Ed Sozinho is an award-winning commercial photographer and director with a keen eye for outdoor lifestyle, portraiture, and architectural photography. Ed’s work is about more than capturing moments; it’s about creating an experience, bringing the viewer into the center of the scene. Originally an award-winning architect, Ed’s journey into photography was fueled by a childhood dream and his deep love of design and the great outdoors. This unique blend of skills has carved her niche, leading to collaborations with outdoor brands, various clients in the architecture industry, and conservation groups. Beyond his camera, Ed is also a world-class fly caster and competent fly tier, skills that add a unique depth to his work and the inspiration for BYGFLY.
Ed’s unique perspective transforms ordinary subjects into extraordinary stories; in his BYGFLY Series, he takes that point of view and focuses it on classic fly patterns.
What is BYGFLY?
BIGFLY is revolutionizing the art of fly tying with a new and innovative visual approach. This collection shows exceptional detail through a series of large-scale images, mesmerizing viewers with intricate textures, vibrant colors, and diverse materials that come together around a hook. Each image is a masterpiece, transforming classic fly patterns into exquisite pieces of art that reflect the beauty of the natural world. This immersive visual experience invites you to discover the fine craftsmanship and creativity that define the art of fly tying, bringing the minutiae of this skill to a grand, awe-inspiring scale.
The Inspiration
Ed finds himself at a creative crossroads in the quiet sanctuary of his flying room. Ever hungry for a challenge, he sought to blend his passion for photography into a conceptually rich project. Whether in the precise lines of architecture or the fine art of fly-tying, Ed is always looking for meaning and purpose, asking “Why does it exist?” as his guiding mantra.
In this introspective space, surrounded by the tools of his childhood craft, inspiration took flight. Since the age of nine, Ed has tied flies, a dance of thread and feathers. And now, as he looked at these artistic creations, a vision began to crystallize.
He thought of those who were still alive, but not of the ordinary kind. They are images of flies, each a microcosm of artistry and intention, poised to speak silently. Ed dove into the history of found and everyday objects transformed into art, finding parallels between it and his vision. In both architecture and fly-tying, he saw the amalgamation of beauty and utility, each discipline demanding a solution to a tangible need – a shelter from the storm, a lure for unsuspecting fish.
The challenge, he realized, was to create something timeless that reflected the complexities of both art forms. And then, the last piece of the puzzle clicks into place, he captures the ephemeral beauty of the flies in a moment suspended in time.
The process
Ed then began his artistic endeavor to show the intricate beauty of fly-tying to the world, aiming to produce images that magnify small works of art, allowing both fishermen and women to see their tackles in a new light.
The journey began with capturing flies in the utmost detail, large enough to reveal every thread and fiber. Ed’s vision was clear: a sharp image of a fly, from the eye of the hook to the tip of its tail. This requires overcoming technical hurdles, starting with the need for high-resolution images to retain detail when printed in large. Fortunately, a 2023 firmware update from Canon to their R5 camera included a High-Resolution IBIS image feature, producing a stunning 400MB image – perfect for Ed’s needs.
However, these high-res images demand complete silence due to the IBIS stacking technique; any movement, even the slightest breeze, can disturb the delicate fur of the marabou. Ed made sure no drafts entered his studio, staying as long as possible to get the necessary frames.
Depth of field posed another problem. Using a 50mm macro lens, Ed wanted to bring the viewer in close while offering a wide view, as if the fly floated overhead. At half-life size, only a small section will be in focus at any one time. To achieve the comprehensive detail he wanted, Ed switched from a manual slider to a precision-geared slider, which allowed him to capture every slice of focus without changing the magnification.
The first subject of this painstaking process was the Woolly Bugger, a complex fly that required 51 photos to fully document. Each image is a step in a dance of focus, from the hook eye to the tail feathers.
Lighting was the next challenge. Ed chose warm lights, which allowed him to see the effects on the fly as he worked. He carefully documented the setup for consistency throughout the project. It took two days to perfect the lighting, especially since he wanted a modern look with a white background. The difficulty was making sure the white feathers stood out against this backdrop, which he achieved by playing with light ratios.
Ed also considered the natural attraction of flies, which often comes from sunlight playing on their materials. A kicker light has been essential in bringing out the sparkle and realism, making the flies pop off the page.
Once Ed had his 51 images, each with its own sharp focus area, image stacking began. While creating a comprehensive image, this process introduced new issues such as blending, which he carefully corrected in Photoshop; despite his meticulous preparation and cleaning of flies before shooting, dust and stray fibers invisible to the eye still needed editing.
The final steps involve sharpening, adjusting contrast, and printing proofs. Ed carefully matched the print to the on-screen image, ensuring that the final product represented the original file. This project is more than just a series of photos; it is a tribute to the art of fly-tying, revealing the hidden complexity and beauty of the world’s flies.
The result
The BYGFLY series consists of classic fly patterns, each offered in a limited edition of fifteen 44″ x 44″ archival prints. Each print is carefully mounted on Gatorboard and then laminated with acid-free archival products. Each is placed in a white floating frame, creating a stunning modern contemporary piece. Each print is signed and numbered and shipped directly to customers from Seattle.
Check out the entire BYGFLY series at Ed’s websiteor feel free to contact Ed directly at [email protected] if you have any questions.
