Da’ Kine,  One of Hawaii’s Amazing Mobile Artists: Melveen C. (I affectionately call her Sistah Mel)

BP’s Introduction

Hawaii is paradise.  It’s just plain beautiful.  I went there with some close friends last year and it was an amazing time full of sunshine, palm trees, beaches, and a rich history.  I ate spam musubi, portugese sausage, cornbeef, eggs, rice on the daily.  Shoutout to Leonard’s Bakery for the most CRACKINEST malasadas.  But it’s not just about the food or the scenery. Ohana (family) is rooted in the cultural identity of the islands.  The people, the localz, welcome visitors from all parts of the world to experience not only the surroundings but the lifestyle.  The islands are really an escape for a lot of the rest of the world.  Imagine, living there. Imagine what life would be like to wake up to local bird calls and streaming waterfalls. Localz may not hear this all the time but as a visitor, it sure is…paradise.  Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure the 808 state has it’s societal woes of poverty, drugs, corporate greed, and crime. AND shit, we can’t forget about the soverignty movment. That needs to get publicity. (Hello, soapbox, getting off of it now, Thanks.) BUT for this, this right here, this article about Mel, its about her giving us a glimpse into the life of the islands to pick us up from our local surroundings, our local daily drab of a day.  The images on my Instagram, EyeEm, Path, and Streamzoo (yeah I know way to many freakin’ photo social network apps) that come from HI makes me feel at ease and gets me thru my day.  The funny thing is as I write this, I’m listening to Jawaiian music aka Island Reggae aka Hawaiian reggae.  I listen to it every day actually. The sounds of the islands via Jawaiian makes me drive nicer, work nicer, and feel…well…you know…da kine…makes me feel IRIE.  Some days I wish I spoke pidgin.  Ask my family and friends, I try. So how do I compensate? How do I deal? Well I follow my braddahs and sistahs from the 808.  CHEEEE! The first and most notable for me…Hawaii’s homegrown local girl, Melveen. So let’s go ahead and talk to Mel and dig into her head a bit.  She’s a bit shy and don’t like to talk much but I think I was able to get a good glimpse into her world.

Ho cuz, mahalos yeah fo checking out dis place.  Go look down on da lettahz below fo da kine. Shoots den! (and enter serious BP for dis interview)

B:  BP  M:  Mel

B:  Peace Sistah Mel.  Aloha. BIG thanks for doing this interview. So…Who is @me_lv? What are you all about?

M:  I’m a very calm and simple person.  I enjoy going to movies or curling up in bed with a good book, visiting with friends, and of course making time to go out and capture life around me.  I’m Chinese, Hawaiian, Puerto Rican, and Spanish.  I have more of my father’s traits (Chinese, Hawaiian) but also have my mother’s fair skin.  Many people are usually shocked to find out I’m born and raised in Hawaii.  I work in a hospital as a Registered Nurse, taking care of and helping others is definetly my calling in life.  Only recently have I discovered the world of photography to be a hobby and creative outlet for me.  I love my family and friends and constantly surround myself with their positive and loving energy.  My favorite color is purple and I’m highly addicted to coffee.  After joining IG I noticed I look at the world differently.  From top to bottom, side to side, all different angles until I find one that fits.

B:  Can you tell us about the islands? The “808”? The “HI”? AND how it how has the islands influenced you and your art? And MORE importantly how you’re Ohana (family) has influenced you and your art.

M:  I’m born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu.  Hawaii is known to be a very family oriented State and a melting pot of different ethnicities.  Everyone is considered family here on the island.  Aunties, uncles, brother’s, sister’s, cousin’s, we all are “Ohana” or family.  It’s the Aloha spirit that we all try to live by.  My style is very simple and down to earth.  Before IG I literally had no life.  Time for me was spent either in nursing school, studying, or working full time at the hospital.  After graduating from UH this past May with a higher degree in nursing I’m able to freely live and enjoy the simple pleasures around me.  If you look back at my feed on IG you’ll see where my captures take a turning point.  I start posting more nature shots and beach life.  I’ve honestly never really noticed the beauty of a palm tree until I started posting them on IG.  I always took them for granted because it’s a part of life here on the island – we are surrounded by palm trees.  I’ve also honestly never gotten to really enjoy a sunset until I started posting them on IG.  Now I take the time to observe and really be thankful to be surrounded by such beauty with nature. I’m also very fortunate to have been raised by loving parents whom have been married for almost 45 years and honestly you still see the love between these two. They definitely influenced who I am today. They have taught my brother and I to always have respect for one another, and to treat others the way you want to be treated.  My parents have given us the best childhood memories! We were always active – at the park, beach, roller skating, movies, parties, family functions.  Life was always about fun activities and they were both involved in all of it. I wouldn’t change it for the world!

B:  Hawaii is quite often referred to as “paradise.” Shit, I call it paradise and I wish I lived there. How does the island life compare to the mainland? Along with that where else have you visited or have lived, and how does that compare to the island life?

M:  One can easily develop a love affair with the beaches here on the island.  Aside from the beach life the island life is very laid back. The climate all year long is mid 70’s to 80’s.  Shorts, t-shirts, and slippers are your essential’s.  Cost of living may be considered high but it’s the price we all pay to live in “paradise.”  I’ve only travelled within the US.  I’ve travelled to all the outer islands except Kaho’olawe and Ni’ihau.  I’ve also travelled to California, Seattle, Oregon, Chicago.  I’ve never lived anywhere else but here in Hawaii.  I’ve always wanted to move and experience life elsewhere but my heart and my roots are island bound.

B:  Can you describe your community on the island in general? What does it comprise of? What is the mobile arts/ photography community like on the islands? Who are some of your favorite mobile artists/ photographers on the islands and why?

M:  I live in town so I’m definitely known as a “townie.”  I grew up in the Kapahulu area which is so close to Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Kaimuki.  City life on the island means more cars, people, buildings, and sometimes too much traffic.  But city life is still surrounded by paradise meaning beaches, parks, palm trees and other reminders of why were so lucky to live in Hawaii.  I don’t think the mobile arts/photography has really blown up on the island yet.  We do have our own little profile with @InstagramHI where many local artists are featured and contests are held for the community.  But it’s definitely a growing art here on the island.  There’s a lot of good talent on the island.  It’s hard to name just a few.  What’s neat is although we live on an island and may capture a similar scene, it’s always nice to see it from other peoples perspective.

B:  Tell us a bit about how you use your mobile to capture your part of the world.

M:  I use my iPhone 4 right now and would love to get the 4S for the camera alone but I talked myself into waiting for the next iPhone.  I like it because it’s always with me and it’s very small and convenient. My phone should be an appendage of my body.  Pros are small, light, handy, always with me as it’s my cell phone.  Some cons would be the clarity is not always the greatest.  The quality all depends on the lighting.  For me the iPhone 4 is not the greatest in capturing with low light.  The pictures become too grainy and distorted.  Sometimes the exposure can be a bit too much.  If the sunlight is too strong it washes out some objects in the picture.  When I do try to get the right exposure by tapping on the screen, it can take too long and I end up missing my shot.  I still enjoy using my phone though because the cons just make it more challenging for me.  The post processing is very handy as I can do it all on my phone.  A few apps, a few adjustments, a few taps and I’m done.

B:  In almost all of your photographs, you have a quote or a song reference. All are descriptive of your images. What is your personal philosophy on attaching references to your photographs?

M:  I use it as a way to describe the moment captured.  Most times the references relate to the picture and other times it may just be a random feeling, thought, or emotion.  I do take the time to search and really make it fit, but it doesn’t always turn out that way. At first it was a way to express emotion along with pic.  I started getting positive feedback, it was exciting to hear people say, “I look forward to your pictures and quotes, they help brighten up my day.”  So I continue to do it because people enjoy them.  My mission of putting positive out there is being accomplished!

B:  I love the references you use and most in particular, any and all Bob Marley references? What do these references mean to you outside of the photography? Are they a part of how you live your life? A personal belief system?

M:  My career involves taking care of people.  Most are very sick health wise.  With this type of work I’m exposed to many different emotions, most times all at once – happy, sad, good, bad.  Life itself already can be too serious, so I like to keep a positive outlook on things.  I always try to make it positive no matter what.  We all need that little encouragement every now and then, the little reminder that, hey we all are human and your doing the best you can do in life so don’t forget it.  You put positive out there – positive comes back to you sometimes triple.  Not that I am expecting anything from doing this.  It is just my way of sharing good vibes.

B:  What is your most inspired quote or song lyric? and why?

M:  My all time favorite is from a book I read about 10 times from,”Tuesdays with Morrie.”  The quote from Morrie Shwartz reads, “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” Many people feel as if they don’t deserve love or to be loved yet it’s a common emotion we all yearn for, to be loved.  Often times I want to use the quote again as I find it fitting with the capture but I try hard not to repeat quotes.

B:  Who influences or inspires you as far as your photography? and why?

M:  I’ve only recently discovered photography as a hobby.  The people I’ve met through IG have become extended family to me.  They all play a huge part in my life as far as inspiration goes.  They constantly encourage me to keep capturing moments and sharing them.

B:  You have an amazing and distinct style in your mobile artistry. Have you experimented or found a style that you would like to try out?

M:  I’ve always admired street photography and black and white.  Street photography I find intriguing because these are real life moments and emotions captured in a single click of the camera.  I find it challenging to hold my cell phone up to someone to make a capture.  I need to learn some mobile ninja skills!  I do challenge myself when I go to places such as Chinatown.  It definitely pushes my creativity and makes me think outside of the box but those captures I just keep to myself.  I also find black and white photos to be very moody.  It’s actually quite interesting as I see the world in color but I do admire black & white.  I find it hard to capture black and white without good light.  It’s all a learning process for me.

B:  What can we expect from @me_lv in the future as far as the mobile arts?

M:  I hope to still be capturing life whether it be on the island or somewhere else and still be able to share it on IG.  This really is a hobby and I love the fact that I can travel the world in a few minutes on IG.  I’m also teaching myself about different editing styles.  I really have no clue what I’m doing and many times it happens through experimenting with different apps.  As long as I continue to have fun with it.  Perhaps also as I learn and experiment more with editing, my style will change as far as post processing.

B:  Lastly, what would you like see in the future for yourself as a mobile artist/photographer? and where do you see this art form going in the future?

M:  I’m hoping to still be doing what I do and thats, capture moments, share them with others, meet new people, and just continue to have fun.  This art form is already taking off in so many ways.  As technology improves I think people will start using camera phones more often due to the quality of the pictures and convenience of always having your cell phone with you. Look at how much IG has grown in a year!  In time it will only get better.

Juxt wants to say BIG MAHALOS  Mel for her time. Shootz she cherry brah.

Instagram:  @me_lv

_____________________________

About Brad P

BP has been a member of the Instagram community since middle of 2011. By day he is a director of a human services program in Seattle.  He also has a long history of organizing many grassroots organizations and is a co-founder of two arts organizations in Seattle, one focused on cultural arts and the other with youth. BP is a member of @AMPt.  AMPt, STAND UP!

Instagram/ EyeEm/ Streamzoo/ Trover:  @bradpuet

Twitter:  @bradpuet

G+:  [email protected], BP Juxt

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Brad Puet

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