You may have seen his photos, but it’s time to get a look at the man behind the camera.

Meet Seth Resnick, a ’79 Newhouse alumnus who is one of the leading contemporary photographers of our time. Resnick has been named one of the 30 Most Influential Photographers of the Decade by Photo District News magazine. He was also one of 50 photographers internationally to receive the title of Canon Explorer of Light. He used to be president of Editorial Photographers, an organization that promotes proper business practices.

On Jan. 29, Resnick will return to Syracuse University to give a seminar on his work in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, at 7 p.m. The Daily Orange spoke with Resnick about his career.

The Daily Orange: What inspired you to become a photographer?

Seth Resnick: It’s actually a long story involving tropical fish. I was really interested in saltwater tropical fish and in junior high I wanted to write a book about them. I had the manuscript already, but I needed photos of the fish. I looked in the Yellow Pages and called a local photographer. He said it would cost me $500 a day to hire him, which was $499 more than what I had. So I bought a camera instead, which had to be in the late ‘60s. I started taking pictures of the fish and was immediately fascinated by the physics of taking a photo. So, by high school, I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go [for college]. I applied early decision to Newhouse, got in and never looked back.

The D.O.: How did Newhouse develop and shape you as a person and photographer?

S.R.: Not so much school or books, but the people I have met. I had one professor who is now retired, but I hope can make it to my seminar, Dr. Tom Richards. I went to London with him and it was only three of us in his class. Dr. Richards saw things in us and knew we needed freedom to find our own voice. I wish I could go back to school. I think the problem of going to college at 18 is that you’re 18. I didn’t take advantage of all the resources I had, and when I look back on it, I received a great education at Newhouse.

The D.O.: What is your greatest achievement?

S.R.: I always say I’m as good as my last picture, and my next will be the best. But one accomplishment that I’m proud of is being the [former] president of E.P. Basically our contract bettered everything for photographers who work with Businessweek, Forbes and Newsweek.

The D.O.: What makes a good photo?

S.R.: Finding your naked horse. I say that a photo is either sizzle or sizzle fizzle. You want someone to look at your photo and say, “Wow.” A good image has emotion, dynamic color and reveals a point of view.

The D.O.: What is the one thing you want people to get out of your photographs?

S.R.: I have many subtle points. The reason I continue to go back to Antarctica time and time again is to show that it is disappearing. And instead of people making broad statements such as “they believe in global warming or do not,” my photographs allow them to notice that climate change is happening and that Antarctica is disappearing, and you can blame it on whatever you want to.

The D.O.: What advice would you give up-and-coming photographers?

S.R.: Find your own voice. If you’re an engineer, you’re not just an engineer. You could be a chemical engineer or an electrical engineer. You have to choose one. When you’re a photographer, that is such a broad statement. If you realize, the most successful people are not generalists, but have specific talents. So, instead of being the other 98 percent, learn what your craft is and own it.

The D.O.: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met?

S.R.: That would be Bill Gates and the early Bill Gates when Windows was first created. He had to be the most obnoxious person I have met. He is very bright, but so far out. He had an entourage of people around him, and it’s safe to say we didn’t connect.

We were outside of Boston, photographing for his Windows product in a room all surrounded by windows. He didn’t understand the connection and asked why we weren’t taking photos next to a computer or something of the sort.

At first I thought he may have had a dry sense of humor and was making a joke, until I realized he was serious. He didn’t want to do the shoot at all.

Then he tells me, “You’re an artist. Did you go to school for this?” And I reply, “Yes Mr. Gates, and I graduated.” He smiled, sort of saying touché and took the photo.

Published on January 27, 2014 at 9:56 pm

Contact Bodeline: bkdautru@syr.edu