Creator Five: Cisco Soto

Creator Five

Apr 19

Follow Cisco Soto’s photography, and you may find two general tracks: his action-oriented sports work and his efforts to document his community of York, Pennsylvania. Let’s develop a look at Cisco himself as he answers our Creator Five questions.

1) Cisco has a number of varied, interesting influences, including sports journalist/host Tony Kornheiser, photographer, filmmaker, and composer Gordon Parks, and filmmaker David Lynch.

His favorite books to recommend are Robert Graysmith’s “Zodiac,” and Walter Dean Myers’ National Book Award finalist, “Monster.”

If there’s one favorite song/musician combo, Jay-Z’s “It’s Like That” featuring Kid Capri & Liz Leite.

Jay-Z’s “It’s Like That” featuring Kid Capri & Liz Leite

2) And music connects to Soto’s visual work, with the artist noting that he’s at his most creative when he’s listening to music or when he’s “unbothered.”

3) He remarks that people too often think that photography is “easy and anyone can just pick up a camera and do it.”

Cisco wishes he could tell his younger self to “get started earlier and take bigger risks.” For others following his creative path, “The best camera is the one you have; don’t ever focus on what you cant afford.”

4) Want some insights about his leisure side? Look for the finger-breakdancing kit on his desk. Distract him from his shoots with a classic Italian sub or a box of Cheez-Its.

5) When he has downtime, Cisco enjoys taking his kids to Gettysburg. “Really into the history and Paranormal so we usually explore.”

The only thing out of the normal in Cisco Soto’s work is the quality and interest of his sports photography!