Doo, Doo, Doowop Doo, Doo

All i really want to say my darling today is a special day we call our
Own so take me in your arms and hold me and tell me you love me
and i’ll be there for you
Do you know what today is
Do you know what today is
It’s our anniversary (it’s our, it’s our special day)
anniversary
Do you know what today is
It’s your anniversary made for Dave and Holly…

Ooooh I love me some Tony Toni Tone…It’s Our Anniversary…now that…that right there…is my JAM!! WHOOO…slow jams, grindin’ at the house parties with that special someone…brings me back…well…this interview ain’t necessarily about them days…I’ll revisit those in another article…maybe…EITHER WAY…the reason why I’ve got that song in my head is that today…like…TODAY…is our friends @kewiki and @musiccityace’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY on IG…so together…if ya’ll know the song…sing the above with me and let’s greet them in a Life To Music fashion…Doo, Doo, Doowop, Doo…ok ok…maybe later…

let’s meet these lovely folks from the Midwest…happy couple, happy family who are powerhouses individually and of course togehter…The Temples: Dave (@kewiki), Holly (@musiccityace), Emily, Chloe, and Colin…

H: Holly D: Dave BP: Yes. That’s me.

BP:  Tell us how the daily life of the Temple family looks like. Who is Dave? Who is Holly? (outside of IG, what do you all do for a living etc etc)

D:  Holly is a wife, mom, homemaker.

H: Dave is a husband, dad and works for King+Knight, a digital agency in Fort Wayne, IN

BP:  Ya’ll are pretty involved with the Igers Chicago crew.  Can you tell us why this is important for ya’ll to be involved in?  What suggestions would you have for others who are on the margins about joining an Igers group in their city?

H:  It has been amazing connecting with the people from IG in real life.  They have gone from being “someone you know on an app” to extended family.  I look forward to the meets now, not just to take pics but to see everyone.  We had an instameet the week before Thanksgiving and were able to stay later and go out to dinner with them.  I joked that it was like Thanksgiving dinner with the family you actually WANT to see!

Don’t be afraid.  I’m so extremely shy and was very nervous the first time but I can’t imagine missing out on seeing my other family and meeting new friends if I had given into the fear that first time.

D:  The Chicago crowd has been great and is headed up by @relaxocat. She does an amazing job at coordinating the events and getting people involved. The events are always different and allow everyone to get a chance to see a different part of the city. The people in the group are the best part. It’s been great to be with other like-minded people and learn more about them outside of IG. They truly have become our friends.

My advice is to find an Instameet in your area and go. We drive three hours just to go to ours and it’s worth the drive. You learn a lot and it’s such a fun way to network.

BP:  Chicago and/or surrounding areas.  Where do ya’ll actually live and how does this influence your art? Can you describe your area to help us visualize more what the Temple’s see everyday?  Where would you (either individually, couple, or family) like to shoot?

H:  We live in a small town in Indiana of about 8,000 people.  The next bigger towns are 30 minutes each way with nothing but flat roads and cornfields in between.  It has definitely influenced my art.  I enjoyed taking pics of downtown Nashville before we moved back and we don’t really have that big city feel here now.  It’s caused me to get more creative though and allowed me to see the beauty in an old rundown barn. I would absolutely LOVE to shoot Boston.  Only been once but so gorgeous.

D:  To piggy back on what Holly said, the change of scenery definitely impacted our art. At first it was difficult to find things to take pics of. But I am lucky enough to work in an area that has a lot of old brick buildings. They make a great subject for shooting. I’d love to travel to Italy, London or Germany to shoot pics of the art, scenery and people.

BP:  Dave and Holly, ya’ll are powerhouses on IG with great respect through not only you’re art but also through your interaction with your followers and the community.  What is it about IG that keeps ya’ll going?

H:  The creativity has to be my #1 thing.  I never knew I had so much bottled up before being able to let it out.  Next would be the awesome people.  So many have become friends outside of IG and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

D:  Definitely the creative outlet. It’s great to be part of a community. Regardless of how many followers you have, it’s important to just be active, be real and just have fun.

BP:  When do ya’ll find time to shoot?  Are there times that you both go out shooting together? as a couple? or within a group?

H:  We don’t really shoot as a couple, unless we are out as a family and something catches our eyes! And it’s usually the same thing and we have a little spat about who gets to shoot it! Lol.  I would love to do a family photowalk but I think time is the biggest issue.  With that said, most of my shots come from around the house, while driving (safely!) or Dave will slow down while driving so I can lean over to get that perfect barn.

D:  I had to get a production schedule figured out so that IG didn’t interfere with my “real” life too much. It has worked great for me and has become so routine that I don’t think about it. I basically shoot wherever I am and whatever catches my eye. The iPhone is ALWAYS in hand so I don’t miss a shot. We usually go shooting together when the weather is nicer and we take a walk as a family, but we typically try to shoot different things. And yes, she usually beats me to the good shots!

BP:  You have three beautiful children in Chloe, Emily, and Colin.  How have ya’ll instilled in them the passion of photography/ arts?  Does each of them share the same passion as you all?

H:  We want them to be themselves.  Emily showed some interest while taking a digital photography class in school but it died off when the class ended.  She’s very crafty though, learning to knit at 6 and teaching me when she was 8! I think Chloe has the photographers eye.  Some of her shots are normal 11 year old shots but some have made me jealous that I wasn’t the one that got it! She’s very artistic and loves to draw the most.  She has talked about being an architect when she grows up but I think she would make a great photographer too.  Colin is much more techy.  He enjoyed taking pics at an instameet but hasn’t done it since.  He would rather play a video game or help fix a broken xbox.

D:  We really try hard to promote creativity and thinking outside of the box with the kids. They all think about and see things completely different and we teach them that there’s no one way to do things. They are all amazing in their own ways and all have different opinions of what art is to them. We may not all share the same passions for things, but we try to be involved in their lives as much as possible. Basically we just try to lead by example.

BP:  How have ya’ll both gained the passion for mobile photography? for the arts?

H:  I have always had a little interest in photography but the passion didn’t come out until IG.  I had taken shots with the dslr before but ended up frustrated that I couldn’t capture what was in my mind so I gave up.  After having an iphone though, I know my frustration was more with my lack of knowledge of photoshop and not being able to edit the way I saw it.

D:  I started shooting when I was a little kid. Whether it was a 35mm film camera or a Polaroid. I always enjoyed it. I got my first real camera in high school and learned how to shoot with film. It’s a great way to learn. Digital photography really just helped make me better. I fell in love with mobile photography as soon as I got an iPhone though. Truly the best phone a photographer could own. I am also a huge fan of the arts. Anything from paintings to sculptures to music and more.

BP:  Outside of just the photography, editing is a huge factor for a lot of folks on IG.  This reigns true for ya’ll as ya’ll are able to edit and produce beautiful art.  What are yalls favorite apps? When you first started, what apps did you all use? How have you seen the progression of these apps, and ultimately the “super” app would be able to do what?

H:  I’m a huge fan of snapseed for my barns.  I love ProHDR for sunsets.  I was hardcore camera+ when I first started and it’s still the app I usually turn to first for certain things.  The apps just keep getting better but as far as a “super” app, I would have to say that snapseed is about there.  If they added a masking tool it would be even more awesome.

D:  Favorite apps are snapseed, pixlromatic, Hipstamatic, super retro and proHDR. I think camera + was my first and I still use it every once in a while. The apps just get better and better as they begin to emulate much of what you can do on your computer. I’d love to see a mobile version of Adobe Lightroom someday, that also includes Lomo filters, effects and more. I think Filterstorm and Iris are close though. We both get asked all the time what kind of camera we used for a shot. We really just use our phones. The trick is in the editing. That’s what makes the shot look amazing.

BP:  Are there styles that you see on IG that you don’t necessarily use, that you would like to try? IE. street, portraiture.  What would you say is your “style”?

H:  I’m very random but would have to say that landscapes would be my style. I think I would try any style, but I’m very happy with my landscapes and randomness so I don’t feel a pull towards any other style right now.

D:  I really love street photography shots from folks in New York City. I also love some of the black and white photography of elderly people or people with very interesting faces. (Think National Geographic) I would have to say my style leans toward journalistic in the sense that it’s more of a magazine feel.

BP:  What do you think when someone says that mobile photography/ arts isn’t a viable art form? Do you see it as a viable art form?

H:  It is most definitely a viable art form!  Some things that some people do with their pictures absolutely amazes me and makes me feel something emotionally.  That’s art.

D:  I guess I’d ask them what art is to them? Anything that causes you to feel an emotional response by engaging you to stop, study and ponder is art. I wouldn’t say that all mobile photography turns into art, but not all clay turns into a beautiful vase either. It’s what the artist does with the raw form of mobile photography that allows it to turn into art.

BP:  What other passions do you all have outside of mobile photography?

H:  I like to knit. Recently taught myself how to crochet too.  I love spending time with the family watching movies and I am a little too passionate about games on my phone!

D:  I love to sing. I do it every day no matter where I am. Like Holly, I too love watching movies, but I typically watch them with a critical and creative eye.

BP:  CONGRATULATIONS on your IG Anniversary today. When you first started what got ya’ll hooked?  What are the pros and cons of IG in your honest opinion?

H:  I originally got the app as a different option for putting pics on twitter.  Once I realized it was a social app, I never imagined being as involved as I am.  I was hooked when someone other than Dave first liked a photo.  How exciting to have someone you don’t know like something of yours!

D:  I originally got the app for the filters and then discovered it was a social app. It soon became addicting because I wanted to see if anyone liked my stuff. Then I began meeting new people and the rest is history. Pros of the app for me are that you have a creative outlet, get to meet new people and be inspired by others to keep improving. Cons of the app are the spamming, copyright issues and the lack of effort by some people to improve their skills. It’s a photography app, not Tumblr and we both have seen a flood of junk showing up. But, that doesn’t keep us from posting. You gotta drown out the negative with the positive. That’s just part of it being a social app.

BP:  Holly had some shots stolen and gained a lot of support from the IG community for the IG Anti-Theft movement.  Holly, you’ve been able to return to IG after such a terrible happening.  What brought you back? Dave how were you able to support her outside of IG?  Can you describe the emotions of finding out about this, processing, and coming to the conclusion to return?

H:  I couldn’t stay away!  I get very emotional about things, overly emotional sometimes and I wear them on my sleeve. I have had other shots stolen but have learned how to deal with it better.  Yes, I still get very mad.  It’s very frustrating to see a shot that you worked hard on on someone else’s profile taking the credit for it. I might not make money from my shots but that doesn’t mean anything.  I put myself in each one.  My editing is pure gut feeling so when someone steals a shot, I take it very personally.  My first thought was “I quit”.  I was mad and frustrated and just wanted to quit.  The anger starts going away with the power of the flag, report and block options.  But once your photo and/or the user is removed it’s hard to stay away.  Yes, it will probably happen again but that little report/block button is very powerful.

D:  I am more passive in how I handle things. I typically play the “peace keeper” role. But, I have to stay supportive of Holly throughout and just encourage her. I just reminded her that for every one “bad” person, there are thousands of others who are inspired by her and appreciate her work.

BP:  I remember thinking to myself, “this couple has got to be the first family of IG!”.  Both of you were able to pull many successful challenges, which ultimately helped Ale and I come up with some Life To Music challenges. Do you all plan to still do challenges in the future? If you are, what are some ideas of challenges that we may see from you all?

H:  I miss doing challenges!  The success of my Gotham Clouds Challenge was very exciting but it’s also exhausting.  We’ve taken a little break from challenges but plan to start again after the new year!  As far as ideas, we haven’t really thought much about it.  We agree that there are certain things you have to consider to make it successful so a lot of thought goes into each one and we haven’t gotten that far yet.

D:  The challenges are a blast and I can’t wait to partner with Holly again on future ones. We’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work in a challenge and have established great relationships with @postalpix, @hatchcraft and @keepsy. We will definitely be starting up again after the holidays.

BP:  Back to the kiddos.  I know for myself, every chance I get I try to get my little one to learn how to use the camera.  Did your children naturally take on mobile photography? What are some of the things you would say to other parents who have future mobile artists i their family?

D:  Our kids have had a camera in their face since the minute they were born. I think they have just learned by example and have each taken on their own personal flare. We love to see what they come up with and are blown away sometimes at the shots they take. For parents of future mobile artists, encourage them to be creative with their shots. If they do end up in a social environment like IG, just monitor them closely. We post the kids’ pics for them on IG so they can have a creative outlet, but they don’t actually go to the pop page and see what else people are posting. Until the content is cleaned up, they won’t. They still enjoy hearing the comments and how many likes they received. They all compete with each other a little in that way.

BP:  Who is Wilbur the Ant? What does Wilbur the Ant represent? What is the future for Wilbur the Ant?

D:  Wilbur was created on IG back in June after I lost my job. I needed a creative outlet and posted a pic of an ant. He was named and people prompted me to keep posting new pics. So he became a way for me to share my daily experiences and emotions. Soon after people suggested a book be written and that’s what I did. Wilbur now brings happiness to many folks on IG and has become a member of the community. I plan on writing more books and just enjoying the ride for now. Reading the book for kids has been the best part of the experience. Their minds are so open to learning and they are sponges.

BP:  In one year, what have ya’ll seen change in IG? for the worst? for the best? Have ya’ll tried any of the other photo social apps? Why or why not?

D:  The biggest thing I’ve seen change is the volume of spammers. Some of that may just be more noticeable due to the amount of followers I have. The app has improved greatly and @mikeyk and @kevin have done a great job with maintenance and improvements to the app. I haven’t really tried to many other photo social apps. Mainly just because I like to stay focused on one community.

H:  I agree that the amount of negativity, spamming and stealing have all increased but that’s gonna happen with so many more millions of people on than when we started. But there are also more great people to see and share with. I haven’t been interested in any other photo social apps. IG meets my needs and wants and isn’t one addiction bad enough? ????

BP:  Where do you see the future of mobile photography/ arts is going?

H:  I think it’s just going to keep blowing up.  I think mobile cameras will continue to get better and I would love to shoot a wedding entirely by iphone.

D:  As the technology improves, it will only get better. Apple has really pushed the art form forward. I eventually see stereo (3D) photography being a logical next step, but it will be a ways off. I’d love to someday do an exhibit strictly limited to mobile photography.

BP:  Lastly, what does the future hold for the Temple family? in general and in the mobile photography community?

D:  We basically take one day at a time. Who knows where things will go from here. We can only hope it’s good. The key is to just be open to positive new experiences. For mobile photography, I’ll pretty much go as long as the technology allows, and it looks like it will only get better. So you guys are pretty much stuck with me. Haha

H:  Ditto

Dave’s Favorite Shots

Train Tracks – Taken in the evening and edited with snapseed. I love the mood of this shot and it’s vanishing point.

Old Man – This was a homeless man in Wicker Park that I paid $5 to take his pic. He has an amazing face! I used snapseed for this shot as well.

Holly’s Favorite Shots

Sunsets on the lake in TN were my favorite. I love color so this shot was eye candy for me! Edited with ProHDR, camera+ and tilt shift generator

Queen Anne’s lace, sunset and clouds. How could it get any better! I love shooting weeds/twigs/flowers in front of a sunset. ProHDR

The Temple Kid’s Favorite Shots

Ducks – Taken by Colin with his cell phone in Chicago during an Instameet

Gate- taken and edited by Emily on her cellphone during Instameet in Chicago

Me and Mom –  Taken by Chloe. Shot in Chicago at an Instameet.