Photog files: Leon Dale

I sat down with Leon Dale to pick his brain and find out how he became the man, and the artist, that he is today. Our brief conversation revealed a bit of the far-reaching vision contained in this 30-something photographer. A few phrases from our meeting rang out above the rest, painting pictures nearly a vivid as the dynamic photos he takes.

"Just do it. Start at level 0"

It all began with a high school elective course and a borrowed Minolta. Leon Dale was bitten by the photo bug as a young man and has been seeing the world through his particular lens ever since. His love of photography has seen him through some of the most peculiar corners of the world. It was these places, rather than traditional academia, where the rigors of living taught Leon how to capture an instant in his camera.

"No matter what you do, you're going to learn a life lesson."

Hard-won lessons like those he learned during a stint in the Navy have shaped Dale's world view and his photographic perspective. A native of England, Leon Dale lived in China and the Caribbean before finding his way the state of Virginia, where encounters with a free-wheeling artist culture left him inspired, but wanting more. Realizing that a life of drugs and partying can leave one feeling every bit as caged as a stifling 9 to 5, Leon kept it moving and found himself in Atlanta, GA.

"What happens when you cut the balloons free?"

Leon Dale is not tied down by any real or imagined artistic boundaries and those pursuing creative fields in Atlanta will find themselves just few degrees or less from his professional circle. Yet where many creatives talk a good game, Dale is a man of action. He has a deep-seated sense of practicality and purpose, yet his no-nonsense business approach is tempered by a fiery artistic passion that charges forward even in the face of a sometimes shaky Atlanta market.

"I don't want to participate in racial profiling"

Like many local artists involved in fashion, Dale walks a thin line between wanting to have an ethnically diverse portfolio and what he calls "racial profiling." With a well-defined penchant for globalism, he is inspired by magazines like Trace - a publication whose tagline is "transcultural styles + ideas" and features models of color. On the other hand, the photographer has his sights set on mags like Surface and W. The dilemma then becomes whether to cast the best model you can find in Atlanta, or to cast one that looks like your typical Surface girl. Still, Dale is committed to pushing his craft.

"I've lost friends & women - I've even been evicted over this shit!"

It’s this commitment to his craft that makes Dale’s work so striking. Suffused with vibrant color and real emotion, the photographs reveal a dedication to the human spirit that appears even in his products shots. It’s clear that this photographer’s mission is far greater than simply capturing a pretty picture.

"I prefer energy over good looks. I love a subject that lives life at full volume - that lives out loud."

In a city where glamour rules, the preference for vivacious energy over a gorgeous face makes Leon Dale stand out in the crowd of Atlanta photogs. He cites model Sable Simon as among his favorite subjects to shoot. Though she happens to be beautiful, it’s her willingness to “let go” that sparks Dale’s passion. Even when not as aesthetically gifted as the leggy Sable Simon, Dale’s subjects benefit from the photographer’s ever regal aesthetic. When they are willing, humble subjects, like the homeless man that sat for a session in exchange for a couple beers and a bit of company, are given an air of nobility in Leon Dale’s work.

"The subject has to trust you... either get on board or get off the ship"

And the Leon Dale vessel means to leave a legacy. By connecting the fellow movers and shakers around him, the photog seeks to build an institution to stand the test of time. While the foundations of this goal might be laid in Atlanta, the reverberations are sure to be felt on a global scale.

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All photos courtesy of Leon Dale Photography. For additional information and to see more of the photographer's work please visit LeonDale.com.