favor of a more traditional pursuit. Though yes it is very difficult to make a living in a creative/artistic pursuit, I wouldn’t trade away a life of passion for something else. My mother has never discouraged me in anything artistic, and just the opposite, has allowed me to dream and supported me in every way. Without that support from my parents I likely wouldn’t have the happiness I find in photography in my life today.

Website: https://tonyeking.myportfolio.com

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

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFfvvSuBVvHUV-TsvjzBIPGYSyofVcSey&si=k-csykHbAstzF0Xz

Image Credits
All images taken by Tony King. Headshot taken by Taliya King.