by Anna Cox | Nov 11, 2014 | Black and White, Stories
Before we were this, we were star dust, We were at the very beginning, We were without anything, and as we travel this preordained journey over and over in one form or another days become months, months become years, years become centuries, centuries become millennium and then it all disappears into light, a light that holds and hides us from ourselves, a light that changes the singular to the plural to the all encompassing god of it all. That god which we are part of, the universe, the all ubiquitous experience that we hide from lest the lies escape us and we return to an eternity of waxing and waning.
The disappointment of the present in the blank stare of my fellow beings, all of them, all of them as confused as the next, all of them terrified by ensuring their survival, pitting themselves against the other in imagined games of interplanetary wars, the mortality of the flesh of the matter that cocoons and diverts our universal being into a mere ego, a singular, living in a moment that no one will recall, no one wants to be reminded of. The failure of it all.
The worst of us control the best of us, the worst set the pace the disruption and deception and the only thing worthwhile is a link that cannot be controlled, the link that all beings strive for and that is association, the association from a link of love, the pull stronger than the gravitational force of our sun, that feeling that you used to belong. It’s not born of admiration, of subservience to the created gods man uses to divert purpose with, how puny that deity is, how basically immoral and unethical does it continue to be. There cannot now be any admiration of slave gods, of the dark matter that they represent trying to absorb your light, your true reality, your unbearable lightness of being.
It will take a blank page, it will take a new discovery in contrived reality to change this, to disprove the diverted purpose imposed on the beings, all beings that inhabit the earth, if it experiences mortality then it is a created temporary ego manifestation of energy, there is nothing real about it, in a few millennia none of this will exist, it will be revealed in a new design. And you will remember nothing of this because it never happened.
// Instagram // tumblr //
by Anna Cox | Nov 10, 2014 | Anna Cox, Mobile Photography, Stories
A: Hey there! Thanks for joining us and sharing a bit more about you. Why don’t you give us a little background info.
D: I’m 46, married and father of 3, live in the countryside in Israel and work in a chemical engineering company. I never studied photography but was always drawn to it. I publish on IG under the username @dot4n, and by same name on AMPt website for mobile photography.
A: What is it about taking photographs that moves you?
D: Taking photos allows me to process the visual stimulation which could otherwise overflow me. Editing images later is done under a strong sense that I must lift-up reality as it’s never good enough as it is, being too small and too local. Things must look unrelated, locations unidentified, reality disguised.
A: Do you have a favorite image?
D: One of my favorite images, not being a landscape as what you noted you liked, but a shot with a sense of mood that I highly relate to. Pic is made from two layers put together. One is of a man standing on the shore at the sea of Tel-Aviv. He is clearly an immigrant, dressed so differently to what local people do. The sky is a shot of a dirty window in my office cafeteria, dust smeared to resemble rain. This is probably the most exact story I wanted to tell of being far away, in a totally strange location with vast space, quiet and moody.
A: What do you think creativity is?
D: I don’t know what creativity is. I want to tell a story. I want to relate to others. I want to repeat myself as little as possible. There’s no deadline for publishing. Pics are posted when I feel they’re ready. And if posted too early I take them off.
A: Who are you inspired by?
D: Mostly, what I know of photography now comes form IG and AMPt. I am inspired by many users, mostly by those who aren’t afraid to be creative and post regardless of the popularity of their pics.
A: Was their a pivotal moment in your photography?
D: I don’t recall any pivotal moment. I thought it would happen with the next follower, but it was never different. Eventually it’s the inner discussion about what you believe worth posting and not the amount of feedback you get.
A: Do you think the number of followers matters?
D: Followers serve as false assurance. You always think that more of them would make you happier, but it never works this way.
Having many followers impresses only people with less followers than you do, if at all, but it does distract the attention from what you want to create to what would make your followers like and comment and to what would bring more followers.
A: What does community mean to you?
D: Community is anything that would make you belong and be less alone. On IG this feeling comes more from the comments I get than the number of likes. I don’t feel I need more than this. I don’t post on Twitter and hardly take any part on Facebook.
A: How do you think social media has changed how we share thoughts, ideas, photos?
D: Social media have become so common that people don’t regard the publication as something that requires self restraint or filtering on their thoughts. It’s not the case for me and I’m sure that also for other IG users. It’s always interesting to try and guess how much effort it takes for someone to share their pics. For me it’s always a struggle. My regular caption of plus-minus sign (±) also means that words don’t come easy, and ifthey don’t create any added value – better not be said at all.
// IG // AMPt //
by Anna Cox | Oct 28, 2014 | Anna Cox, Stories, Storyteller
The Art of Alexandre by Anna Cox 
I came across the work of Alexandre while looking through the #wearegrryo tag on IG. I am in awe of most mobile artists and Alexandre is no exception. While in school, my art focus was on the human body and my chosen format was oils. I have a deep love and appreciation for those who can create nudes without the sexual component that our society so often adds. I think it is the painterly feel to many of Alexandre’s edits that felt like a breath of fresh air. I was immediately in love with his work and couldn’t wait to share him with you here.
A: Alexandre AC: Anna
AC: Tell us a little bit about you and perhaps touch on your creative philosophy.
A: I’m Alexandre. I’m french and I live at Marseille. I work in a leading company’s financial department.I’ve never had skills in photography, but I’ve always been fascinated by images through photography, cinema, comics… since I was a boy. And now, I’m moreover fascinated by bodies. I like creating things, it’s almost vital for me. I did drama, short films, and I still play music. But in retrospect, I’ve realised that I manage to express myself much better through Iphoneography or Mobile Art.
I’m quite interested in new technology. I bought the Iphone 3, and liked the new design as well as the practical aspect of the (ecran tactile); then, I digged out the new apps, especially those dedicated to retouch and modification.
I’m a great fan of printed shirts (super heroes, films, etc..). I collect them. But as some got unobtainable, or no longer existed, I thought It would be a great idea to make them myself. This is how I ended up retouching photos. Now, retouching and editing is the best way to explore my deep inner feelings, using it as a therapy. Those feelings can be part of me or part of other people who bring me some kind of inspiration through relationship.
AC: What is it about the human body inspires you?
A: i don’t know exactly. I just find it so beautiful, lines and curves.
AC: Would you categorize your images as nudes or as erotic?
A: What do you think?
AC: (grins) touche’ . Being naked has multiple connotations, which ones do you think your work evokes?
A: I don’t care what feeling is evoked. We are all different and see what we want to see.
AC: Could you share your favorite image with us?
A: I’m touched by various kind of atmosphere. It’s hard to choose, but I’d select this one. It does match with what I want to give (to express pour “exprimer”) at the moment. It’s linked to the pose, the movement, a mixture of dream and reality. I tried to keep the body aspect as close as reality. I love the effects. The difficulty was to find the right balance to get the right final touch between dream and reality. And the vintage touch obtained by scratches and tonality.
We are connected?
AC: Share with us how you get out of a creative slump.
A: Very good question! I must admit, these phases are difficult to deal with. The brain needs some rest. But I always try to get inspired by anything, at any time. When I fail, I try to change direction, exploring different things. This is how I may find some unexpected sources of inspiration. If not, I would just leave it, and come back later with a fresh view.
AC: Would you mind to share a few influences?
A: Many people do nice edits, but it tends to be the same, you will find the same kind of atmosphere. I do respect their work, though. I know I’m mostly inspired by the same subject that is the body, but I always try to treat it in a different way.
The people I’m impressed by are people who can change direction, challenge themselves, who manage to do the simplest as well as the more complex things :
– Alice LaComte (friend German Artist)
– Helmut Newton
– M83 (It’s a band)
– @alabamawonder (Marta is a Spanish friend from Instagram).
AC: Have there been any pivotal moments in your journey?
A: Oui, les rencontres.
Un jour une amie m’a dit “…les rencontres te porteront… ». Elle avait raison comme d’habitude.
Alexandre thank you so much for your time and energy for this interview! I look forward to seeing more of your work.
by Anna Cox | Oct 7, 2014 | Stories, You Are Grryo
As a filmmaker, I’m always looking for new projects, developing short film ideas and collaborating with creative individuals. I found Nicholai’s work online and liked his style as an artist straight away. His photos of abandoned houses stood out to me and I thought it would make an interesting film. I contacted him, discussed some ideas and a few days later we were shooting.
The premise was pretty simple – drive around Minnesota for a few hours and look for abandoned houses. I interviewed him the day before and wanted to get some shots that captured the abandoned vibes found in his work. When I started this project, I set out to document him exploring these places without interfering with his creative process. When he would find a cool looking place, I followed him with my camera while he searched for the right shot. He would look for a spot with an interesting background or good light and I would just sit back and film his natural workflow.
The houses we found looked untouched. There was a calendar from the early 90’s tacked on the wall, toothbrushes by the sink, floral couches and old televisions… It was surreal. Definitely makes you think about the house’s history, who lived there before and why they left. Going somewhere unknown and being a little out of your comfort zone is my idea of an adventure, even if it did get pretty sketchy at times. You never know what you might find in those places when you turn a corner. But from a cinematography standpoint, every direction I pointed my lens at looked interesting because it was an environment I had never seen before.
The purpose behind his work is to capture the feel of places that rarely get noticed. It’s a brilliant example of what you can find if you explore and look for things that normally get passed up. I’m glad I got to go along for the ride and document everything. Nicholai just moved out to LA so be sure to keep an eye on him and his upcoming projects.
For more about Caleb and his films.
by Anna Cox | Sep 18, 2014 | Stories
I am excited to announce that my brand new book, Art of Everyday Photography: Move Toward Manual & Make Creative Photos is now available on Amazon! If you’d like to learn more about the book, check out this feature from Cloth Paper Scissors. This publication can also be found in bookstores and craft stores throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, and through other popular online book sellers and arts and crafts vendors.
Your Amazing Everyday Life written by Susan on Cloth Paper Scissors
I believe that there is extraordinary to be found in the ordinary, and that we can elevate our everyday lives by embracing and honoring that which is simple. I invite you to capture the everyday in your photography. Look for the finer details. The following ideas explain how.
An Aspect of a Morning Ritual
Maybe you greet the day with a cup of tea or coffee, the newspaper, journal writing, blog surfing, or stirring a pot of your favorite Irish oatmeal. Use the soft, diffused natural morning light that comes through a window in your home to illuminate your subject. How do you want the light to hit your subject: as backlighting, at an angle, or as front lighting? If the light is coming from the front, make sure the subject is far enough away from the window so it doesn’t get washed out by harsh direct light.
Something You Want to Remember
My daughter has a favorite pair of socks that just barely fit her at this point. She often wore them with her favorite striped dress—an outfit that captures her free spirit. I took a photograph of her wearing these garments because I always want to be reminded of her free spirit when I look back on her childhood.
Your Road or Block
As time goes on, the landscape changes, often dramatically. If you live in the country, trees grow, old barns fall, people build. In the city, your favorite shops and eateries are often transient. I lived in Boston in my twenties and the amount of transformation my old neighborhood has seen since then is pretty remarkable. Make photos of the significant places you want to remember: your favorite bookstore, cafe, coffee shop, gallery, or tree-lined street.
Elevate Your Errands to Art
Some ideas: a photo of a shopping cart in the rain, the artfully displayed artisan bread at the bakery, fresh catches of the day on ice at the local fish market, jams and jellies on a shelf at the farmer’s market.
What other’s are saying about Susan’s book:
“In this easy-to-understand book, Susan Tuttle encourages the reader to get her camera out of “auto mode” and finally learn how to use its features to create beautiful photos capturing the everyday moments of life, including portraiture, landscape, still-life scenes, food, pet photography, street photography and more. In addition to camera basics, Susan includes many tips and techniques for getting the most out of smartphone cameras and photo apps.”- Amazon
Connect with Susan and find out more about her new publication and older publications on her website Also, stay tuned for a more in-depth look at Susan, her work, and her publishing prowess in the coming weeks here at Grryo. We are so excited to be able to support a fellow artist!
