Phil Sturm Photography

I’ve been a photographer for as long as I can remember—long before I understood the technical side of a camera.

For years, photography was how I documented family, travel, and the landscapes and wildlife I encountered along the way. I trusted my eye and my sense of composition, even if most of my images were made in full auto. The curiosity was always there; the deeper understanding came later.

That turning point arrived with my first drone, a Mavic 2 Pro. Flying it made one thing clear: if I wanted to do the scenes in front of me justice, I needed to fully understand light, exposure, and camera control. I began studying—through books, videos, and hands-on practice—eventually investing in a modern mirrorless system and diving headfirst into photography.

From there, I explored a number of photography genres: landscape and wildlife, long exposure, macro, astrophotography, timelapse, sports, and real estate. Just as important, I learned how to bring images to life through thoughtful raw processing and editing.

In 2022, I joined the Downtown Creative in Harrisonburg, Virginia as a real estate photographer. There, I refined my technical and professional skills—drone operations, interior photography, HDR blending, and consistent post-processing—creating polished visual media for realtors and builders.

After moving to Ohio, my focus naturally returned to the outdoors. I now spend my free time photographing and filming the natural world, creating still images and timelapse sequences that highlight light, weather, and quiet change. Alongside this work, I continue to grow my YouTube channel, sharing both the places I explore and the process behind capturing them.

Photography, for me, is about slowing down—paying attention to the world as it is, and translating those moments into something lasting.