Local photographer Gabe Wasylko turns his lens on The Land
By Kelli Comer
Local photographer Gabe Wasylko is dedicated. So much so that he often starts his days at 4:30 a.m., researched and ready to shoot his beloved Cleveland in all its glory from the perfect spot, basking in the glow of the rising sun, all while the city dwellers are sound asleep. The next few hours of his day are dedicated to grabbing various photos around Cleveland until his official workday starts at 8:30 a.m.
“The time I spend shooting each morning is my escape from the world and its craziness,” Gabe smiles. “I love chatting with others who are out and about in the morning, learning more about them and what they love about the city.”
As Gabe wraps up shooting, he’ll hop in his car, grab his laptop and edit his photos right there. “Although it might seem unconventional to do everything in the front seat of my Toyota Corolla, I love going through the shots in the moment,” he says. “Only spending a minute on editing really helps me to highlight the beauty of each photo while ensuring it stays authentic.”
Gabe’s career as Social Media Manager for Destination Cleveland further encompasses and encourages his love of “The Land.” A Brunswick Blue Devil and graduate of The College of Wooster, Gabe grew up around creativity from both parents, and that gene has certainly rubbed off on him. Before joining the Destination Cleveland team, Gabe worked for the Akron RubberDucks for several years, starting in high school and eventually working his way up to Creative Services Coordinator. Armed with degrees in mathematics and political science, Gabe decided instead to stay the creative route with the RubberDucks, moving into his multimedia role and ultimately finding a rewarding career in the creative field.
Gabe’s work is centered on showcasing Cleveland in its natural, authentic state, using his lens to capture the beauty of Northeast Ohio from his perspective. To gain a better understanding of landscape photography, Gabe’s goal was to post one photo per day on Twitter, showcasing different Cleveland and Northeast Ohio staples.
“From there, I had the opportunity to not only track my progress and learn the surrounding area better, but also meet amazing people who love Cleveland as much as I do,” explains Gabe. “The relationships I’ve been able to grow with individuals—whether they live in the area and roam Cleveland each day or have moved away but still have a passion for the city—have been absolutely amazing and I couldn’t be more thankful for everyone’s support.”
Gabe Wasylko is a multimedia producer and designer located in the Greater Cleveland-Akron area. You can reach him at 330-304-5785 or gabewasylko@icloud.com. To learn more about Gabe and to purchase prints, visit GabeWasylko.com.