Nick Rasmussen

08/13/21 • 55 min

What Makes You Click with Kelvin Bulluck

On this episode of What Makes You Click, Kelvin welcomes Nick Rasmussen, a photographer and filmmaker based in NY and LA. Nick shares insight into his journey with self-awareness and introspection and how that impacts his creative process, along with why he only shoots film, not digital.

From dreaming of being a cartoonist to making movies instead of writing school papers, Nick has always walked to the beat of his own drum. He talks about his journey into film-making, photography, and even improv comedy, shedding light on how his love for comedy turned into shooting artists and people of interest in Los Angeles and New York. Nick then shares what he has learned from becoming a professional photographer, detailing clever ways to communicate with your subjects and capture candid, more natural-looking portraits.

You’ll learn how Nick uses other photographers and filmmakers as inspiration for learning new skills and discovering his unique aesthetic. Plus, Kelvin and Nick speak on how they’re staying creative during the pandemic and why it’s so important to take breaks for rest.

About the Guest:

Nick Rasmussen is a photographer and filmmaker in LA/NY, originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He started photographing people in the Los Angeles improv comedy scene, while training with the Upright Citizens Brigade for some years. He used photography to get close to comedians he admired, eventually turning his camera on many of LA/NY's artists & people of interest.

Nick relies on his instinctive perception of his subjects to create narrative and emotion within his portrait, editorial and fashion work.

Connect with Nick Rasmussen:

Visit his website: www.bynickrasmussen.com

Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bynickrasmussen

Connect with What Makes You Click:

Visit our website: www.whatmakesyouclick.com

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatmakesyouclick

People + Resources Mentioned:

Armchair Expert Podcast: www.armchairexpertpod.com

Upright Citizens Brigade: www.losangeles.ucbtrainingcenter.com

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: https://bit.ly/2Vu5OZd

Tim Walker: www.timwalkerphotography.com

Annie Leibovitz: www.artnet.com/artists/annie-leibovitz

Sarah Moon: www.artnet.com/artists/sarah-moon

About the Guest:

Nick relies on his instinctive perception of his subjects to create narrative and emotion within his portrait, editorial and fashion work.

Connect with Nick Rasmussen:

Visit his website: www.bynickrasmussen.com

Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bynickrasmussen

Connect with What Makes You Click:

Visit our website: www.whatmakesyouclick.com

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatmakesyouclick

People + Resources Mentioned:

Armchair Expert Podcast: www.armchairexpertpod.com

Upright Citizens Brigade: www.losangeles.ucbtrainingcenter.com

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: https://bit.ly/2Vu5OZd

Tim Walker: www.timwalkerphotography.com

Annie Leibovitz: www.artnet.com/artists/annie-leibovitz

Sarah Moon: www.artnet.com/artists/sarah-moon

Previous Episode

Maciek Jasik

On this episode of What Makes You Click, Kelvin welcomes Maciek Jasik, an award-winning photographer based in NYC and LA that critiques Western society’s relationship with nature and identity. Maciek and Kelvin have a very grounded discussion speaking on the personal experiences and psychology that is often behind photography and other forms of artistic expression, noting Maciek’s opinion on the most important aspect of creating art.

You’ll gain insight into Maciek’s Polish upbringing, the forming of his identity while integrating with American society, and the mindset of an immigrant that inspires a powerful work ethic.

He sheds light on how his love for political science and art converged early in his life, how his time spent living in Japan inspired his photography, and the overwhelm and FOMO that exists in being a professional photographer. Maciek even shares the most important lessons he’s learned from shooting portraits, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other notable figures.

About the Guest:

Maciek Jasik is a photographer based in NYC/LA, critiquing Western society's relationship with Nature and exploring ideas of identity, representation and the self while employing color and distortion to re-imagine accepted norms.

Connect with Maciek Jasik:

Visit his website: www.maciekjasik.com

Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/maciekjasik

Connect with What Makes You Click:

Visit our website: www.whatmakesyouclick.com

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatmakesyouclick

People + Resources Mentioned:

Gary Winogrand: www.fraenkelgallery.com/artists/garry-winogrand

Alex Webb: www.webbnorriswebb.co

Daniel Arnold: www.daniel-arnold.org

Nobuyoshi Araki: https://ocula.com/artists/nobuyoshi-araki/

Gregory Crewdson: www.gagosian.com/artists/gregory-crewdson

Philip-Lorca diCorcia: www.artnet.com/artists/philip-lorca-dicorcia

Watch Nomadland on Hulu: www.hulu.com/nomadland-movie

Francis Bacon: www.francis-bacon.com

Deeply-Ordered Chaos: www.maciekjasik.com/Deeply-Ordered-Chaos

Next Episode

Andrew Eccles

On this episode of What Makes You Click, Kelvin welcomes Andrew Eccles, an award-winning photographer that has been shooting celebrities, models, athletes, politicians, musicians, and dancers for over three decades. Listen in as Andrew sheds light on some of the most powerful, career-defining projects of his life, along with his candid thoughts on the profound connection between the photographer and their subject and the loss of the “very magical process” of being a photographer.

Having somehow landed the position as Annie Leibovitz’s assistant in the 80s, Andrew takes us back in time to his odd international upbringing and his journey in discovering the intricacy of photography. Andrew and Kelvin reflect on what it means for photography to be “clean”, how to overcome complacency and burn out in your career, and the impactful differences between film and digital.

Plus, Andrew shares what he would do differently and what he would do the same if he started his artistic career over again!

About the Guest:

Andrew Eccles was born in England and grew up in Toronto, Canada. His family moved to Hawaii when he was twelve where he attended high school for two years before returning to Vancouver and graduating there. He spent three years at The Ontario College of Art followed by two years in Texas before eventually settling in New York City. It was there that he began to pursue photography seriously.

Within four months Andrew landed an apprenticeship with Annie Leibovitz lasting three years. That was followed by brief stints working alongside Robert Mapplethorpe and Steven Meisel.

In 1987, Andrew became a professional photographer himself and has been shooting celebrities, models, athletes, politicians, musicians, and dancers ever since.

Over the past 33 years his work has appeared on the covers of countless magazines worldwide. He has also created an abundance of Advertising images for the Film, Television, Broadway, and Music Industries for use domestically and abroad.

Connect with Andrew Eccles:

Visit his website: www.andreweccles.com/overview

Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/eccles

Connect with What Makes You Click:

Visit our website: www.whatmakesyouclick.com

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatmakesyouclick

People + Resources Mentioned:

Annie Leibovitz: www.artnet.com/artists/annie-leibovitz

Eiko Ishioka: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiko_Ishioka

Steven Meisel: www.artnet.com/artists/steven-meisel

Albert Watson: www.albertwatson.net

Scott Kelby: www.scottkelby.com