JOSH LETCHWORTH

Josh Letchworth is an incredible professional photographer based out of Central Florida. We are excited to have him join our ambassador program, and his passion for capturing people, places, and natural events has inspired us all.

Josh travels around in his converted Sprinter van, exploring the sights and sounds of the Sunshine State - from the peaceful Everglades to the countless lakes of Central Florida. He's also passionate about documenting his and others' travels. Josh's unique eye for detail allows him to capture beautiful moments on camera as no one else can.

We're excited to have Josh as part of our ambassador program, and we took a few minutes to ask him some questions about photography, Florida, and his Sprinter van.

Can you give us a quick rundown of where you are from?

Central Florida. Not Orlando, not Daytona… somewhere in between. A little more suburb and access to nature out here in Lake Mary. 

When did you first start getting serious about photography?

I had to take an art elective for my junior year in college. I picked b/w Photography. I spent 2 years in the darkroom processing film and making prints. I fell in love. That was 1995. 

What was your first camera?

Nikon 8008s film camera

When did you know you wanted to pursue photography as a career?

I graduated college in 1996. With photography fresh on my palette, I just ran with it. I had no idea what I was going to do after college, and I was essentially buying time to keep from having to dive into reality. I only had a couple of rules… No office job and follow my heart. So I just kept doing what I loved, and at that time, photography was it. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?

Shoot more, show more people, break the rules. It's ok to be inspired but make it your own.

What’s in your camera bag now?

I’m kinda in between systems right now.It's always changing. But for now… Nikon D5, Sony A7IIIs.50mm 1.4, 24-70, 70-200 for lenses. I try to keep it simple.I would shoot with a 50mm everyday if I had to. I still have a huge collection of film cameras that I use from time to time too.  

What does an ideal day in your Sprinter van look like? What activities are you doing, and what people are you with?

Ugh… so many favorite days in my van. Hook up my skiff, pick up a couple of good fly-fishing buddies, load the cooler with beers, and head south for the Everglades. Camp at Flamingo, build a fire, feet up, stargaze, bedtime kind of early, sleep like a baby, up at 5 am, Double espresso, drop the boat, and get lost out there. Everglades is my happy place. It's so vast, and no one is around. The van pulls the boat effortlessly, and I'm self-contained with everything I need. It's a dream. 

Check out my Adventure IO interview for more details about what I like to bring on my Florida adventures.

How many days do you spend on the road on average in a given year?

Probably 150-ish.

How do you stay entertained while traveling? What podcasts, books, or music do you listen to?

It's pretty much fishing podcasts, John Prine and Bill Bryson's book: A Walk in the Woods. I do love music, and I'm all over the place actually. Recently it's been a lot of War on Drugs, My Morning Jacket, and the Grateful Dead.   

What’s the one item you can’t live without?

A headlamp. 

What’s the most unique location you’ve been to for a photo shoot?

I rode 600 miles on a dirt bike down the Ho Chi Minh trail in Vietnam to document Rebecca Rusch’s ultra-distance mountain bike movie with Red  Bull. That trip changed my life; I experienced so much in a month.   

You obviously have countless amazing photos, do any specifically stand out to you as favorites and if so can you tell us about them?

There’s a photo of a surfer at Teahupoo that brings back a flood of emotions. We rented a boat to shoot some massive swells that just hit. It was hectic out there... so many boats, so much current, and wind, and the swell was building. When you shoot from the channel, there’s not much difference between safe and in the danger zone. All the boats are jockeying for position to get close, which often leads to some boats getting into a sketchy situation. For this photo, we were right in the zone, unobstructed. I felt like we were in the barrel with him. I just held my breath and fired away. It was the biggest wave of the day. So insane.  

What are your favorite spots to travel to in Florida?

Everglades, The Keys, Homosassa, and anywhere on the Nature Coast/Forgotten Coast. There are so many amazing spots in Florida that don’t get much attention. Places where time stands still. I love driving those old roads and turning down one to see where it leads. 

Who's your favorite artist? This isn’t a test so if you have multiple feel free to share.

I’ve always loved Ansel Adams. He helped secure my love for B/W film photography. Clyde Butcher - no one captures Florida better on film. My daughter Luella - I love seeing the things she comes up with pen and paper. The Highwaymen Painters -  A group of Black painters from the 1950s in Florida with a distinct style of color in Florida landscape. It's beautiful. 

Where can people connect with you online?

Website:  www.joshletchworth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshletchworth/