On Creativity: Sol Neelman
Sol Neelman (b. 1970) is a failed athlete turned sports photographer living in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. After a decade as a newspaper staff photographer, he went freelance, which has given him the freedom to pursue a lifelong photo project on sports culture around the world and work for some rad commercial clients like Nike, Adidas, and Clif Bar.
www.solneelman.com / Twitter / IG
How did you get to where you are today?
I'm an introvert who discovered at Poynter Jr. High School in Hillsboro, Ore. that I could hide behind a camera while gaining access into other people's lives. Somehow that lead to a decade working for newspapers, which helped me fine-tune my skills and introduced me to incredible humans. During the past 15 years as a freelance photographer, I’ve leaned into my passion for dragging my friends to weird sporting events, where we make surreal photos, drink cheap beer, and laugh until sunrise.
What makes you happy?
Connecting with good humans gives me great joy. Finding random events and traditions around the globe warms my heart.
Who or what inspires you?
I'm always inspired when photographers and artists pursue projects that are extremely intimate and personal. Diana Markosian, who photographs her and her family's history and journey, comes to mind. I love when artists express themselves through their art. Ahmet Polat is great, too. He’s a photographer who does film and directs stage performances, and he's an amazing human. His intelligence and passion for exploring identity and masculinity in so many different art forms always inspires me.
What’s the single best thing you’ve read lately/the best documentary or movie /or an experience you’ve had that most impacted you?
Well, the Great British Bake Off had an incredible impact on me early on during the pandemic. The formula is very predictable, but the authenticity of the contestants is staggering. At the end of every episode, I found myself in tears, simply because they all cared so much about each other succeeding. I cared, too. My takeaway is that giving space to authentic people is all that matters when trying to make a compelling storyline.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I'd tell myself that life is a long song. Enjoy the ride and try not to rush things. I'd also encourage not waiting to pursue therapy, exercise, and hobbies.
How do you measure success?
If I slow down and catch my breath, I realize my success comes in the form of all the incredible friendships and connections I've made in my life. I'm very successful there. Somehow, I know so many great photographers who are even better humans. Though to be honest, I'm often guilty of gauging my success by the work I do for others. As a freelancer, the highs and lows are too extreme - and never-ending. My therapist asked me once: "If your freelance career was a relationship, would you stay in it?" And it's hard for me to say yes.
What’s next for you?
I'm about to dive into publishing my 3rd photo book on Weird Sports, which will likely happen this summer in Germany. My next step in that process is taking pre-orders and fundraising. (Editor's note: you can still pick up a copy of Weird Sports 1 and 2; they're both wonderful!)
What would you love to do that doesn’t involve photography?
I really have no idea, but it'd have to include travel and meeting new people over cheap beer.
