A Leap Of Faith
Randall Sanger, one of the best-known photographers in this area, has had a camera in his hands since the early 1980s. At first, it was a hobby, and with time, it became a part-time job-- until the early 2000’s, when he switched to digital photography. “I became much more serious about my photography,” Randall says. “In 2009, I took a leap of faith and jumped into photography full-time.” The following year, in 2010, he published his first book, and the rest was history. Since then, he’s published a second book, and is working on a couple more. He’s conducted photography workshops throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas, and he’s seen his images in various galleries, gift shops, and visitors centers. Needless to say, he’s landed on his feet since that leap of faith in 2009!
Sharing the Beauty of West Virginia
Now, Randall has been featured in the current issue of Outdoor Photographer, which is, according to Randall, the “Holy Grail of photography magazines. The editor of Outdoor Photographer reached out to Randall because he wanted to highlight the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve since it had recently been upgraded to national park status. Randall says, he’d had some works in state, regional, and national magazines, but this was the first time he’d been asked to write a feature article for a national magazine. “It was quite an honor to have my words and images featured in the current issue.” We should note, Randall’s feature isn’t a small article in the magazine. His photography is featured over a ten-page spread.
Randall loves how photography allows him to visit new locations, and see things in different light. “Visiting new locations to see similar scenes under dramatic light is something that keeps me exploring and shooting.” He also loves the chance to share the beauty he finds.
The magazine article with Outdoor Photographer highlighted waterfalls throughout the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which Randall has been exploring for years. “The incredible natural beauty along with the historical significance is what keeps me going back,” he says. Given the park’s new national park status, they’ve seen an influx of visitors, and a lot more attention from national and international media outlets. Randall is glad to have been a part of that. “I have enjoyed promoting this region in a small way through my photography”.
Randall has some advice for those who’d like to explore photography. “Continually strive to learn and improve your craft, develop a niche to set yourself apart, and have fun!” He believes photography can be a wonderful hobby, or something more. “It can be a hobby to use as a creative outlet, or document our daily lives. It can also be a rewarding career”.
The July issue of Outdoor Photographer magazine is on shelves now. You can also order your copy featuring the work of Randall Sanger by following this link: https://magdogs.com/product/outdoor-photographer-july-2021/
