Based in ruggedly picturesque Lake Placid, New York, John DiGiacomo is a seasoned professional photographer who specializes in shooting sports, portraits, the natural world, architecture, and anything else that inspires his freewheeling creative spirit.
“While it’s been 38 years since the last Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, it continues to remain one of the premier sports destinations in the world,” observes DiGiacomo, “It hosts numerous World Cup events including bobsled, skeleton, luge, and freestyle skiing, both aerials and moguls, and I cover most of them with my camera as you can see by perusing the images of these amazing athletes accompanying this post. This year the United States Luge Association announced the final choices for its Olympic team at the conclusion of the World Cup at Lake Placid, and the final two Aerials World Cup freestyle skiing events held here were the last chance for athletes to qualify for their respective countries’ Olympic teams.”
John DiGiacomo also founded Placid Times and created a compelling logo for it with the incisive tag line “Photography for a Purpose”.
“The mission of Placid Times Photography is to share my skills, time and talent as a photographer to make a positive impact on the lives of others,” asserts DiGiacomo. “When I left the corporate world as a banking executive, I decided that I was going to live by two simple rules: Whatever I do, I have to enjoy it and I have to like the people I am doing it with. As I started on my journey with photography I decided that I was going to let it take me where it may. What I want to accomplish is summed up in my logo—the mountains and sky symbolize my love and support of our environment and the people symbolize my desire to help others through my photography.”
Mission statement
“My life has not only been blessed with a loving and supportive family, but also with a successful 27-year career as a Financial Executive,” DiGiacomo says. “Through a series of life changing events, I was afforded the opportunity to start a second career as a professional freelance photographer. Throughout this amazing life journey, I have never lost sight of the many blessings bestowed upon me, nor the guided plans that the Lord has helped me put in motion. Supportive individuals, strategic timing and various opportunities were all placed in my path along the way. God has provided me with this unwavering passion of photography for a purpose. It is my strong belief that I am supposed to use my gifts and talents to assist others.”
To accomplish these noble and compassionate objectives, DiGiacomo distributes half of all the proceeds from his portrait sessions, commercial assignments and image sales to select not-for-profits (NFPs) whose mission is “making a difference in the lives of others.” The remaining proceeds are used to cover the operating costs of Placid Times Photography.
He also provides journalistic images used in fundraising and awareness campaigns, head shots of employees, directors and volunteers, and event photography for select NFPs, and offers portrait sessions that can be used in fundraising events. Periodically, he holds free one-day photography workshops for NFP organizations and their volunteers. In addition, he volunteers his services to the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, allowing him to give back in one of the areas he’s most passionate about, the outdoors and our environment. John periodically teaches at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and the Arrowmont School of Art in Tennessee, helping emerging photographers to enhance their technical skills, while moving beyond their creative comfort zone.
John DiGiacomo’s impressive list of sports clients includes the Associated Press, Toronto Star, Eastern College Athletic Conference Men’s Ice Hockey, The Sunbelt Senior Golf Tour, Olympic Regional Development Authority, LOCALadk, and The Smithtown News. His nature and landscape images have appeared in several publications including LOCALadk, Adirondack Life, Adirondack Explorer, Cape Air, Northern Homes Garden & Leisure, and Northern Exploring. Additionally, his work has been featured in local galleries. He co-published an Arcadia Press, “Then and Now” book with the Historical Society in his hometown of Smithtown, New York and produced a documentary of the Adirondack Canoe Classic, which was presented at the Reel Paddling Film Festival. A component of John’s commercial work includes architectural photography for realtors, hotels, and designers.
John first became interested in photography in high school. “I had an amazing teacher, Carla Sachey,” he recalls. “Those were the days when they’d let you use the darkroom during free periods and before and after school. I originally planned to go to school for photography after high school, but when I met with her she said. ‘I’m going to ask you just one question: are you the type of person that can make several thousand dollars in one week and then possibly not make anything for several weeks?’ I thought about that and decided to get a degree in finance. I’m continually asked whether I regret that decision and my answer is ‘no.’ My corporate career has provided me with the financial security to do with my photography whatever I am truly passionate about. I consider myself one of the truly lucky people.”
“When it comes to photography I am primarily self-taught, but I’ve received a lot of help from other photographers along the way,” notes DiGiacomo. “On the landscape side Nancy Rotenberg and Don McGowan have had a big influence, not only technically but more important, in terms of my approach. I’m continually reminded of Nancy’s line, ‘Blessed be the flexible for thy will never be bent out of shape.’ Sound advice for a landscape photographer where conditions are out of your control.”
“Ed Sambolin taught me about bird photography and also about truly knowing your equipment and how to get the most out of it,” he continues. “Ed could do more with limited equipment than most could do with a closet full of the best gear money can buy. Ed has since passed, but I will always remember his willingness to share his knowledge with others. I am also grateful to Mike Corrado for his bluntness in reviewing my work when I was starting to get back into photography. And it was at one of Tamara Lackey’s advanced workshops that I came up with the idea of ‘Placid Times – Photography For a Purpose.’ There have been many others that have guided me along the way, and this is why I feel that I have an obligation to pay it forward to other aspiring photographers.”
Selecting equipment for challenging venues
“When I first got back into photography I purchased a Nikon N90 and a 24-85mm zoom lens,” DiGiacomo recalls. “Once the investment in Nikon was made, I couldn’t afford to change lens mounts. I now use a mix of both Nikon and Sigma lenses—one of my favorite all-around lenses, especially for sports, is the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM (), which combines a wide constant f/2.8 aperture, excellent responsiveness, and outstanding image quality over its entire range. On the lighting side I use Profoto studio lights. My choices in equipment are usually predicated on meeting specific needs. But with most of my time spent outdoors in challenging weather conditions, build quality is extremely important.”
“For sports, birds and outdoor portraits, I rely on a Nikon D5 () and D4S,” DiGiacomo continues. “For landscapes, architecture and formal portraits, I use a Nikon D850 (). My favorite tripods and monopods are Gitzo. For ball heads and L brackets I favor Really Right Stuff. When photographing landscapes my go to backpack has always been a Lowepro (based on build, comfort and how they stand behind their products). On the sports side I use a Think Tank Steroid Speed Belt V2.0 and when I’m traveling, I use a Think Tank Photo International LE Classic roller bag.”
How does John DiGiacomo see his photographic career now and going forward?
“I would describe myself as a generalist,” he says with a smile. “When I got back into photography, it was primarily as a nature photographer, but when I moved to Lake Placid I found myself getting into other types of photography—sports and people. In addition I’ve been reviewing my work with the goal of developing new and unique approaches while remaining true to who I am as a photographer.”
“What I’d really love to do with my photography now is to get involved with more charities that have as their mission to help others and volunteer my services to them. I would really like to go on two extended trips each year, either domestic or international. In 2013, I did such a trip for a charity as a Member of the Board of Reason2Smile. The primary mission of R2S is supporting a school and orphanage in Kenya. If anyone reading this post knows of any other organizations with this kind of profile, please contact me at PlacidTimes.com.”
To find out more about John DiGiacomo and see more of his incredible images, check out his website, follow him on Instagram @PlacidTimesPhotography, or on Facebook.com/PlacidTimes.
