Email: [email protected]
Website: www.frankmasi.com
Bio:
Fank Masi was born in 1966 in Nyack New York and Studied Art and Photography at The School of Visual Arts in NYC. After graduating from The Portfolio Center in 1991 in Atlanta, GA he moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and shot over 75 major motion films, specializing in big budget action films. Masi has been the unit stills photographer for over a dozen films with Bruce Willis, starting in 1997 with Armageddon, Unbreakable, Live Free or Die Hard, and A Good Day to Die Hard. He has also captured the stills of four films featuring Dwayne Johnson, including Jumanji in 2015 and Rampage in 2017. Frank’s biggest career highlight was winning The Publicist Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Motion Picture Still Photography in 2012. When not working, he spends his free time riding and collecting motorcycles. Frank resides in Pasadena with wife Julie and daughter Maddie.
Q&A:
Photography Genre: Motion Picture Still Photographer
Hometown: Nyack, NY
Resides: Pasadena, CA
Career Highlight #1: Getting hired on THE ROCK. That film changed my life.
Career Highlight #2: Winning the 2012 Publicist Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Motion Picture Still Photography.
Career Highlight #3: Being asked to work regulary with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson.
BlackRapid product of choice: Cross Shot Breathe and Sport Breathe camera straps
Age you took your first photo? What camera did you use? Age 21 with Nikon 2020, 35mm lens.
When did you realize that you wanted to be a professional photographer? Realized I want to be a Photographer at about age 22.
Who inspires you: My biggest inspiration are other Still Photographers that I admire including, Douglas Kirkland, Phil Stern, David Friedman, David James, Jasin Boland as well as photographers Irving Penn, Walker Evans and Elliott Erwitt.
What camera do you use to capture most of your work? Cameras I use most are the Hasselblad X Pan, Fuji XT2, Leica SL and Leica Monochrome.
If I could photograph anyone in the world, alive or deceased, it would be… If I could Photograph one person that I haven’t it would be Bruce Springsteen because his music changed my life.
What do you do when not taking photos? When I am not working I am working on and riding Motorcycles and driving my 66’ Mustang GT Convertible. I also collect vintage Gas and Oil signs, Motorcycle and Automobile signs and Petroliana.
Favorite place on earth? Home in Los Angeles and vacation spot of Maui.
One piece of advice for someone at the beginning stages of their photography career? Don’t be afraid to fail! Go after whatever type of photographer that you want to be with a vengeance!
How do you “Live The Moment”? I honestly try to follow the motto “Live each day like you’re dying!”
