Life & Work with Neil A. Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil A. Miller.

Neil, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
This is a slightly different approach to my story than I would have thought about in just the recent past. A project I have been working on has broadened my thinking about how I have grown. In fact, the opportunities photography offered have been a signature feature in most efforts I have taken on. It all revolves around a creative process that gave me the feeling of being in control.

Up to a certain point when growing up everything seemed to be happening on its own. You are just surviving and not sure what the future will be like. It is this creative element that can start to clear your mind. It breaks the shell of shyness and allows broader thinking. This new experience builds as time goes on and takes you in many directions.

It comes down to what is important in life. It is good if you enjoy the work you take on. I have been fortunate in that way. Although the job itself can be secondary to the doors it opens in your creative spirit. I have always thought beyond the present while working.

Lasting relationships, challenges, simple and complex, unusual encounters, and learning new ways of expression can work together to keep you alive and healthy. Using this creative drive through photography has been my way of reaching goals.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle for me was putting up with the politics in education. I enjoyed teaching, but the educational system showed that, at times, students were not a primary concern. There were disappointments but the interesting thing is that changes ensued that were very good. I realized I worked better in small group activities away from management. Television news coverage was a perfect fit. This part of my career lasted 39 years.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
A working interest in a range of photographic topics is probably my greatest strength and weakness. To get known, a photographer should specialize in one style. This style needs to be developed over an extended time and, if successful, will bring attention to the work. I have a range of interests and am not willing to limit my work to one area. I would say street photography and working in nature are the two beginning points of my photography.

From there I can tangent off to using Infrared, close-up/macro, flash, and blurs in various combinations. The final prints can represent a study of human interaction to an appreciation of an age-old Olive tree or a rusted old can compressed on a street to a seed suspended by a single spider web thread.

These are all in my area of interest and extend further as I believe the more you look the more you see. There is satisfaction beyond words in many of my photographs. In some, there is a story that would add to this appreciation but I do hope the photographs can be valued just on the visual content.

Any big plans?
Working with the Arizona Photography Alliance has been a high point in my career. All through my life, I have been interested in bringing people together. Another group, Light Gathering, a group two friends and I started in 1973 at an Ansel Adams Workshop is still active. My hope is the Arizona Photography Alliance will continue in a similar manner. In the future, I will be taking more time to complete the many projects I have in the works.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.neilamiller.com
• Instagram: @namdotcom
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neil.miller.779
• Other: https://azphotoalliance.org/