On any given weekend, you might find Ellery Sanchez, known as “Mismo,” a nickname born from his mother’s frequent Spanish refrain, “Siempre lo mismo,” and his son EJ, hiking through the woods of Lynn, cameras in hand, scanning treetops for owls, or scouting abandoned structures for the perfect cinematic frame.
To passersby, they appear to be a father and son enjoying the outdoors, and while that may be true, they are also quietly building a creative partnership that spans photography, filmmaking, music, and storytelling.
Sanchez didn’t set out to be a photographer or filmmaker.
Like many others, his creative spark was ignited by the isolation of the pandemic. With days stretching long, Sanchez found himself restless at home. He set out and bought a camera off Facebook Marketplace, and that camera is what led him to a passion for wildlife photography, mainly animals and birds, all while chasing the perfect shot of a Great Horned Owl.
“Little by little, I started collecting lenses, bags, and just going out taking pictures. Then I realized this was something I always wanted to do.” Sanchez said. “I fell in love with the whole thing. Now, I want to see every bird.”
Spotting an owl for the first time changed everything. Today, Sanchez drives miles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in search of them.
The passion for wildlife photography would soon draw in EJ and eventually have him taking his own shots as well.
“I learned from him,” EJ said, explaining how he picked up techniques like reflection photography, capturing landscapes mirrored in still ponds, which later earned him recognition at local exhibitions, including his work being displayed at a show for the Marblehead Arts Association.
The two would join together and form their brand: Ellery and Son Photography. With this, the duo’s work has been featured in local art shows, film festivals, and galleries across the North Shore.
What began as a pandemic pastime has evolved into a growing body of work rooted in curiosity, imagination, and a deep bond between a father and son.
Their work has also found a home at LynnArts, where both father and son have participated in exhibitions such as the “Black Excellence art exhibit.”
EJ would have his work showcased at these exhibitions, and would even read his poetry in front of the attendees, moments Sanchez describes as some of his proudest.
“Watching him stand up there and read his own words… that stays with you,” Sanchez said.
EJ is currently in his sophomore year of high school at Lynn Tech and keeps himself very busy. Not only does he do photography, but he is also a percussionist for the Lynn All-City Band, does track and field, and focuses on his culinary studies. Despite the packed schedule, creativity remains central.
“I just want to create paths for him… different avenues he could explore, and then decide for himself which one to follow,” Sanchez said. “I believe children watch what their parents do, so I figured I’d show him a better way, multiple avenues, so by the time he becomes his own man, he has options.”
Sanchez and EJ just don’t limit themselves to photography; the duo has also dabbled in filmmaking, an idea that came from EJ himself.
“At school, we had film editing,” EJ said. “I wanted to use those skills to make short movies.”
Their first project, filmed when EJ was just 10, was a low-budget horror short shot in a real hotel called “Hotel of Horror,” and this resulted in sparking something much bigger.
Since then, they’ve produced a series of suspense and horror films featuring a masked villain whose looks evolve with each installment. Their latest film, “The Crooked Face Man,” a silent, Charlie Chaplin-style approach, is filmed largely in and around Lynn Woods, renamed “Whispering Woods,” and the movie relies on atmosphere, effects, and imagination rather than big budgets. Fake cadavers, modified masks, silent-film techniques, and abandoned locations all play a role.
Having previously had a film accepted and screened at the Marblehead Film Festival, the duo is now hoping to return with this new project. They feel this latest movie has pushed their creative limits even further, and they are eager to showcase it at the festival.
“We do everything ourselves,” Sanchez said. “He handles the editing, transitions, and special effects. I just put the pieces together and let him work his magic.”
Beyond cameras and editing software, this partnership is about time… time spent exploring, learning, and growing together. Over the years, the duo has also dabbled in food blogging, sports commentary, and music videos for Sanchez, who is a former hip-hop artist.
“He motivates me,” Sanchez said. “If he wants to see something, I want to show him it’s possible.”
For EJ, the exposure to so many creative outlets has helped him understand his own interests. While photography and filmmaking remain important, he says he currently enjoys sports and the culinary arts the most… options he feels empowered to choose because of his upbringing.
Their long-term dream is simple but ambitious: to be discovered. Whether through a streaming platform, film festival, or a collaboration, Sanchez hopes someone will see their potential and give them a chance to scale their ideas.
“I’d love to see this series on a big screen one day,” Sanchez said. “Even if it stays low-budget… that’s the look I love.”
For now, they continue doing what they’ve always done: heading into the woods, setting up cameras, and creating together.
Prints of their photography are available for purchase on their website, and their films can be found on their YouTube channel, Wild World and Sunset Adventures (youtube.com/@myzmostar).
Exploring the “flora and fauna” of their hometown, proving that inspiration can be found right in your own backyard… whether it’s in the wings of an owl or the shadow of a masked villain. The mission remains the same: a father and son, a couple of cameras, and a limitless imagination.
