Meet Phillip Simpler | Alaskan Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phillip Simpler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phillip, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from a tiny town in the interior of Alaska called North Pole. It’s a pretty unique place. The weather extremes range from -60 in the winter to 100 in the summer. And because of it’s northern latitude we get a few hours of sun in the winter to nearly 24 hours of sun in the summer. It probably goes without saying that this keeps the population pretty low. It can be a very isolating and remote place to live and especially to grow up in. Alaskans are, universally, pretty rugged and independent people, and I’m no different. You have to be. A trip to the grocery store can be dangerous if you get stuck, break down, or some other calamity strikes. Self reliance is very important to me. Growing up Alaskan has made me very appreciative of the simple things in life. The beauty of ice fog at 40 below, the peace of no other human for miles and miles, watching the Aurora Borealis dance on your drive to work, a warm spring sun.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think my photography is a little all over the map. I don’t generally just stick to one style. I think that’s a product of being from such a small remote locale. I basically have always shot anything in front of me that I find interesting. I love street style photos, but shooting people out and about isn’t very easy when it’s cold, dark, and empty, but it can also be a very unique take on that genre. Most Alaskan photographers shoot grand landscapes, the Aurora, or wildlife. So I try to have a different perspective. Trying to see everyday life with my unique eyes and history is incredibly rewarding. I’ve been lucky enough to have a handful of my photos in both national and a few international exhibits. Surprisingly, all of those photos have been my street photos, and that makes me enormously proud to share my little slice of the world.

Was it easy? It’s never once been easy. It’s a struggle everyday, but it’s also unbelievably gratifying. I’m lucky to live in a world of social media, that allows me to reach a much larger audience than I otherwise ever could locally. Being an Alaskan artist means you have an absolutely tiny population to be seen in and most people don’t equate Alaskan photography with street photography. But I’m hoping to change that.

The one piece of advice I’d give any aspiring creative is to know your worth.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I was lucky enough to visit Miami in October of 2021. It was my first time there and I spent the week trying to see as much as could. When I come back my first stop is going to be the Wynwood art district. You could spend an entire week there and not see all that there is to see or eat all there is to eat. I stopped into Bakan on a whim and was blown away by the food and the drinks I had.
Maybe I’ve watched Dexter too much but my next stop would be the Art Deco district. The architecture and the street life are a photographers dream. While you’re there you may as well hit up Miami Beach for a swim and to enjoy the crazy life guard towers dotted along the beach.
I was also lucky enough to take a helicopter tour with Keen Fly out of Fort Lauderdale. If you’re a photographer or even just looking for a great way to see Miami, this is it. We took a sunset tour all the way over Miami and I got the most incredible skyline photos.
As far as people go, everyone in Miami was great. It’s such a diverse and vibrant culture that I couldn’t possibly say enough nice things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That’s a tough one to narrow down. I’ve been incredibly lucky in life with always getting support for being creative. From so many people. Early on from my mom, to my beautiful wife, always being positive and honest with me about whatever I’m trying to do. For sure without those two women I’d be a very different person today.

Website: www.sleepingdogphotography.com

Instagram: @lefthandphil