Meet a Pro: Documentary Director & Photojournalist Taylor Rees

“Media is power,” says Taylor Freesolo Rees (@taylorfreesolo), in her 2018 TedxJacksonHole talk. “Being able to create and share a story about another place in the world that’s often not represented is power.”

Rees’ goal is not to soak up this power, however; she aims the influence and attention gained from her photography and documentary work back towards the communities in focus, co-creating with the people in front of her camera with the aim of improving their economic or political well-being.

It was following graduate school at Yale and a masters in environmental studies and film when she realized this would be her passion in life. Combining her education with her talents for adventuring, Rees joined on her first expedition, trekking 150 miles in the Burmese jungle to Hkakabo Razi, Southeast Asia’s highest peak, for the 2015 film Down to Nothing. She then went on to co-direct Life Coach and direct Mentors: Hilaree Nelson and Ashes to Ashes.

Together with her husband Renan Ozturk, a fellow celebrated photographer and videographer, Taylor pushes herself to highlight underrepresented perspectives as well as controversial and challenging topics, including climate change and race tensions in communities literally and figuratively on the edge.

In between expeditions, Taylor shared with us how she prepares for shooting in the harshest conditions, as well as when she knew her work was truly making a difference. 

Adorama: Was there a moment you remember first falling in love with photography? Describe it.

Taylor Rees: I fell in love with photography 20 years ago (when I was 14) and took my first darkroom class. I was experimenting with film and developing, taking photos of my little brother splashing in puddles, photos of my friends. It was truly the origin of my love for photography.

Adorama: Your work, both photo and documentary, often captures people and places on the edge, whether that’s literally (as in the edge of the world/wilderness) or figuratively (as in on the edge of economic/legal/cultural/environmental crises). How did you get into this specific focus, and do you have an ultimate goal in sharing these stories?

Rees: I have always been drawn to the struggle of survival. Human, animal or otherwise. I love environmental science and social justice and these things are generally my focus for most of the stories I create. I hope to bring awareness to how interconnected we are as humans, with each other and the Earth. We all really have a responsibility to take care of this planet and each other.

Adorama: When did you feel that your work was really reaching multitudes of people and what was this turning point?

Rees: I think the buzz around our trip to Burma for the film, Down to Nothing. This was a turning point for my work reaching a broader audience and was certainly a trip where we pushed the brink of our own survival and storytelling!

Adorama: What does a typical work day look like for you, when you’re on the road and on assignment?

Rees: Honestly, every day is different. Often it’s super early mornings to catch sunrise light, long days and, then, late nights organizing and backing up footage. The where and the what depends on the assignment, but the most common thing about being on assignment is pushing as hard as possible from dawn to dusk.

Adorama: You’re often traveling and shooting in remote and unforgiving landscapes and weather. How do you pare down your gear and protect it for the road (or lack of road) ahead?

Rees: I have a pretty solid kit that I can take almost anywhere. You just have to get creative when you are heading into remote environments. To save space in my packs, I will use clothes to protect gear and lenses instead of bulky soft dividers, and also try to think through what is absolutely necessary and stick to the most minimal, but efficient, kit. When I was shooting in the Atacama we ended up having to hitchhike for hundreds of miles between Chile and Argentina, so being prepared for situations like that (and knowing how to make it worth carrying only what you can on your back) is critical.

Adorama: When weather or circumstances don’t go as planned, how do you salvage the journey?

Rees: Staying positive and grateful is key. I am lucky to do what I love for a living, and what I love happens to be in very remote and harsh environments. Being adaptable is really important as well as having a plan B.

Adorama: Do you always climb/hike/adventure with cameras, with the thought of documenting the experience, or are there times you consciously don’t document an experience?

Rees: I try to be really present when I hike for pleasure. It’s nice to take some photos, but it’s also nice to spend time in nature with people you love and not be distracted by a camera or a phone.

Adorama: How does it make you feel when you find out that someone has taken time and money to travel across the world to see, in person, a place you’ve photographed…because of your photograph?

Rees: Happy and nervous. I am happy to inspire people, but I do feel a responsibility to protect the subjects of my stories, whether that’s a human or a place. It takes a lot to build trust with people and have them invite you into their lives, homes, or communities. And I also fall in love with landscapes and, while documenting them, also want to protect them. But the world belongs to the world. It is here to be experienced and for people to interact with, so I can’t be too precious.

Adorama: Is there a destination where you haven’t been and you want to go, but, for one reason or another, you’re saving it for another time or waiting to go?

Rees: The moon. I haven’t had time to go yet, but it is on my list! 

Feature photo by Renan Ozturk