It all started 45 years ago when Sol got his first Kodak camera as a birthday present. Although his first camera was very primitive by today's standards, to him, it was like a magician's box and Sol was instantly hooked. He would take pictures of everything from his bicycle, to the park, to insects in the back yard.
Today, Sol is just as enthusiastic and obsessed with photography as he was 45 years ago. Photography to him is the ultimate escape from real life. There is a certain degree of satisfaction involved with being able to capture what may seem like an insignificant moment and play it back over again. This gives him the opportunity to analyze the same occurrence from the perspectives of other people.
In a fast-paced lifestyle, we often are quick to jump to conclusions about what we see. These conclusions, upon further review, can be often inaccurate. For example, when one sees a man pushing his way through a crowd, one may think that this individual is extremely rude. But let's look at it from the perspective of the man. Perhaps the man cannot find his 4-year old child, who unbeknownst to him, is wandering around the other side of the park. Photography forces you to see new things that may, at a superficial level, have seemed insignificant. Thus, Sol likes taking portraits to connect with people and to understand their moods and feelings.
The reason why photography intrigues Sol so much is because it offers diversity in his life. In his youth, Sol trained and worked as a mechanical engineer for many decades, and eventually started his own manufacturing company. This line of work relied heavily on analytical skills and left-brained type of thought. Instead of becoming entrenched and typecast by his line of work, Sol sought to broaden his horizons by embracing art, and the right side of his brain. Thus, when it comes to photography, he tries to ignore the technical aspects of photography and focus on the composition and the freedom that images provide. He doesn't like to shoot under pressure, because stress reminds him of work. Instead, he uses photography to balance his daily problems, and to help him strive for lifelong fulfillment.
Sol's work always involves travel. Throughout all of his travels, his camera is always his best friend. While away from home, Sol often enjoys sneaking away for brief moments, to enjoy the view. He does not see photography as work, but he sees it as both an introspective way of looking within himself and a holistic way of viewing human interaction and nature. When in comes to take pictures, Sol is able to block all thoughts from his mind and just enjoy the moment. Because for just those few moments, he can forget all the pressures of everyday life.
Sol Algranti is a professional photographer whose diverse interests vary from bikers, buildings, cars, dancers, flowers, to Venice and wine. Printouts from his comprehensive photography gallery is available for sale, and can be viewed at AlgraShopping.com.
