With the invention of photography came the promise of authenticity. Portraits and their inherent subjectivity could be bypassed for the "real deal"- it was a development that largely transformed what we know and experience today as art. But we live in a rapidly evolving society, where technology and media are opening up endless pathways to new forms of creative expression. Today, even the photograph can be manipulated- altered in ways in which often times we can't even distinguish from what is "real" and what is in fact digitally manipulated or computer generated. The change has been confusing for some, exciting for others, and artists are having to decide which side of the line they want to walk on.

Zac Milan is a realist. Authentic in his work, his relationships and his personal style- the guy does what he wants, and he's not worried about what others think. He's a photographer, sponger, gamer, and adventure seeker, and living life with no restrictions seems to be his motto.

His work is just as unrestrained. Some may call it photographic realism... maybe even natural minimalism... both of which may, or may not be actual artistic genres. But who has the right to categorize his work anyways? Zac does of course, and he's clearly not concerned with any labels.

What he does care about is honest, symmetrical photography. He wakes up at 5:30 am and rushes to the beach to catch the early morning sunrise. He'll take some shots of the burnt-orange sky, the soft blue horizon, and the crashing shore break; and then off he goes with his bodyboard to ride a few of the waves for himself. No matter how obscure the shot, Zac tells me how important it is to visualize nature's lines- the structure that underlies Mother Earth's beauty.

He shows me a few pictures on Facebook, taken by some friends of his. "You see that? What is wrong with that shot?" I struggled to find the answer... I mean, I was just looking at a random photo out of a girl with the ocean in the background. "The horizon. It's slanted. That's not how nature is... all of the water should be pouring onto her lap right now." He was right, that's not how that scene would look if I were actually there. "I'm a lines freak".

At first glance you might not be able to tell, but all of his shots are structured. He engineers his frames with precision, ensuring that their elements "make sense". Rule of thirds, lighting, color- they're all just part of the craft. Whether it's crashing waves, cityscapes, or more abstract concept shots, there's an idea, and a feeling behind each capture.

I'm curious about how Zac shares his photos- how he edits them, perfects them, and delivers them through social media. But the thing is, Zac doesn't obsess over editing. He blurs out blotches with the click of a button, and throws down a simple filter if it enhances the image's natural hue. And that's where his realism comes back into play. He shows me a clearly edited picture of a wave that he finds on Instagram. "Only once have I seen the sky red. And what are the chances that there's also enough light to make that water green? It looks nice, but it's overdone." He doesn't need to overproduce his images. He seeks out original perspectives- those that enhance the moment's authentic beauty.

Social media is where he develops and interacts with his audience, but he doesn't let the technology interfere with his creativity. "I might lose about 5 followers per day. But I get them back... it's just that they don't always like what I post." The surf shots are what brings them in, but Zac has recently been playing in different waters. One of his latest photos, Seeing Strangers on the Street, is an out-of-focus image of his Dad. Simple, fuzzy, but inherently complex, the shot points out the unfortunate reality of everyday life- we pass by hundreds, if not thousands of people without ever acknowledging their human qualities.

On the other side of the spectrum, Zac has just debuted his Pastel wave series, in which he transposes pictures of waves on a range of colored backgrounds. By combining the opposing images he leaves viewers curious for more, dreaming of a world where such a scene could be a reality. His followers love this new creation... and it will be exciting to see how this futuristic yet eerily natural idea will develop over time.

My time with Zac comes to a close, and the world of photography is becoming more interesting and exciting than ever. My stomach is grumbling, and my mind is overwhelmed, but he talks about famous photographers and educates me on technique as we leave his bedroom studio.

We grab lunch at Woody's Diner, the local restaurant where he works part time as a server. Clearly, he's loved by his co-workers. He seems to have a close relationship with everyone there. He always has something to say, and conversation with him is organic and smooth. Once seated, the hostess throws down a to-go creamer on the table, and Zac downs it like a shot. He'll take a Texas BBQ Burger, no pickles, no onions, no tomatoes, cooked medium-rare, and he'll "have guacamole on that. But put it IN the onion ring."

Quirky, cool, and real- it's easy to see what Zac is all about. We can't bother to question is motives, or guess what will be his next step. All we can do sit back and attempt to see the world from his lens. It might be different, but it will definitely be real.

by Charlie Stephens

Images: Zac Milan

Instagram