Photo: Charles Post
Beautiful, talented, and inspiring photographer Meg Haywood Sullivan shares much in common with the craggy peaks that are often the focus of her photography. In an age where every youth lifestyle brand, photographer, and model seemingly became an outdoorsman or -woman overnight, Meg stands proudly in the middle as something more inspired and genuine than the rest of the herd.
As one of the only female photographers tapped by male snowboard crews to shoot in the backcountry, Meg has cut her teeth in bone chilling cold and earned her spot in the world she so gracefully inhabits.
Photo: Meg Haywood Sullivan
With an upcoming show we thought it was the perfect time to sit down with the East Coast native-turned-West Coast adventurer, and ask her about her roots, what inspires her, and what we can expect from her in the very near future.
Where are form, did you grow up in Cali?
I was born and raised in southern Massachusetts — my roots run deep amongst the dunes and salty shores of the east coast.
You now reside in the Bay; what made you settle up there?
Over the last few years I’ve lived in many places, including New York, Montana, Spain, Washington, and San Diego to name a few. During a road trip from the Rockies to southern California my cherry red ’97 F150 broke down in San Francisco, the city I now call home.
There’s something about the Bay area, maybe it’s the vibrancy of the city and its intersection with the rugged coast. It’s a perfect jetting off point for adventures around the globe.
How did you get into photography? Was your family supportive of your creativity?
There’s a long line of creatives in my family, so it’s not surprising that from an early age the arts became a huge part of my life. My father is a medium format landscape photographer and my mother is a professional artist. I remember being a kid road tripping across the country in our VW van and using my dad’s hand-me-down 35mm camera to capture moments along our travels.
Photography was something that really became second nature, just part of an average day spent together with my family. Looking back, I can see that it was early in high school that photography really evolved from a habit to a conscious passion.
Photo: Meg Haywood Sullivan
You seem to be a pretty varied photographer, shooting lifestyle, surf, and snow. There aren’t that many women shooting in the backcountry, how did that develop?
From a young age I’ve loved being outside and feeling humbled by the environment. I have a deep appreciation for the natural world, and I strive to translate that to the images I create. There are definitely more men in this field than women, but the ones that are in it are just as nerdy, tough, and nature-loving as the guys.
Is it rough being in the mountains with the boys? Do you think there needs to be more female representation out there shooting snow?
Yes and no. On one hand, being one of the only women is not something that I think about much, on shoots photographers and athletes are both just out trying to capture the lifestyle we live and respect, while attempting to create something beautiful. But I’ve been lucky enough to go on a few epic ladies trips, and they make me realize how fun it is to have other women on the crew.
One thing I have kind of noticed is this new outdoor lifestyle branding that everyone is falling into, it’s starting to feel a little contrived. As someone that is out there actually shooting in nature, and in the backcountry, how do you feel about everyone latching on?
There is no doubt that it has become super trendy to get outside, but I don’t really get turned on by the staged shots that feature brand new gear that has never touched dirt and simplistic social media-inspired compositions. But honestly that trendiness doesn’t interfere with my direction and work. I’m shooting the lifestyle I am passionate about while traveling the world to capture moments and craft meaningful stories.
As a creative and environmentalist my greatest hope is that any photography out there, whether contrived Instagrams or full spreads in Nat Geo, will make the average human think about the natural world and strive to protect it.
Photo: Meg Haywood Sullivan
Do you think social media helps promote people to get into nature, or sort of hurts it, because folks are feeling they are connecting through media?
Both. We’ve all seen people walking around National Parks with their iPads stuck in front of them trying to capture something or get the ‘gram. I’m drawn to extreme landscapes because you can’t help but turn the mind off and disconnect from the modern world.
From an outsiders perspective you live a pretty charmed life, but as anyone who has ever worked in the outdoor industry knows, it takes a lot of work to get shots. What are some of the unseen challenges that go into a great day of shooting?
Frostbite, destroying expensive camera gear, lack of sleep, carrying sometimes a third of my weight on my back while riding sideways in chest deep snow (can be super fun too), and trying to keep up with some of the best athletes in the world — from snow to surf and everywhere in between. I have so much respect for fellow photographers and filmers in the outdoor world, its never easy, but we do it because we love it.
What environments inspire you most, and how does that play into your upcoming show with SALT?
Mountains all over the world inspire me. There’s something about the high alpine where life eeks out an existence in some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. It’s both beautiful and humbling at the same time.
Peaks are a constant source of inspiration for me as a photographer, and inspired the collection of images I am presenting at my upcoming show with SALT Optics. Both surf photographer Daniel Russo and Adam Bove will be showing work as well, come swing by and say hi!
The show is THIS Saturday, March 14, at the DAX Gallery, located at 2951 Randolph Street in Costa Mesa. It will run from 6 to 10 p.m.
Photo: JP Collett
What is the next big adventure, where will your travels take you in the next few months, and what new projects are in the works that we should know about?
2015 has been an amazing year so far. I’ve loved collaborating with other creatives and working on some fulfilling personal projects.
Living life in the fast lane! I just got back from a month in Hawaii shooting a documentary project on Maui’s natural resources and the stewards that protect them. Off to Mexico next week, and currently planning a backpacking expedition in AK this summer with ecologist/writer Charles Post and photographer Chris Burkard.
You can follow the behind the scenes of my trips on my Instagram, @meg_haywoodsullivan.
To see more of Meg Haywood Sullivan’s work, visit her website. And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
