So…why this video from 2011 if I’m gonna post about Folklife 2012…well let me tell ya’ll a story and use that as my post with just images from FL2012…
2011…last year I went to the Georgetown Carnival with @boohi_bronson and @smlife and it was a great day for shooting street…I posted quite a few photos…one was of a guy who was dressed like the 60’s MIB secret agent and he was talking on his cell like he was tracking someone…another image was of a Tom Selleck type moustache guy that Boohi and I ran into at Starbucks and his ‘stache was just straight amazing…luckily I ran into him at the Carnival…and another photo was of a man with a top hat, a real interesting moustache, with a vest of golden sequins…all of these posted onto my Instagram of course, but I can’t for the life of me find the original RAW formats that I would’ve loved to post…
The Carnival like Folklife has many awesome characters…a lot of folk bands which makes for dope music…and I’m not a folk music expert or nothing but I do find the history and the music and the people to be very awesome…
Fast forward now to yesterday in Seattle…mass murder that had the shooter murder members of God’s Beefcake, including Schmootzi the Clod and Meshugunah Joe…Joe is the third guy I mentioned up above…top hat, real interesting moustache, and a vest of golden sequins…the muder took place in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle at Cafe Racer, a local coffee spot that was a spot for folk music and art and was well respected for their arts involvement in the community…the shooter then took a bus to downtown and murdered an innocent woman, a mother of two, for her vehicle…and all victims were shot in the head, with one fighting for his life at Harborview now…
The shooter then ends up in West Seattle where Seattle Police finds him and he ends up taking his own life in a residential neighborhood…
Initially when I was at Folklife, I wanted to take photos of the artists and musicians of Folklife in a way that is different that what was getting posted on Instagram…the ducklipped teenagers, the Space Needle, the bursting water fountain in the middle…there were some great shots posted to the hashtag #folklife of some musicians…well I wanted to capture those moments of the artists and the musicians to show that the spirit of the festival was really true to the original founders…it’s about the culture of the northwest, the music, the art, the community…and then a shooting happened on Saturday and I was going to talk about the plague of violence that has happened around town and how the mission of Folklife got lost…since 2008, Folklife has had gun violence top the news at the festival…and i was going to talk about the fucked up things…like the boss (my wife’s nickname) and I were talking about why we had to leave Folklife by 3PM because the kids are starting to show up and that means it’s not such a family atmosphere any more and we should get going…it’s wierd that all of Seattle’s (I’m sure in a lot of the world’s metropolitan cities has this problem also) festivals are set like that…fun times until the late afternoon when it’s time to get moving because it’s about safety…well shit…I’m starting to go into commentary about guns and gun violence and I don’t wanna get into that…
So let me parlay real quick into the music…again I’m not a folk expert…but the music to me, shows a lot of soul and real life talk about being alive in this world we live…I mean all music does for the most part…but folk music really carries that old school vibe for me, with mandolins, and banjos and washtub instruments…and the carnival and circus feel to it…entertaining and yet gritty and country…I gravitated to a lot of the musicians at Folklife this year…mostly to those that had some great lyrics and emotion in performing…the ones that caught my ear, and my son’s ear…he absolutely LOVED the washtub instruments and the drummers on buckets…for the few hours my family was at Folklife it was a great feeling to remember the mission of the original founders ideas on showcasing the art and music from the Northwest…and I’m not into the stage musicians so much…but really love the buskers…the street musicians…with their music and harmonizing and gritty yeeeehah’s…lots of finger pickin, cheesy grins (Graham if you read this…this is why folks look so happy in my shots)…they just love the music, love the work that they do singin and entertaining!
Summary: It’s too fucked up that in the news it’s about the violence and not about the festival any more…and it’s too bad that people aren’t willing to go and experience it because of the crowds…and more importantly the violence that occurs at a family friendly event…it’s too fucked up…
For the victims of the murders, for the victims of senseless violence, for the music lovers, for the arts lovers, for my city…this is for you…
REST IN PEACE Schmootzi the Clod, Meshugunah Joe, and the other victims from May 29, 2012.
**Disclaimers: 1. I’m not a journalist 2. I’m not a folk expert 3. I wish this world was different sometimes.**
There’s this fascination I have with protests and rallies and social change movements. In college I was honored to be a part of a few organizations that worked on identity of self and how ones role in the larger society is viewed/perceived by the mainstream culture. Fast forward to post college and I’ve been able to be a part of other organizations that was also focused on “love as revolution”, “love as self”, “love for community” as its vision and missions.
It definitely wasn’t something that was instilled too much from our parents (my brother and i). We were always told that we had a fit in society already and that we were not to rock the boat or be a part of that because the best thing we could do for our family is “make it.” BUT what my parents/family did teach us, is to be passionate and be in the moment.
My brother and I both went into social service work/ community based work for a reason. We do love the communities we live/work for. There were times in that community where we felt that it was not necessarily healthy for us to stay in it. Pushing the limits and lines of our belief systems definitely is a daunting task. Sometimes you believe in certain things, certain people and yet it feels that those things can be turned upside down and on your ass without you knowing what happened until your licking your wounds. The personal price is as hard to swallow like the holistic horrors that we fight against.
Ok, I know…I’m talking without telling you all too much. Well, let’s just say that for a time there my brother and I retracted from the community we serve because we had to re-evaluate our place in them and figure out what is a good balance, a good role for us to fight the good fight.
My fight is: how to pass it down to my son. Enough said. He will learn how to fight and how to be the person who he wants to be as a good and righteous man; free from bunk and negative ideologies, like the “isms and phobias”, free from gender stereotypes and fucked up beliefs that men are superior to women…all of it…and I’m surrounding him with the village that I know supports this change. That pass it down in their own way to him.
Well, when I go out to occupy it’s a bit self-serving. One it satisfies that part of me that used to go out and raise hell. Not back down, and rally folks behind for the cause. Now I’m an observer and an occasional activist who engages in dialogue. I’m older with a family that can’t afford any ill will or repercussions that didn’t scare me before. SECONDLY, it satisfies the “passing it down to my seed” idea. I come home and before I share with you all on the social networks, I’m editing and showing it to my son. These conversations help me know that a part of me is doing something for the movement.
So with that long ass intro…here are quite a few images for you to digest from the May Day in Seattle of 2012. It also has OCCUPY elements as it is the first International Workers Day event post-occupy wall street.
Some of the images will have captions, some will have quotes from folks after talking to them, I hope to portray the movement from the ground level, with you there with me. I am going to try not to talk too much about the negative aspects – the news and media got that covered.
well…here we go…thanks for following the coverage…if ya dig it, i’d appreciate if you would tweet, fb share, g+ it =)
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There were a couple clowns (amogst a few other uniforms and costumes), the prep for these guys were pretty deep as they were ahead of the rally most of the day. I’ll have a few of these shots up of these dudes.
The Dialogue
Lots of times during these protests, you’ll be able to have conversations with folks about the societal woes. I see a lot of times, people just walk around them and avoid them, but there are folks who will actually take time to find out exactly why there is a protest or rally and want to understand (not necessarily agree) with what is happening.
There was a contingency called the “Unicorns” which was a queer group who truly led a lot of the rally with festive and powerful messaging.
This shot signified the joinging of the two rallies in the late afternoon; the Westlake Center group and the International Workers rally. I must say that this was a beautiful site, as it brought tears to many before the two groups converged. Throughout the day it had been the Westlake group who was handling most of the action and press coverage. The workers rally started later in the afternoon coming from Judkins Park in Seattle’s Central District. The two groups met; with about (I thought at least) 750-1000 per side. I’ve read reports that there was upwards 4500 total. I’m not good at math so I could be way off =) but when the two groups met up, it was like in a movie. The groups were seperated by about a block, both groups became quiet; after a few minutes, BOOOM. All you hear is cheering from both sides. It was surreal. It was amazing.
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The Voices
“I am a part of this because of the issues that my community faces. Deportation plagues my community and I am here to stand up for those who are not allowed to.”
“I am here for Occupy Hip Hop. We are the 99%. My music, my culture, my people have a right to stand up and using this as a platform to get my political ideas out is one of the best ways for me to stay involved.”
“I am an artist. I am the 99%”
“I am this monster created by the evils done against the citizens of the world. I choose to fight for you and us. They will rid of me with a signature on a check. I want to have them remember that I cannot be deleted.”
“This is for my great grandmother. She deserves to know that this world is a better place than she left it. She was the 99%. I am the 99%”
Hey everyone. I am honored to not only get this out there but to be honest introduce ya’ll to a homie here in the Pacific Northwest who is an amazing and dope artist. I’ve actually met him through my nephew who is part of the Class Project. You may have heard of them. They were the crew that Juxt challenged to shoot the “Darkroom Series” Gallery with just mobile devices.
Tony Sosa aka @taylorswiftgang on Instagram and EyeEm, has some great imagery on his feed. I featured him on my Sunday Shoutouts quite awhile back. This interview was going to happen either way, but he also won runner-up to the Canvas Pop/ FX PhotoStudio/ Juxt “Where I’m From” Contest recently. I posed to him if instead of just an interview about him but if we could also highlight the project that he was currently working on.
I believe he was fairly new to Hipstamatic but he wanted to utilize the app to work on a project for Trayvon Martin and his family. He had already decided to get his community, the Seattle Hip Hop community, involved in this project. Portraits of artists who stand united against racism and in support for Trayvon Martin and his family.
Sosa, you know I got mad respect for you and the crew and am honored to have you and them on the Juxt site. Let’s GO!
Artists for Trayvon Statements
“I felt compelled to be a part of the project because I’ve been similarly profiled & attacked. Being part of the project means adding a voice to the collective asking to be heard” – DJ DV One (Rock Steady Crew)
“I wanted to be a part of this project because I am no different from this young man. I am black. I wear hoodies on a regular basis and live in a predominantly white city. Should I be feared? To me this project was about making it clear that no matter what background you come from, we can all identify with this man.” – Kellen H. (The Good Sin)
“I’m involved with Anthony’s project as a friend, and because I believe in the work, which is simple, potent, and as relevant to Seattle youth as it is to anyone that’s walked outside and felt unwarranted judgment from others” – Roger H. (10.4 Rog)
BP: BP T: Tony Sosa
BP:What made you want to do this project?
T: I think it was combination of different events throughout my community that sparked my ambition for this project. I live in South Seattle, which is known to have its fair share of neighborhood crimes, and in the recent past, amongst young children & teens. This incident with Trayvon Martin was the tipping point for me, regardless of where it happened.
BP:What is the message you are portraying in the project?
T: There is a bit more to the “I am Trayvon Martin” aspect in this particular piece. I display all the photos in Black & White with the hopes of giving the viewer that feeling of being colorblind. The artists involved are clearly people of different backgrounds, but displayed in black & white, it’s hard for the viewer to differentiate the race. There in lies the ultimate message, we’re all the same, regardless of color.
BP:How has the Trayvon incident affected you personally?
T: I’m the proud uncle of a 2 & 13 year old girl that currently live with me. To think that they could be a random act of violence scares me. Hate doesn’t recognize innocence, so if this incident hasn’t hit my family or I directly, we still sympathize because we know what it’s like to raise children. I also know the feeling of losing someone at a very young age because of a violent act.
BP:As a mobile photographer and a cinematographer, what is the vision of this project and what are your hopes for the project and future projects such as the Artists for Trayvon project?
T: As far as this project goes, I’m taking it one step at a time. Right now it’s just a display piece for Instagram. Aside from only displaying on IG, I was intending on printing the pictures onto canvas pieces using some prize money I won from another photo contest. Once that happens, if I can find a venue in the Seattle area, willing to let me display the photos for public viewing, that’s another great step! As far as future projects go, I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I tend to work in the moment, and right now, I’m focusing on completing this piece, in hopes to keep the awareness going. Whatever the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case, we’ll need to remain active and ensure that our youth stay safe.
BP:Tell us about yourself, loves likes, dislikes, inspirations, artist background.
T: Since I LOVE talking about myself so much, I guess I can tell you a bit about moi. I tend to try my hand at many crafts, but I’m pretty sure I have A.D.D. so I also tend to stop pursuing them pretty quickly for new hobbies. DJing has always been an art I’ve admired. I was probably about 9 or 10 the first time I witnessed DJ DV One. He was doing an in store set at my friend Valentines Barber Shop back in 95-96, and I was blown away. I knew one day I would be doing that! My friend had a setup in middle school that we’d used to play around on, mix records & try to scratch by taking notes from Q-Bert videos. I started taking the craft more to heart when I was about 19, luckily with a good mentor & amazing DJ, BlesOne, showing me some tips and tricks. He had me spin some low key b-boy battles when I first started, after that it was just practicing as much as I could with my crew. I feel like there will always be room for improvement with my DJing. Plus, I love it too much to drop it like another hobby.
Same idea goes for our photography/cinematography. There are no limitations when it comes to these arts. There is always a concept or an envelope waiting to be pushed, so my crew (Class Project) and I are always taking positive steps to help accomplish whatever is presented for us. We have a Vimeo website that showcases small pieces of work we’ve done. That URL is http://www.vimeo.com/classproject for those who are interested in viewing. My friends & business partners of Class Project, Joseph & Roger, are currently working on a piece commissioned by Wing Luke Museum in Seattle that will run till the end of May, I believe. As far as work I’ve done, my most prized piece was for Make A Wish Foundation, which can also be found on our Vimeo page. I have a few other projects that are currently under wraps at the moment, one of which is a clothing line my girlfriend and I are working on, but you won’t get much more info than that ;). Keep an eye out on my IG feed for info pertaining to that particular project. Hopefully we’ll have it up and running by the beginning of June.
If I can, I’d like to thank all of those who made themselves available for my project, and to those who I still have left to capture. Special thanks to my crew, Class Project, and my girlfriend Reina. Also, thanks to everyone on IG showing support, you guys are truly an awesome community. Plus, my mom was happy I was doing this, so special I love you to Mom & Dad!
Juxt thanks Sosa and all the artists for their contribution and dedication.
Little Red already looked nice on the street. I like when pictures tell stories or ask questions. What kind of urban wolf may threaten this modern Little Red?
Canvas Pop, FX PhotoStudios, and We Are Juxt held a joint contest entitled “Where I’m From”. The submissions were all beautiful and this is an opportunity to share with you all the works from the winner of the contest, Damien Giard. Trust us when we tell you, the work from Damien is beautiful, amazing, and inspirational.
BP: BP =) D: Damien Giard
BP: Please tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do? Describe to us who the person behind the images is.
D: I’m a french guy who travel a lot 😉 I’m a little workaholic because I always get passionate with everything I do, including my job. I’m a producer at a publishing company. We focus on educational and interactive programs for kids such as www.bayam.fr
BP: Please describe to us more in detail about where you live. What is the culture? What are the demographics? What are the geographics?
D: Part time in Paris, part time in Toulouse, more and more in Montreal, where I’ll be permanently settled in June.
Toulouse. The “pink city” of the south west of France. The ancient brick walls are actually pink and red, orange, terracotta… It is an awesome area with its Garonne river, the Pyrenees mountains and beautiful landscapes.
Paris. Wherever you look there is history, culture, past time glory… Beyond the perfect settings I like grabbing pictures of everyday people in the city of arts and love.
Montreal. A friendly and multicultural city. I like the mix of american and european influence, the architecture, the graffiti artists… Definitely a great place for street photography.
I’m a commuter. Plane, taxi, train and plane again… I spend a lot of time in airports, waiting peacefully, watching the planes take off. The unreal atmosphere of these transit zones. A piano playing smoothly in the background. As we switch from waiting lounge to boarding zone and into the airplane, the music keeps playing the same elevator tunes, endlessly.
BP: Tell us more about your mobile photography and mobile artistry. How did you get started in the world of mobile photography? What are the main subjects of your work? What catches your eye?
D: My experience of iphoneography started with the iPhone 4. My photos are a visual flow of everyday urban life. People and spaces and transportations. I enjoy my trips to capture unusual moments, snapshots of life, play with pictures, tell stories …
Music is also very important. Like images, music create powerful emotional memories for the moments in life. I wish I was able to create visual music! Meanwhile, music inspires many of my photos (#lifetomusic) like this one http://statigr.am/p/138832741095682150_1273307 (“The blue bus is callin’ us” from The End – The Doors)
BP: What apps do you use and why?
D: Most of the times I use 3 apps: snapseed, noir and camera+
I generally use filters to deliver my mood and express my feeling of the moment. Digital filters are like developing baths and camera lenses in traditional photography, it helps to enhance the rough natural image to recreate a full atmosphere.
The lost gravel beach at the end of the world (actually Dungeness, UK). A lunar place with haunted fishermen houses. There was this girl playing hopscotch on an abandoned railway…
BP: Have you printed out your work? Were you happy with the outcome?
D: I have printed a small book and I was quite happy with the result.
I would like to print large images, but I will have to wait for the evolution of the IG in HD 😉
First print exhibition in Paris (April) and another in Toulouse (May)
Some of my images have been used for an advocate cabinet (http://gate-avocats.com/)
BP: Who are your influences in your work and who are your favorite mobile photographers/ artists and why?
My influences come from many sides: pop culture, music and movies covers, tv series, artists… I like candid and streetphotography, but I don’t follow guidelines, only my feeling of the moment.
There are many talented iPhotographers. After a heartbreaking selection, here is my short list:
special mention goes to @cachafaz work with the homeless
There were flocks of starling birds flowing from tree to tree. I was completely against the light, hence the rendering, like a shadow theatre. This one has been selected by the FXStudio for the iphoneography exhibit at the Soho Gallery for digital art in NY 🙂
BP: Describe for us your experiences thus far in the world of mobile photography. How long have you been on IG? What have you learned and what would you like to pass down to new folks just joining in?
D: I’ve been on IG for one year now. I wasn’t really a photographer before.
I used to practice photography when i was a kid, with an old Pentax of the 70s. The iPhone gave me the occasion to get back to my former hobby.
At the beginning it was only a basic lifestream: food, pets, home… All boring stuff! We need to get to the next level. Now I want my photos to convey an atmosphere, express emotional states, and most of all tell stories.
I had the chance to be a speaker at the iPhoneography conference during the Social Media Week in february (http://m.socialmediaweek.org/imps/smw/event.html?event_id=1917&rnd=7033089) with @vutheara and @iphotographe and we talked about the revolution of iPhotography. I will share my slides in the next days 😉
BP: What is your favorite quote and how does it sum you up as a person/artist in a nutshell?
“Almost every new technology is an amplification of our body, Computers, the internet, social networks expand everything. The most important thing they expand is our imaginations and our brains.” Will Wright (creator of the Sims)
D: This quote fits perfectly the mobile photography movement. The swiss-knife-phone is a handy
camera that comes as an extension of your eye and helps to capture sights, moods, moments…
“The photographer must have and keep in him something of the receptiveness of the child who sees the world for the first time or the traveler who enters a strange country” Bill Brandt
This quote totally reflects my vision of photography: think as a child so that life still surprises us every day.
Fall tree eye crying the last leaves.
I look for poetry in pictures. Sometimes poetry comes out from the most unexpected places. Coincidentally the French poet Stephane Bataillon created 24 “Instapoems”, like haikus based on my photos http://www.stephanebataillon.com/instapoems/
BP: Any last thoughts you would like to share?
D: I just would like to thanks you again for choosing me and giving me the opportunity to explain more my works, loves and feelings 🙂
And thank you for the brilliant work with WeAreJuxt 😉
Recently We Are Juxt teamed up withPostalPix for the Best of Winter Contest. Meredith Winn submitted a beautiful image, one that garnished the community’s approval for the win. We Are Juxt and PostalPix presents to you, Meredith Winn.
BP: BP =) MW: Meredith Winn
BP: Please tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do? Describe to us who the person behind the images is.
MW: Hi, I’m Meredith Winn. I’m a freelance photographer and writer. I am a Shutter Sister, a contributing photography to Getty Images, a contributor to Taproot Magazine, and co-founder of Now You Workshops. I weave stories from truth and optical illusions from images. I’m from anywhere on any given day. I grew up on the East coast with salt water in my veins but most of my adult life was spent out West. I relocated to New England last year. My words and images are the result of a life that dances between childhood and motherhood, always on the cusp of transition. I’m drawn to the story of an image and how something so personal can, at the same time, feel so universally human.
I live here now, after years of pining, after years of knowing that my world was larger than what Austin, Texas could provide. After years of working towards a goal a career a passion, after years of watching relationships grow and bloom behind art and photography… after knowing my place, the place that called to me from a deep sleep. I live here now and I doubt it will ever cease to blow my mind. This was taken in the early evening with a wicked good sky full of moody pre-sunset clouds. Because of the low tide, I was able to walk out and shoot this pier straight on, really embracing that negative space. I feel that gathering up sky into frame really helps tell the story of the image. I boosted the color a bit in camera+ to really let the buildings pop and then added some tilt shift to soften out the clouds.
BP: Please describe to us more in detail about where you live. What is the culture? What are the demographics? What are the geographics?
MW: After living in Austin, Texas for nearly a decade, I followed my heart back to my family’s roots. I call the western Maine foothills home, where I live off-grid in a yurt with my sweetheart and a trio of boys. The earth is moist and soft here, it’s alive with love and family and laughter and barefoot children (treeforts, fairyland… sunny days, dewy mornings… big red barns and the happy souls that live in them.)
This is home to me. Rural country roads tucked into the woods at the edge of snowy mountains. Far enough for peace and solitude to invoke creativity, yet still close enough to smell the salt air of Maine’s rocky coastline.
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird and when we find someone who’s weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
Life intersects and intertwines, and with it family’s grow. People’s presence gains importance until you look around one day and wonder if there was ever a time when you did not wake to see their face each morning. I love headcovers for the way they can make a normal situation feel surreal and strangely out of place. This is my sweetheart’s (sketched) self portrait used as a headcover. I asked him to jump up on that chair to get closer to the windows, the light in his studio required minimal processing to help set the mood of this shot. It was processed through Instagram’s filters.
BP: Tell us more about your mobile photography and mobile artistry. How did you get started in the world of mobile photography? What are the main subjects of your work? What catches your eye?
MW: I’m fairly new to mobile photography. Although I cheered from the sidelines as I watched my peers pioneer the industry (Stephanie Roberts, a fellow Shutter Sister, wrote The Art of iPhoneography) I was a late bloomer. I didn’t get my first iphone until March 2011. I was drawn to the simplicity of it all: the convenience and humble attributes that come from creating art with a phone in a non-intrusive way. In my freelance work, I am drawn to nature and portraits. I find images more interesting if there are people to aid in the storytelling. Everyday moments are what I seek with my iphone: the walk to the bus stop, the body language of children, the reflections in puddles, the texture that comes from our environment.
BP: What apps do you use and why?
MW: Well, I started out with an iphone 3G and mainly used camera+ as my go-to processing app. Since upgrading to an iphone 4, I shoot in my native camera and send most everything to camera+ before anything else (old habits die hard!) I also use Iris Photo Suite, tilt shift generator, and cross process. I’ve recently begun dabbling with Snapseed and I really like what I see with that app.
I’m not always certain what I’m seeking, sometimes I just go looking for something to help me feel connected. A visual image that helps me tie these threads of past and present and future. It makes me giddy to be at the sea, especially the empty coast of winter in Maine. The novelty of snow on sand conjures up good memories from childhood and good dreams of the future I see before us. It didn’t take much to process this naturally monochromatic image. I tweaked the exposure a bit by using the “night” filter in camera+ then running it through a hint of cross processing to bring out the contrast of beachcombers. A bit of tilt shift softened out the edges where sand and sky and snow and sea all blur into one.
BP: Have you printed out your work? Were you happy with the outcome?
MW: I am a big fan of printed images. As a child, heaven for me was digging through the photograph drawer in my mother’s office. I want to leave these treasures for my family as well, so I’ve always found it important to print photographs. With digital photography, one has to be more mindful of follow through and actually printing images so they don’t get lost forever on hard drives. When I began collecting iphone images, Postal Pix was a fairly new company and I was thrilled at their accessibility. I’ve been with them ever since! I love their work and their customer service is fantastic. It’s been fun to watch them grow and bloom as a company.
BP: Who are your influences in your work and who are your favorite mobile photographers/ artists and why?
MW: My photographic influences are many: Harry Callahan is a major inspiration for his minimalist portraits and landscapes. I have an appreciation and a desire for Lothar Wolleh’s symmetry in composition. His power is in placement (self and environment) and his resulting portraits truly reveal a person’s inner essence. I am always on the search for new artists as well. I am intrigued by Julie Blackmon and her depiction of struggle for self in a child-centered society. This is perhaps why I have a large collection self-portraits in my portfolio of motherhood. My list of favorite mobile photographers is always growing: I find joy in the simplicity and creativity of Paul Octavious (@pauloctavious) His ingenuity of new projects is compelling. Stephanie Roberts (@littlepurplecow) has a way with documenting real life that really draws me into the scene and keeps me there. Stephen Pullan (@artfarmer) is brilliant in his composition and how he creates abstract art from his every day environment. Erica Bartel (@ericabartel) is pure magic with light and dreaminess. Andrea Corrona Jenkins (@hulaseventy) makes my heart flutter with all things vintage and color.
This was my first adult winter in New England. I found myself approaching it with a giddiness and certain childlike innocence that bordered on naive. What I had forgotten from the winters of my youth was how the winter world is able to create a sense of freedom from all that vast whiteness. I love nothing more than to feel humbled my nature, to put people into scenes to help set perspective. This shot is the epitome of what I crave from nature. This was just a simple moment on a sledding hill. But for me, the moment became something more than just an aesthetically pleasing composition, it became the storyline for their adventure: these boys, this life, this great big beautiful (sometimes scary) world. Processed in camera+ with a hint of HDR to bring out the clarity of the clouds then run through Instagram’s filters for cool blues.
BP: Describe for us your experiences thus far in the world of mobile photography. How long have you been on IG? What have you learned and what would you like to pass down to new folks just joining in?
MW: After getting my iphone in March 2011, the first app I got was Instagram. It felt like such a small community to me (a welcome change to the online existence I have elsewhere for my work.) I kept my circles very small at first, wanting to use IG as a cozy friendly place for conversation and shared images with friends. I’m never about numbers, and I’m not searching for comments or followers or tips on how to make it to the popular page. I mostly just do my own thing and share my art with friends, so I’m not sure I have much advice for new folks just joining in. I know that if you want to broaden your circle, hashtags is the way to do it. See who inspires your favorite photographers. Following people who inspire you is the best tip I could give. There’s nothing more satisfying than a full feed of photographic inspiration to get your creative juices flowing!
BP: What is your favorite quote and how does it sum you up as a person/artist in a nutshell?
MW: “Almost every new technology is an amplification of our body, Computers, the internet, social networks expand everything. The most important thing they expand is our imaginations and our brains.” Will Wright (creator of the Sims)
“To be a photographer, one must photograph. No amount of book learning, no checklist of seminars attended, can substitute for the simple act of making pictures. Experience is the best teacher of all. And for that, there are no guarantees that one will become an artist. Only the journey matters.” – Harry Callahan
I learn by doing. Photography itself is the life project. It catches the space between.
(silhouettes) Home is a place we leave and come back to again and again. Home is a place of creation; where we come to be ourselves, where we come to find ourselves. Home is home no matter where you live. This photo embraces togetherness as we see it happen in a simple afternoon walk. As they approached this rock wall, I got down on the grass to shoot up at them and create this moment in silhouette. I shot it in camera+ which gave me maximum control over exposure. A hint of cross process gave the sky that rich turquoise that I crave in my everyday reality.
BP: Any last thoughts you would like to share?
MW: Shoot something new everyday. Thanks for the interview!
