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My Smug Mug :

My Smug Mug

Updated: Oct 24, 2011 6:33am PST

India : Images of India taken over the summer months of 2010.

India

Images of India taken over the summer months of 2010.

Updated: Nov 17, 2011 2:06pm PST

Ethiopia : Images from Ethiopia taken over the summer months of 2011.

Ethiopia

Images from Ethiopia taken over the summer months of 2011.

Updated: Apr 29, 2012 11:02am PST

Capturing Design : A collection of photography shoots for Sunday French Toast. etsy.com/shop/sundayfrenchtoast sundayfrenchtoast.blogspot.com

Capturing Design

A collection of photography shoots for Sunday French Toast. etsy.co ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2011 4:33pm PST

America The Homeless : Between March, 2010 and April, 2010 I was afforded a rare glimpse into the lives of America's homeless population. These images include places of congregation, lifestyle indicators, vacant living spaces, and areas of shelter shut down by law enforcement.

America The Homeless

Between March, 2010 and April, 2010 I was afforded a rare glimpse into ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2011 8:17pm PST

Haiti: Days After the Quake. : All photo's were taken with my iPhone while on deployment to Haiti post the 01/12/2010 earthquake. These photos were shot between 01/27/2011 and 01/30/11. I was serving with Project Medishare. For more information, please visit: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/alleyes/content/tampa-bay-area-firefighter-paramedic-ryan-mitchell-haiti and http://www.projectmedishare.org/

Haiti: Days After the Quake.

All photo's were taken with my iPhone while on deployment to Haiti pos ...

Updated: Nov 19, 2011 1:40pm PST

Ethiopian Wildlife : Photographs of Ethiopian Wildlife: Summer, 2011

Ethiopian Wildlife

Photographs of Ethiopian Wildlife: Summer, 2011

Updated: Nov 15, 2011 8:46pm PST

We The People :

We The People

Updated: Nov 16, 2011 8:36pm PST

Experiential Photography From Abroad : Experiential Photography From Abroad is born of the idea that experience is a form of wealth and thus it should be included in what we we as a public qualify as the traditional American Dream. This show is a challenge to the singular investment in material wealth. The work presented here is a testament to the worth that can be gained by not only interacting with cultures from all over the world, but meditating on the common humanity we all share regardless of the perceived exoticism that one place holds over another. These images represent an appeal to a modern consumerist culture that to gain true personal wealth and happiness, a gentle balance must exist between that which is a material excitement and that which is something not as physically tangible, but a function of personal wealth that can never be taken away: Experience. For over 15 years, I have been honing the skill of photography. Born of a mother who spent 17 years as a commercial photographer, and a father with strong creative tendencies, I was introduced at young age to the arts. Since 2010 I’ve begun taking my photographic eye abroad while on international emergency medical deployments, anthropological research, and archaeologic research. With camera in hand, I’ve had the opportunity and honor to document the realities, the experiences that have surrounded me the world over. As a 10 year veteran of the fire department, I’ve been shocked into an understanding of the impermanence of life and my work represents a small and admittedly futile attempt to prolong and preserve some of the beauty that I’ve seen on my travels (at least for a little longer). My approach to photography is one of intimacy, juxtaposition, and an intention to photograph the common humanity within places that on the surface seem wholly exotic and foreign. I’m a somewhat bare bones, natural light photographer, and chose to exhibit my work in flat black, black core mattes, that lie behind a single plate of glass. These images surround and border one larger canvas from each country. The emphasis is not on fancy frames, but on content alone -- no distractions. My wish is to be bring home a genuine sense of the friendships, of the beauty that exists in communities across the globe. I’ve tried to maintain a holistic collection of photographs that illicit a more complete image of the places and cultures I’ve come in contact with. For you, my community, my friends, my home, I bring you Experiential Photography From Abroad. Special thanks is in order for: Nora Gaunt for being my foundation, my rock, my love, my muse, and my partner in life at home and across the globe; Karen Tremmel, my mother, for raising me with art and being a guiding force behind my creative endeavors; John Mitchell, my father, for showing me what it means to be a man in this modern era and for providing me an honorable image to strive for; Mary Anne Mitchell, my sister, for being a consistent source of support; Lisa and Rick for your selfless support of my work and for being such a strong and wonderful part of the family; Terry and Peter Gaunt for your excitement and support in my endeavors and for always showing me love and kindness; Matthew "Ice Cream" Dewitt for being a friend and brother; Velva Lee Heraty, for lending her time, wisdom, and expertise to a guy she barely knew with only a fragment of an idea of how to put something like this together; Ravi Singh, Himalayan Health Exchange, for taking me to India and introducing me to the wonders of Northern India; Drs. John and Kathy Arthur, USFSP, for believing enough in my abilities to take me half way around the world and dropping me into one of the most beautiful places I've seen -- your work is inspiring; To all my brothers and sisters at the fire dept. who have worked double time to allow me to travel the world. Madhu and Naresh Sharma of Green Chili Indian Bistro for always treating me like family; Seble Gizaw of Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant for being a mother to all that come in contact with her, including me; Wes and Miranda of Central Cafe and Organics for always being supportive friends and a part of my downtown family; Sarah, Lauren and the Kahwa crew for providing such an awesome atmosphere for a show -- and believing that I could pull it all together; Tracy Kennard for working double time to get the word out about this event, you've been great; Reuben Pressman for your friendship and online support; Ted McLaren of the Tampa Bay Time; Randy Allen of tampabayart.com; Nick Hinckley of New Roots News; Eryn Reaume of New Roots News; Andrea Pawlisz; Ren Laforme of The Crow's Nest; The amazing crew at Davidson Fine Art; And to anyone that I forgot because, well, I'm not that good, but I promise that I'll genuinely feel crappy about it when I remember (I really will); To my network of family abroad, thank you for the experience. Thank you all.

Experiential Photography From Abroad

Experiential Photography From Abroad is born of the idea that experien ...

Updated: Apr 03, 2012 11:47am PST

empty gallery

Camera Awesome Photos

Updated: Apr 12, 2012 8:48pm PST

Life On The Pier :

Life On The Pier

Updated: Apr 18, 2012 10:19pm PST

Kuvva :

Kuvva

Updated: May 07, 2012 1:44pm PST

Your Bio

Anthropologist (B.A.). Full-time Firefighter Paramedic. Traveler. Humanitarian. Musician. Photographer.

My photography is available for rotation @ TurningArt: http://www.turningart.com/artists/artist-ryan-mitchell

The purpose of my photography is three fold: Experience the world around us, experience and engage the culture that surrounds me, and bring at least some of that experience home.

I have taken what little blue-collar wealth I have and invested in things that can never be taken away from me. With the crash of Wall Street, the Enrons, and over a decade of full-time work in emergency medical services and the fire service I'm well aware of the material wealth that can be taken away from you in a blink of an eye. That's why I've taken a different tack in life choosing to invest in an experiential existence that allows me access to a sort of wealth that may never be taken away.

In some small way, I've tried to bring some of this experience back to your eyes, something that you can cultivate and process in your own home. I'm lucky, plain and simple, and I feel that the onus is on me to pay it forward to any and all that are interested.

Music @
soundcloud.com/pivotal-movement
thenewmath.bandcamp.com

Camera Bag:
Pentax K7, Pentax D-BG4 Battery Grip, smc Pentax DA 18-55mm F3.5 - 5.6 AL WR, Sigma DG 70-300mm, Kenko Teleplus 1.5x.

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