Josh Goleman is a photographer and cinematographer based in Brooklyn, NY. He splits his time between shooting stills and motion while focusing on adventure and music.
Josh has worked with a wide range of artists and familiar names such as The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys, Skrillex, Sebastian Ingrosso, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Jay-Z, ?uestlove, Elvis Costello, and Kiss. His work has been circulated through Rolling Stone, Spin, American Songwriter, CMT, Rangefinder, PDN, Nylon, and Esquire.com. In addition, he’s been commissioned to shoot for Bonnaroo, Voodoo Fest, Newport Folk Festival, Met Gala, SXSW, Carnegie Hall and various individual musician’s tours. Notable advertising clients include Google, PF Flyers, Vogue, Atlantic Records, and Advil among others.
It’s no secret that Josh feels comfortable immersed in a broad range of environments, but to get a better idea of who Josh is, we asked him a few questions.
First and foremost, what does being a photographer mean to you?
Being a photographer to me is interpreting and anticipating mood and light while seamlessly being a technician fast enough no one notices. For a long time I was really shy about calling myself a photographer, it’s such a broad and often overused title I didn’t feel like I deserved it. Once I stopped worrying about shooting like other photographers (and had a few years experience), that’s when I started calling myself a photographer.
If you could control what the viewer takes away from your work, what would you hope they’d absorb?
A feeling of honesty.
When shooting, how much of what you do is purely instinctual, and how much is executed concept?
Shoots can be really fast paced and a bit of controlled chaos, often it’s hard to connect to the images you’re shooting quite like when you’re in a quiet room looking at them on a screen. So much of what I shoot and how I shoot it is very instinctual. I do love shooting a defined concept but find it more rewarding to react to a vibe and create something from it spontaneously.
How does black & white vs. color add to your aesthetic? Do they compliment each other, or do you find it best to approach them separately?
I’ve always loved how black and white images can feel so timeless and have a little bit of mystery to them. It really allows the viewer to subconsciously fill in a few elements of the image, which often makes me like them more. It is always best to approach black and white images differently, so they aren’t flat and muddy. Being a little more generous with lighting and using filters goes a long way.
Who would be your dream client and why?
I love collaborating. Any client that wants to take an idea and make it as real as possible to allow moments to happen, all while chasing beautiful light…that’s the dream.
You can see more of Josh’s work here.
