By Melissa L. Gaffney, Staff Writer
MILLSTONE Ian Shive has always enjoyed the outdoors. But it is his attention to detail that dictates his photography, a hobby turned profession.
The title of the Millstone native’s first book, “The National Parks: Our American Landscape,” might be a bit misleading: His photos delve into the inner beauty of the country’s national parks, as well as landscape images.
”Rather than look out, it’s almost like looking down,” Mr. Shive said. “It’s pine needles, small pieces of petrified wood … tarantulas. Not just the big, panoramic views, but the things that live in them.”
His book, which was released in early August, visually addresses what Mr. Shive calls “the smaller minutiae that often are overlooked.”
”It’s really different for a national parks book. I wasn’t sure how people would respond,” he said. But, response has been “outstanding,” Mr. Shive added.
The 31-year-old Los Angeles resident recently was in New York City for a book signing at Barnes and Noble, and Mr. Shive says he plans to do more appearances across the country. He also plans to continue traveling and collecting photographs for his next project, a trip to the Arctic. If all goes well, that collection of photographs will be compiled for another book.
Mr. Shive grew up in Millstone and attended Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft. He studied film production at Montana State University in Bozeman for about two-and-a-half years before heading to California. There, he worked in marketing for Sony’s Columbia Pictures for about eight years, and also did publicity for feature films for about six years.
It was during college and beyond when Mr. Shive truly began developing his photography skills.
”My dad is a photographer,” he said, “and I can’t help but think there’s a lot of osmosis growing up in a house with a photographer.” His father, James, does corporate photography, Mr. Shive said, and gave Ian his first 35 mm SLR camera.
”The truth is, my pictures were horrible,” he said. “Because they weren’t what I wanted them to be, I inadvertently taught myself to make them better.”
That process included looking at others’ work, magazines, lots of photos, “whatever I could to become a better photographer, to represent my work back home to my friends in New Jersey,” Mr. Shive said.
Mr. Shive is a conservation photographer, and focuses not only on nature but also on using his imagery to give back to the environment. The National Parks Conservation Association has sent him on various assignments, and Mr. Shive also works with The Nature Conservancy. And, he is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
His work has taken him across the globe to places such as Malaysia, various rainforests, China, Japan, Taiwan, Croatia and Bosnia, to name a few.
Some of his conservation work includes a volume of photographs taken during a trip down the U.S.-Mexico border.
”The issue was the border fence,” he explained, “and how laws were waived to build that wall in a real hurry. We wanted to show not only was it being built quickly and wastefully, but it was devastating the land and cutting off key wildlife.”
Mr. Shive and other photographers then went to Washington, D.C., and had an exhibit in the foyer of the House of Representatives.
”It’s amazing the power a photo can really have. Even if you hear about it, there’s nothing like seeing it,” he said. “Photography is very relevant in decision-making in the Llegislative process.”
While his parents, James and Mary Ann, now live in New Mexico, Mr. Shive still has fond memories of rural Millstone, especially the Assunpink Wildlife Preserve.
”We would go every single day in the summer and at night and drive the dirt roads,” he said. “We did a lot of fishing and a lot of hiking. It’s truly wilderness. For New Jersey, I think it’s an exceptional place.”
There are no images of New Jersey in his book, Mr. Shive said, as it focuses solely on national parks.
”I’ve always loved (national) parks,” he said. “They’re iconic. There’s so many overlooked places.”
Mr. Shive’s work has appeared in Time Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, National Geographic, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Popular Photography and Outside Magazine.
His work also can be viewed online at: www.waterandsky.com.
[email protected]
