From the Beginning

This is the story of what got me into photography and videography. What initially started as a hobby and gradually evolved into a profession! I’ll share who helped me take the first steps, the people who influenced me, my goals, and lastly why I love photography and videography!

At the age of 15 is when I was first introduced to the world of filming and began making videos. It was during Christmas in 2015 when my parents thoughtfully gifted me a DJI drone to spark my creative interests. Known as the Phantom Standard 3, was considered a really impressive piece of technology for the average consumer. I watched many YouTube videos to learn about flying drones, following the rules and how to edit videos. My first drone video was submitted to the Alappaa Film Festival in Nome, Alaska. It’s not a competition, just an event to share local films. The community enjoyed my video, although I believe it could have been better but everyone starts somewhere when you start! Seeing the reactions of people enjoying my work and complimenting me is incredibly rewarding! Today I still continue to create engaging videos on Instagram! You can find my content there under the username @0ksuk. Below is my first video I ever made.

Growing up, I often found myself watching various content creators on YouTube, particularly Casey Neistat, Peter McKinnon, and Pierre T. Lambert. Each one of them serves as a significant source of inspiration for me, showcasing remarkable skills as both videographers and photographers. Their unique styles and creativity have really influenced my own artisticness! After watching their content, I always wanted to create a video or go out and take pictures! Would be amazing to meet them in person someday.

In 2019, I took a yearbook class, my teacher at the time formally known as Ms. Albertson but is now married and changed to Mrs. Snell. She is my favorite teacher growing up in high school,  just a cool and amazing teacher! One day, she had the whole class take pictures for a project to learn about using cameras for the school yearbook. Taking her class is what piqued my interest in photography. Using a professional camera for the first time is overwhelming due to you having to worry about lighting, shutter speed, aperture, and various other details. But now that is second hand to me. I wanted to get a professional camera but I didn't know much about cameras so I asked my cousin Dawson what camera brand I should buy. He replied with “Sony is the best camera.” I saved up my own money to buy my first camera, a small compact Sony a6400 mirrorless camera. I primarily bought the camera for filming but was surprised by its nice quality pictures.

Demietrius, who features talented Alaskan athletes on Instagram runs the account @WeGotNextt. I was discovered by him on Instagram, where he noticed my ability to create videos and plus I live in Alaska. He messaged me asking if  I would be interested in filming high school basketball and making some money. Unsure how to film basketball and create entertaining highlights since I had no prior experience, he showed me some of his videos as guidance. I decided to take him up on the offer since I wanted to expand my video skills. Using the Sony a6400 I filmed high school basketball teams in Fairbanks, Alaska. Creating highlights for players and sending the footage to WeGotNextt. I did that for a few years and then decided to take a break. During the last year, I felt completely exhausted and realized that I did not have the same level of motivation and enthusiasm I once possessed when I first started filming basketball. This fall I’m going to get back into filming high school basketball!

I started photography in 2020, but I improved my photography skills in 2023. When I learned more about cameras and began taking high quality pictures. I believe what improved my skills in photography was in 2022. I discovered film photography through a YouTuber Teo Crawford, who shares his passion for shooting film. Inspired by him I began my film photography journey in 2023 with a disposable Fujifilm camera. Film photography encourages thoughtful shot selection due to its limited photo capacity. First started only using disposable film cameras, that was adding up in money. I felt a sense of hesitation when it came to the idea of purchasing my very own film camera. I was afraid of damaging the film rolls, didn't know how to insert them correctly and I was unsure about the right camera settings before taking the pictures, causing uncertainty about the outcome. After conducting thorough research and exploring different options, I ultimately discovered the Praktica MTL 50! Found on eBay for $73 usd, in good condition and more affordable than other popular brands.

The pictures down below were all shot on the Praktica MTL 50! I love the dreamy, nostalgic look that film cameras give in photos.

Praktica MTL 50

I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents, my cousin Dawson, Mrs. Snell, Demietrius, and all of the YouTubers who have inspired me throughout my journey and who have provided unwavering support over the years! I genuinely enjoy creating content and sharing it with the wonderful community that follows me. Capturing the “banger photos” and “creating awesome videos” is truly what I strive for; it is my dream to be featured in the prestigious pages of National Geographic while also producing an impactful documentary someday. Being recognized in photo competitions brings me a deep sense of fulfillment. It is incredibly rewarding to see all the hard work and persistence paying off alongside the countless hours of practice I’ve gone through to reach the point I am at today. This is just the exciting first step in my journey with Oksuk Productions. Thank you :)

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Man I love photography and videography!