by Brad Puet | Feb 20, 2012 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
BP’s Introduction
I used to run a youth poetry/literary arts non-profit in Seattle. We used to do slam competitions locally, regionally, and nationally. I’ve been able to get the team to the top 3 in the nation 3 of the 6 years (I was with the organization) we went to compete. The thing about slam poetry is it’s based on a point system. BUT it’s not the point system that makes a great poet. The point system and judging is the gimmick. It’s the pull of the mainstream crowd to be able to hear poetry performed on stage that isn’t typical to the readings in local coffee houses. It’s performance poetry. Message still the same. Very powerful. It’s just really performed and polished, to get points. Well, when you hear a poet spit (recite) on the mic their heart and soul and recieve a low score, the crowd goes wild chanting, “THE POINT IS NOT THE POINT, THE POINT IS THE POETRY.” I liken that a bit to the whole idea of followership and popularity and now, the ridding of ghost or zombie followers.
We’ve all seen it on IG. I have poked around and asked a few Juxters to ask around and to get some quotes for this article. The majority of folks agree that it has helped them feel good about their feed, their IG experience, and at the very least, help them manage their IG feeds. There are those who are still wondering if it truly is something that is worth it. Those in the minority don’t disagree with the fact that IG has turned into a land of monster egos, popularity seekers, Justin Beiber lovers, tasteless self portraits, and stolen pictures. I think they are just wondering if it is possible to really reverse where Instagram is headed (as far as the “old school” folks are concerned).
So before I lead into this article, let me tell you, THE POINT IS NOT THE POPULARITY, THE POINT IS THE COMMUNITY AND THE ART! or better yet, Michael says, “IG is about people, not about numbers.”
B: BP M: Michael
B: Tell us about yourself, where you’re from; what go you into mobile photography/ art.
M: I’m a forty-something living in Sydney, Australia. Been here all my life. I’ve always enjoyed photography, but for most of my life I’ve used it to retain a memory rather than as a medium for art. The mobile side of it started from incredibly mundane beginnings. I remember waiting in a park, with my only recently aquired iphone suddenly realising that this device I had in my hand could capture the beautiful moment. From memory it was a terrible shot that I deleted almost instantly, but it set me on the path.
B: What do you do? What’s you’re daily grind?
M: I’m a programmer in a small, old school, software house. I do a very small amount of web work there, but most of my grind is split between back end server applications and some comms work for handheld devices. I think I’ve been a programmer from the day I touched my first computer – an Apple II back in the 80’s.
There was an ill fated attempt to go into the world of civil engineering, but fortunately I managed to derail myself from that plan and fall into a couple of nice programming jobs that set me right.
B: When did you start getting into Instagram and can you describe the journey for you thus far?
M: I picked up Instagram quite early – October 2010. At the time I was trying various services to find a place for photography and I enjoyed the simplicity and directness of it. I was never really a social network sort of a guy, so I didn’t have a raft of friends to bring with me. I think for my first couple of hundred shots I had no followers at all.
While I’ve always enjoyed ‘taking pictures’, I’ve never thought of myself as a photographer. While I still don’t consider my work ‘good’ in any objective sense, I know I’ve improved over time. Almost all of the photography knowledge I have, I’ve learnt through Instagram. @homework was a big help early on, as were all the lessons I gathered from the people I followed.
B: Tell us about the IG Exocist. What gave you the idea?
M: It was somewhat backwards. I didn’t see the problem and then look for a solution, but rather I saw a solution (the Instagram APIs) and went looking for something to do. A while ago I started collecting stats on my own account, just to play with the interface. At about the same time statigr.am became popular and did most of what I wanted, and far more attractively, so I never thought of progressing it any further.
I collected stats on all the people I was following and who were following me and originally was just using those stats to assist in managing the people I follow, but ultimately I found managing those by hand more than adequate. The problem of ghost followers was in the back of my mind but not something I felt too strongly about, but looking at the data I was surprised to see just how many users there were that seemed to be doing nothing.
So I somewhat fell into it rather than rushing in as a crusader against the ghosts, but once I’d culled my own account and spread the word a little the exorcism concept took off far more than I had expected. For the first few people there was no web page interface, I had to run the scripts semi-manually, but it quickly become obvious that I had to make a service.
B: It has been well received by a lot of IGers. Initially when you started out it was mostly for friends and wasn’t really public. The service is a great idea and is working to help those who really want to have more of a meaningful experience on IG. What do you foresee happening with the Exorcist in the future?
M: I’m incredibly thrilled with how well it has been recieved. Not only are there huge numbers of people using the service, but I get many personal messages of thanks which really make the effort worthwhile. I’m also very grateful for the donations I’ve received – I was happy to cover the costs of running this for a while if needed, but the donations will mean I can continue to run igexorcist without it costing me anything other than sleep.
While there is a fair amount of buzz about it right now, I think it will calm down significantly. People will continue to use regularly, but the excitment of the last few days will probably go away. While there are many IGers highly enthusiastic about it, I think it’s still a fairly niche product, and as you don’t need to cull the ghosts too often (for most of us, this is removing a year or more of ghosts) the return visits won’t be huge.
I do plan to add features in the future. Obviously it needs some work artistically, but also changes such as the ability to ‘whitelist’ users, or the ability to manage those you follow as well as the ghosts. But all of that is well down the path. I’ve also been just starting to look into iOS development and this might be a project that I could develop for use on the iphone directly without the need for a server – but that’s only a seedling of an idea at this point.
B: In an email you provided me with pros and cons for using this service. Can you reiterate those thoughts again?
M: The pros and cons depend heavily on what your goals are in IG. For some the number of followers is an important number, and for those people I can’t say that there is a single positive reason to cull. A ghost user is a user that doesn’t interact with you, and therefore you could argue that, by definition, they don’t affect you, but there are a number of reasons that people may want to remove them.
Finding new people to follow. One of the ways to find new people to follow is to look in your own back yard. The people following you often have many treasures to offer (chances are there are similar tastes in some cases, if they’re following you). Trimming down the number of followers lets you sort the wheat from the chaff.
Truer sense of worth. While it was nice to pretend that my original number of followers were enjoying my work, I certainly know I was lying to myself (or that Instagram was lying to me). Getting rid of the dead wood gives a better idea as to who is actually looking at and enjoying your work. There’s something comforting about knowing the number of followers you have may be an indication of the number of people actually looking.
Don’t like them. These social networks are analogous to our real world interactions. There’s something slightly creepy about someone inserting themselves into your social circle but then ignoring you. Maybe it’s like breaking a social contract. When you interact with people it’s supposed to be give and take. These ghosts are taking but not bringing anything.
Fame is not always a good thing. I find the larger the number of followers someone has, the less likely I am to try to interact with them. If I turn that around, I figure people are more likely to want to interact with me if I don’t have a huge following (not that that’s likely). So by cutting down the ghosts, you not only improve the quality of your existing followers, but hopefully improve the quality of new ones.
B: I know for myself, I have many friends and family members who are using the service who do not have IG etiquette and surpisingly enough engage with me outside of IG on my own work. This is what’s held me back in using the Exorcist. I still also have many questions regarding it. I know a lot of folks have loved the fact that it has deleted many ghost followers on their feed. Why do you attribute this emotion of happiness, sense of lifted burden amongst so many IGers?
M: There are two main types of ghost, I find. The first are the users who joined IG and used it for a while but have now moved on. The second is the mass followers who follow others in the hope they will be followed back. I don’t think the removal of the first group brings any joy, but the second is where the happiness and lifted burden comes in.
I think the broken social contract I mentioned earlier is the most likely reason for this strong emotional response. To me, and I assume to the users using IGExorcist, a real follower is something important. I want to please my followers and I put effort into doing so, not in a ‘selling myself out’ sort of a way, but in a ‘doing the best I can’ way. But to the mass follower ghost, I’m just a number. That person is asking something from me with so little care for me that they barely know they are doing it. I know that sounds terribly dramatic and it’s not like I lie at home at nights weeping, but the hundreds or thousands of little broken promises add up.
At least that’s my armchair psychiatry.
As to the connection with people outside of IG, the small number who view me within IG and are important, I follow to keep in touch with, and to the larger community of people like that, I always push my work out to both flickr and facebook, where I find those sorts of people are more at home. But I would never say this process is for everyone.
B: My biggest worry is that it’ll delete many ghosts from my followers but then it also may attribute to changing the algorithm of getting on popular, THUS leading to even more ghost followers. Recently I think the buzz was that IG had changed their pop algorithm, and it lessened the pressure of my own stuff getting to popular. I was able to get some meaningful dialogue with folks. What do you think about this? Do you think that there is a way to combat this?
M: Whether or not this changes the likelihood of getting on the popular page certainly wasn’t part of my thinking at any point. It does seem likely that the number of followers would factor in to the likelihood of popular, but my gut feeling on how some of the data Instagram has makes me think that having been a follower in the past may also count. It’s all just speculation. I’ve had no anecdotal evidence that it has increased anyones chances of popular.
But I think if users are culling to try to get popular they have missed the point. As you say, the primary take away from achieving popular is a minor influx of new followers who are most likely to become ghosts.
B: EyeEm is another great social photo app sharing program. They have had many very artistic shots make pop as it seems that it isn’t based on “likes and follows” algorithms. What would be your suggestion to IG on a better “popular” algorithm?
M: Ultimately the fact that “popular” and “good” are not synonyms is going to be the downfall of any global popular page. People who want to be popular are going to game the system, whether intentionally or just by trained behaviour (I do X, I get popular, so I’ll keep doing X). The only reason I would (theoretically) go to the popular page now is for discovery of new people to follow, so perhaps what would work is a personalised popular page built similarly to the Following News feed, with just photos that are popular amoungst those only a couple of degrees of separation from you.
But there are smarter minds than mine working on the problem, I’m sure. A top notch popular page is a big draw card to these sorts of networks.
B: Lastly for the service, I love the fact that you’ve created a service that is community related. What other things can we see come from @mykel in the future?
M: I’ve no specific plans at the moment, other than improving the site. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for itches that I can scratch – I’m big on automating tasks (my inherent laziness, I guess) so anywhere larger tasks can be simplified is likely to be where I land. But often it’s the challenge of something different that leads me to these projects.
The last public project before this was more than 10 years ago in a completely different field (visualizers for a now defunct music player), so who knows what will be next. Hopefully a little less of a gap.
B: Tell us about Michael as the mobile photographer. What are your favorite styles of mobile photography? Who are your favorite IGers and why?
M: As mentioned before, I *try* not to limit myself to a favourite style, but time after time I find myself drawn back to moody black and whites and strong greens – graveyards and park benches. I regularly develop a almost debilitating Hipstamatic habit that I have to cure (I think it’s about time again now). I love playing with light in my photography, and because know I have such a long way to go, look forward to that journey.
Favourite IGers is a slippery slope. If I start listing them off I’m going to offend someone when I stop. My favourites are only ever partly to do with the photography – it’s the people behind that I admire. I happen to be fortunate that the beautiful people also happen to be able to take beautiful shots. But rather than completely dodge the question, I’ll offer up @annacox as a favourite. Needless to say her photos are spectacular, but I learnt so much about how to act, how to be a photographer and to have confidence in my work from her.
Bench: Benches are a bit of a thing (thanks to my friend @tephi), and while I visited this one regularly, on this particular overcast day I found it particularly serene. Nothing but a little clarity for the edit.
Muse: Playing with composition. Clarity, maybe twice, and punched up the colour.
Portrait: I love this photo of my neice. Heavily edited. Big Lens for DOF and some serious use of Noir.
Sparkler: My daugher last New Years Eve. Originally taken with Hipstamatic. Big Lens’ed and Photoforge 2 for crop and levels.
TeensyTinyFlower: One of quite a large series of macro flower shots I’ve done with the PhotoJoJo macro lens. This one Hipstamatic then cropped/coloured/leveled in Photoforge 2.
B: Tell us more about your own feed and the messages you would like to come through on your feed.
M: I’m sure I have a photographic voice, but I don’t like to pin myself down. Certainly I’ll trend towards a style in my feed from time to time, but I like to look at what I’m posting and try to push myself out of that comfort zone whenever I can. I don’t think I’ve been doing such a great job of that of late – there’s an element of consistancy creeping in that I’m going to have to do something about shortly.
First and foremost, however, it’s about having fun. I certainly don’t take my photos seriously at all, and I don’t want anyone else to.
B: What inspires you?
M: Some days it seems like everything, and others almost nothing. Always my family. I don’t think I can pin it on anything – sometimes things just pop up, often completely unexpectedly, and give me direction. What a non-answer that is.
Juxt thanks you for your work and your art.
To run the IG Exorcist go to www.igexorcist.com.
Contact Michael at igexorcist@gmail.com or on Instagram: @mykel
Here are some quotes from users who have tried and their experience with removing ghost followers and a couple folks who don’t have plans to use IG Exorcist:
Because creativity isn’t fueled by numbers. It’s influenced by an interactive, supportive community which acts as a source of inspiration and who encourages you to grow by allowing you the opportunity to experiment and scribble outside the lines
IGexorcist… Narcissistic attention whores need not apply. This site will destroy the illusion of you and your great following. You’ll find in fact, that you’re not that “popular” after all. I thank God that Mykel created this site. IG was meant for networking and relationship building; not the bloated, selfish, narcissistic crap that it has become. So take a step in the right direction and get rid of those people following you, that don’t really follow you at all.
IG can be viewed a few different ways. One view is that IG is rich and creative and we use each other to learn and spring board our own creativity. It’s like a 24 hour gallery show and everyone is invited. On the other hand, it’s viewed as a tumblr or other social networking sites: Repost, repin, retweet. It’s all the same. The difference between the two is artistic integrity. Some of us strive to create and explore our world through a lens, others are content copying the images they see around them.
I did it because I’ve put a lot of work building the relationships I have on IG. So yes I’m against people follow a massive amount of people hoping to get a follow back instead of just getting involved with the community. Bottom line is I don’t want anyone following me that doesnt want to build and get involved with the community I’ve come to love. Period.
The total number of followers I have does not affect the way I use Instagram and it doesn’t matter to me if people follow me but don’t interact. I feel that if I used this program and got rid of my followers who don’t interact, they would just come back in the long run so it’s a bit of a vicious circle. I won’t use it but do find the whole process interesting.
If these ghost followers bother you, I’m all for going though with the culling process. It does makes it simpler. If they don’t, keep them. That’s it. I have decided to wait until a more selective way to eliminate some of them from my list after I went though the list and saw some people there that had been kind to me in the beginning of my IG life. Some people are on a break or have something going on on their lives that impede them from being present. Others prefer to just see pictures and not interact, etc…It’s your call. I’m very active on IG. I check every single person that starts to follow me now. If I see a red flag, like they follow too many people or any other suspicion that they may be interested only on numbers, I click the block button and then unblock them after. This way you are removed from their list of FOLLOWING. Me, I follow without “following” a lot of people. I’m present and give encouragement. I’m more interested on the exchange. And after a while if I like their images and I see they are present enough in my feed, I may follow them. It’s about a PERSONAL choice. All choices are valid and only you can determine what’s best for you.
BP Update
So it took me about a week and a half until I finally ghost rode my IG feed. At first i had some hesitancy as stated above. I went as far as even asked some of my trusted IG homies. I exorcised almost 3000 ghosts and found that it was burden lifting. The issue now is do I gatekeep to make sure it doesn’t happen again and do I have the time?!? Michael definitely has given a space for folks to gain control of their feed again and in essence taken control of their artistic expression. I understand it to be about maintenance. Will I be able to maintain it? I don’t necessarily know.
As I ready this for publishing, I’m running it again. I personally have gotten a lot of users with the “follow_everyone” or “shout_out” or “popular_maker”. it’s really disconcerning what has happened. I wonder if IG HQ will address these issues as I foresee a lot of folks wanting to jump ship. It would be unfortunate if this happens.
This is the most commendable thing I’ve seen so far on IG. Sure you have the features a day, the interviews a day, the shots for a day, the shots and groups to make things popular…but this makes it a bit easier to swallow. Instead of trying to control the bull riding and shooting for more time on the clock, Michael has let mobile artists on Instagram feed the bull, groom the bull, and ultimately become better friends. OOOOH you know I had to throw in something like that. This article can’t have me writing it without having a BP analogy that makes no sense. =)
With that, try it out if you’re interested in ridding of dead weight on your followings. Donate to Michael and the program and services he’s giving us. Exorcise those demons. Ghost ride the whip. Holla at ya boy, Let Michael know he’s done a good thing for folks. AND even more importantly and it’s the moral of the story for us – HAVE FUN, LIKE/ COMMENT – ENGAGE! PARTICIPATE! ain’t that really why we are to this point on IG.
**Big thanks to those who provided quotes and especially to Anna Cox for helping in looking through this article. Michael you’re an inspiration. Thank you.
by Brad Puet | Feb 15, 2012 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
B: BP F: Felix
B: Tell us who Felix Lim is and what do you do in your day to day. Describe to us what a typical day/week looks like and how often you take shots within your daily routine.
F: I am 25 years old. I’m currently studying Video Games Design here in the bay area. My daily routine is pretty simple, I go to classes on most weekdays and rest or have fun on the weekend. Between my schedules, I always try to make some time to go out and shoot on the streets because it’s what I enjoy doing the most on my free time. I found it relaxing and inspiring at the same time by just walking on the streets to observe things and life around the city. I would say I usually go out to shoot about 3-5 times a week. Oh, I am also as an avid gamer, I play video games on a competitive level by competing in events and tournaments, especially fighting games.
“pillars.and.soul” – decisive moment kind of shot, a reward from being extremely patience
B: You’re originally from Indonesia and now living in San Francisco. Tell us about the 2 environments/ areas and what makes these places interesting from the shooter point of view.
F: I wasn’t exposed to art or photography back then, but looking back from what I know and remember, It was definitely a beautiful country with so many interesting cultures and places. If I ever go back someday, I’m sure I will enjoy shooting those places. On the other hand, San Francisco is definitely what I considered as my playground. The city is full of life and interesting architecture. There is no shortage of subjects to shoot around here, that’s why I’m really grateful to live in this beautiful city
B: You have awesome composure in your shots. Have you been trained/ educated in formal photography? If yes, where and who are your influences. If no, what is it that you look for to create those great shots?
F: Thanks a lot!. I never really been trained formally in photography, I took a basic photography class just for fun a few years ago, I learned about some technical stuff of a digital camera and that’s pretty much it. But it got me interested to know more and so I decided to continue learning it myself by gathering information from the Internet and with just shooting just about everything I see everyday.
My influences are mostly from people I follow on Instagram, there are a lot of talented artists out there and it’s just amazing to be constantly inspired by other people’s works throughout the world with just a device that we carry around everyday.
But if I have to pick one, I would say Henri Cartier-Bresson. His works inspired me to look for shapes, lines, framing and patterns to make an interesting composition for my shots. I didn’t know about him or aware of his works until someone mentioned his name on my photo about a year ago. So I looked him up on the net and I was blown away by his photographs and since then, I’m a big fan of his work.
“a.curious.soul” – portrait of an amish boy, 2nd picture from my trip to chicago. Took this shot in a lobby of train station.
B: If I asked you to present to a photography class – DSLR/ Film – about mobile photography, what would that presentation contain? the reason I ask this is that with you still studying you may have ideas on what to do if given the chance to teach or present on the topic of mobile photography.
F: My topic would be to encourage people to take mobile photography more seriously and to view it as a viable tool to create great images. I think the most common mistake photographers’ make is they worry so much about getting better gears and equipment, they forget to just go out and shoot with what they already have. Since most of us have a mobile phone equipped with a camera, why not use it to create images and learn the important aspects of photography itself such as composition and lighting. After all, no matter what we use to take photos, photography is… well photography.
B: Let’s talk more about the bay area. Tell us some of the spots that you frequent and why and what are your subjects.
F: I usually start my photo walk around the Financial District because I live close by. This neighborhood is always busy on the weekdays; crowds of busy working people are my subjects around here. There are also many buildings with cool structures and unique architectural design, it’s definitely one of my favorite spots to shoot. Embarcadero is another area that I go to frequently, I really like the atmosphere around here and the view along the piers is just amazing. When I can’t decide where to go, I usually like to walk along Market Street in downtown area, there’s always something to spot around here.
“a.father’s.guidance” – picture of a father and child walking down the stairs.
B: Do you have a certain style that you can say you have? If so, what is it and why do you feel this way? If not, how would you define your art and subject matter?
F: I tend to incorporate elements like shapes, lines, patterns and spontaneity in my shots. I also like to frame a walking figure in my composition, it’s becoming my approach of street photography because I always try not to get too close to people and have them noticing me taking their pictures. So with these kinds of shots, I usually look for an interesting background first, then wait for a person to walk by and click at the right moment. I’m a little bit picky when it comes to my subject, so it takes a lot of patience and waiting for me to get the right shot, but it usually pays off most of the time.
B: On your feed you say that you are an iPhone purist. What does this mean? What are the beliefs that stand behind this statement.
F: I only post photos taken with my iPhone on my feed, and I am doing it because I want to challenge myself to keep on shooting with it. Sure, the iPhone has its limitation as a camera, but I feel that it’s up to us to make those limitations into advantages. I feel that with less buttons and settings, it makes us focus more on composition instead of worrying about other things like exposure or white balance.
“umbrella.wars” – one of my earlier work, it was buried under my camera rolls for a long time, glad I found and posted it.
B: Mobile photography and mobile arts is still a very young art form. When did you begin? How did you begin? What inspired you to begin? (if you have your first shot ever, would you email that to me also?…would love to have you walk us through where you started and where you are presently)
F: I found out about mobile photography around 2 years ago when I was trying out some apps on my iPhone 3G, I thought it was a cool idea but I didn’t really feel serious about it back then. And since I downloaded Instagram in January 2011, I began to take more pictures with my iPhone 4, my subjects was pretty random at that time, I shoot almost everything from buildings, landscape, and street scenes.
B: Where do you see yourself within the mobile arts/photography arts in the next 6 months to a year?
F: I think it’s pretty safe to say that I’ll still be shooting with my phone a lot, and since I’m graduating in a few months, it would be really cool if I can get a job revolving mobile arts or photography. Regardless of what’s going to happen in a year, I’m excited to see what others can do to push the limits of mobile arts.
B: You tend to edit into BW. As a BW editor myself, I totally understand. Can you tell the readers why you’re inclined to edit into BW?
F: Sure, I tend to edit in black and white for the simple reason that it works well with my subjects of interest, it just makes lines, shapes and forms look more defined without any distractions from colors. And I love black and white for the minimalism aspect and classical look that it gives on images, colors are great and works better on some image, but there’s something about black and white that makes a photograph look more dramatic, don’t you agree?
“puddle.of.dreams” – a reflection shot, taken at the embarcadero SF.
B: Tell us more about some of your post processes. What are your favorite apps? What do you look for when editing your shots.
F: There’s a few apps that I like to use; ‘Noir’ for black and white conversion, ‘Camera+’ for the clarity effect filter, ‘Qbro’ for the cool lomo filters and ‘Snapseed’ for everything else such as cropping, straightening and sharpening. I used to messed around with lots of different apps in the past because it’s so much fun playing with those apps, but now my editing process is pretty straightforward and usually done within a few minutes.
B: Can you any stories about shooting street? For example, I tend to talk to folks if I’ve gotten caught taking their shot. Most of the time, 99% of the time, it’s all good. The other 1% makes for some cool stories. What are some of your stories?
F: There was this one time, I was trying out to take some portraits of strangers on the street, I saw this interesting looking old man selling flowers on the street, I approached him with my “talking-on-the-phone” method, everything was perfect until I realized my iPhone was not on silent mode. He heard the shutter sound effect and caught me taking his picture. He wasn’t too happy about it and asked me if I took his picture, I panicked and answered him “No, that was my… Ringtone” and then I ran away immediately, hahaha… But yea, It was quite embarrassing but memorable moment of my street shooting experiences.
B: Lastly, can you tell us why your name is @fixelzero. What does it mean if it has any meaning at all.
F: ‘fixel’ is an anagram of my real name, I picked up that name because I like the word ‘pixel’ and for the fact that it has a relation with photography and digital arts. ‘zero’ is another play on word of my last name in Chinese. So basically ‘fixelzero’ is just my name in a modified form 🙂
Juxt thanks you for your art and words.
Contact Felix on Instagram and Twitter @fixelzero and his website www. fixelphoto.com
by Brad Puet | Jan 20, 2012 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
BP’s Introduction
I had the honor of interviewing a very well established mobile artist on Instagram recently. She has blown me away every single time she posts. She was one of them folks on IG who I’d thought, “Hmmm, if I leave a comment, she would never be able to respond because of all the likes she gets or comments she already recieved and my comment would get lost in that mix.” Well after a few interviews on Juxt and a shot in the dark, I sent her a comment asking for Juxt. Luckily for all of us she said, “YES.” Let me tell you why I personally chose June. Her work is amazing. I thought to myself, this work represents the artist. Like if I had a conversation with her in person, she’d be just like some of her photos. She would emote the same personality. Calm and engaging. Open and respectful. Her photos do represent her. Shoot, June is just amazing. Check her out on Instagram: @cryingjune.
B: BP J: June
B: Who is CryingJune? The person. The name. Where you are from?
J: My name is June YunJung John. I’m Korean born and raised and living in Seoul. I was pretty precocious when I was a kid and now I’m getting childish as I grow older.(So to speak, It’s kind of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ situation. In my case, only the inside.)
I live with my husband and my daughter and Frantz and Margot. Frantz and Margot are figures in Torsten Holtz’s painting, ‘Pink Clouds’. I gave them those names after I bought that painting. They are looking each other in the face tenderly surrounded by pink clouds.
I’m a coffeeholic, a comic book reader, an art lover and definitely an asphalt kid. And I feel myself to a realistic dreamer, a pessimistic optimist and also a clumsy perfectionist.
This is <A Woman>. The day I took this shot was very cold but fine, so I could capture the fantastic blue of sky.
B: Where you are from, how does this influence your art?
J: The density of population in Seoul last year was 16189 persons to a square kilometer. It’s up to eight times more than New York, four times more than Paris, three times more than Tokyo. The streets of Seoul are normally congested with traffic. Everyone seems busy as a bee and everything changes so fast.
Under this circumstances, it’s only natural for me to try to keep things around me simple and to make a blank space in my head and mind. A room for breathing, meditation, imagination… Or sometimes just for a complete blank. I think that’s one reason simplicity is the keynote of my photos and they have a negative space. If I was born somewhere else like an island in the South Pacific, my photos would be different obviously.
Another reason can be said to be an oriental sentiment that I’ve been influenced. Spirits(or invisibles) have been valued more highly than matters(or visibles) in our society from old times. You can see blank space easily in Korean paintings such as landscapes or still-lifes. It is an absolute necessity in Korean paintings and it means it is filled with spirits. Even though I’m not a big fan of those, looking at them sets my mind serene. If my photos make someone tranquil, it’ll be due to the oriental sentiment inside of me.
B: Can you describe more in detail where you are from? The people, the geographical area, the most beautiful parts/ the ugly, desolate parts. What do you love about your area? What do you hate about your area?
J: Seoul is located in the center of the Korean peninsula. It is surrounded by mountains and the Han River crosses the city. People living in Seoul are mostly very dynamic and diligent. We don’t hesitate to adopt new ideas and we support challenging and experimental attempts. Innovation and development have become virtues. Everything moves very quickly and something new takes the place at once.
So it’s hard to get bored with living in Seoul. This is what I love and hate about my area. Because, at the same time, it’s hard to appreciate what we have as well. I feel sad that almost anything can be easily replaceable and not only material things but also emotions can be disposable these days. The good news is that many people in Seoul have been talking about the beauty of slowness. They’re trying to carry it into their daily lives.
B: Describe your art and what you would like to communicate?
J: I take photos and edit them using my iphone 4. It’s because I still don’t have my camera, but it’s really convenient to carry and use. I usually focus on the scene from everyday life in my neighborhood. When I edit, I try to listen to what the picture says to me and make a narrative by taking the simplest elements.
My photo is characterized by negative space. As you know, It’s very useful to emphasize the subject. But in my pictures, it’s not meant to be a helper for the subject. They are equivalent with each other and just have different roles.
Negative space in my photos doesn’t mean that nothing is there. It can be filled with memory, joy, sorrow, longing, emptiness, breeze, melody, words unsaid or anything you can imagine. I leave that space for the viewer to fill it. So my photos depend on viewer’s emotions and imagination. I wish to tell a story with a single picture and I’ll be glad if someone ever listen to it. I believe less is more. My words are ‘imagination’ and ‘you’.
<A Path To the Memory> is one of my favorite. I hope the long and winding road will bring the viewers to their memories.
B: In your IG profile it states, “Create your own style.” Describe your style. What styles do you see around the social networks like Instagram that inspire you? and Why?
J: Leaving a simple element in a negative space would be my style in a word. If earlybird filter is added to it, I can say perfectly it is. I tried this and tried that with my photos and apps to create it. It was such an exciting experiment and I had so much fun.
Style is what my photo is much about. So I’m pleased when people tell me that they can easily recognize my pictures by my style. But these days I can find pictures of the same way with mine occasionally. Something rare and unique is much better than something nice and familiar to me, so I’m thinking how I can develop my style. In a sense, that statement is for myself. I’d like to create my own style again even though I know what’s inside is more important than the package.
Instagram is the only SNS I use, but it’s enough to get inspired. I have a long list of the super- talented IGers. I’ll show you a part of it. Needless to say, @thomas_k is a b&w master and I call @ekalex a b&w genius. @algrega takes b&w shots having a soul, @saturninofarandola reads his philosophical b&w poems. @komeda purifies people’s minds with his photos. @selk has no limit on the subject and the way of expression. @beeoom and @kbasta have a special eye for beauty. @mifjuz and @journeyofnow are two tops of Hipstamatic.
B: Creatively, what else do you do that keeps you passionate? This does not include photography but any other art form.
J: I see an art exhibition. I usually go to the small gallery and see art works by a new artist. And I go to KIAF(Korea International Art Fair) every year. It’s a good chance to see a great number of art pieces and get inspired and read the trend.
Sometimes, I write a short story. It’s interesting to weave a story with a few characters and a happening related to them. I do it for fun, but it’s quite painful to fail to rescue my character from the harsh realities.
B: What is your opinion on mobile artistry? mobile photography? Some say it necessarily isn’t a viable art form. What are your thoughts about this?
J: If someone looks down on mobile photography, I suppose he or she has limited ideas. Mobile photography is a new stream that time has brought to us. I take a shot with a camera, same as other photographers. The only difference is that my camera is in my mobile phone. I take a shot and edit with this one small equipment. Besides, it’s so easy to carry that I can shoot wherever and whenever I want to. The clarity still a bit matters though, I believe It’ll make steady progress. Motive power of the art is a creative idea, not a wonderful gear.
B: How did you get involved with the mobile arts community?
J: It started with my iphone last winter. While searching for interesting apps, I found Instagram. It was not the picture itself that I was interested in at first. Having a conversation with people on the other side of the Earth and taking an imaginary trip into their pictures were much more fun to me. To be honest, I had not been interested in photography before I knew Instagram. I believe that people I had met in this community led me to the fascinating world of photography. (Thank you all!)
B: Describe the mobile arts community. You have been involved with many projects such as “A Room With A View” and “View To a Thrill”. What other projects have you been involved in? Can you describe these projects and why you are involved.
J: For those two books, ‘A Room With a View’ and ‘View To a Thrill’, all the credit goes to Millo @mifjuz. He’s a great photographer and a wonderful friend of mine. He did everything with the book-from gathering people to editing the book. I’ve never seen a man of a passionate drive like him. By taking part in these projects, I’ve come to know many talented photographers. It was a great pleasure for me to be a part of these fabulous compilation books.
And I had chances to be introduced on the website. One is Philobjective, a French website about photography. Carine @nicette06 introduced me as an artist of the month. It was about four months ago, but you can still see it at http://www.philobjective.com. Another one is The App Photo, a wonderful Spanish website. http://www.theappphoto.com/fotografo Luis @lpereira gave me a space of mine on it and held an exhibition in Madrid. It was the first exhibition that I participated, so it meant a lot to me.
This is <Nocturne>, one of ‘The Concert’ series. This series consists of four photos and it was printed in the book, ‘View To a Thrill’.
B: Outside of all this mobile artistry, what does June do for a living? Describe to us, the typical day for @cryingjune.
J: I’m a housewife, so I do the housework. And also I correct someone else’s manuscript as a freelancer at home. I majored in Korean Literature and I was a college newspaper reporter, so this writing job is a pretty good sideline for me. I usually take on the job of rewriting art-related manuscript such as a review or a collection of pictures or a paper on art.
B: What does passion mean to you? What does love mean to you? What does hate mean to you?
J: I can’t say in a word, so let me tell you my associations from those words.
Passion: literature. music. art. photography. environmental movement.
Love: spring. My Chemical Romance. coffee. Georgia O’keefe. peach. gray. spending time alone. Raymond Carver. cinnamon roll. travel.
Hate: interference. rudeness. karaoke. smoking. politician.
B: What does community mean to you?
J: I know it sounds weird, but It’s like a family consisting of friends to me. I feel so close with people in this community that I don’t have time to be alone.
B: Currently you have 52,000 (plus or minus) followers. What would you like to say to them?
J: Thank you for your likes and sweet words always. You’ve been encouraging me and I’m truly grateful for that. I wish to visit all your streams and see your pictures, but it isn’t easy for me as you can imagine. I feel guilty for not returning your kindness and I hope you understand that I’m trying. You and your pictures show me how much the world is beautiful and warm. Big love to you. Let’s enjoy shooting!
This shot was taken at the street of Hong Kong and He was one of the passers-by carrying a plastic bag. His figure in the picture looked like a <Broken-hearted> man, so I erased the bag and put this title.
B: Lastly, if you could tell us you’re plans for 2012 as far as: A. Mobile Arts, B. Life outside of Mobile Arts.
J: A. I’ll keep taking photos and posting them and being inspired looking at other people’s feeds. I’m also planning to make a little book of my photos. I think it will be a nice present for me. B. I’ll try to live happily ever after with my husband and my daughter and Frantz and Margot.
Juxt thanks you June.
June YunJung John Instagram: @cryingjune
by Brad Puet | Jan 9, 2012 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
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+: brad@wearejuxt.com, BP Juxt
by Brad Puet | Dec 30, 2011 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
BP Introduction
Why, Hello there. Glad you were able to make it today. Initially I asked Kim to interview Jussi. I knew that they would be perfect together as their personalities are just straight AWESOME. Their art is both unique and amazing and they both have each others mutual respect = GREAT chance for an interview. The first draft came and it TOTALLY seemed like a conversation. So I shot them back an email and asked them if they be interested in an idea i had. Would they be ok if I played around a bit with the interview and also have Kim fill out the same questions that she asked Jussi. They both agreed. I wanted to have fun with it and made sure it was ok. This was also inspired by Ale’s Chloe series.
The scene: Seattle, January 5, 2012 (HAHA shameless plug for the “Darkroom Series v.1” Gallery Opening.) Jussi and Kim are guests at the event as well as an event in collaboration with it, Bumbershoot In The Winter (no such thing, but work with me…Bumbershoot is in the summer). They are sitting on a panel that I put together to talk about Mobile Arts and the BLOW-UP-ABILITY (that’s right…I made that up – enter patent) within the International Arts.
So…enter the “Story of Two Friends: Jussi and Kim in Seattle”
(Winter Day – Seattle/ Café Zeitgeist on 2nd and Jackson)
An iPhone sits on a table next to a very large cup of joe. The drinker of said cup of joe, Jussi from Oulu, Finland who now lives in Helsinki. He is here at Café Zeitgeist meeting for the first time his “imaginary” friend, Kim. Kim is from Switzerland and has been traveling the world. The both of them are photographers who use mobile devices. Enter Kim. Doors blow open, wind blows cold air through the café and everyone notices this bubbly personality. It’s like the café knew she was coming as The Beatles plays in the background.
Kim: “Jussi? Hi, I’m Kim”
Jussi: “Kim? Hello my friend!”
(He is a handsome and imposing figure, magnetic in his personality. Charismatic, yes, but also very mysterious. For some reason, he has a couple of post-its on his face. One reading “Like” and the other reading “comment.)
(She is a happy soul. Beautiful in how she walks through the café. Almost fairy tale like. Her dog follows her with a smile on his face. No one even asks her for her animal service paperwork, because she and her pup looks just so happy, that they too have caught the happiness bug.)
(Jussi signals the café barista for another cup of joe. He’s only been in Seattle for 3 hours and his aura demands respect. The barista brings out a Chai Latte. Jussi reminds everyone of the “World’s Most interesting Man”. He carries his artwork it seems on his sleeves.)
Kim: Jussi, tell me all about yourself?
Jussi: I’m a boy from a far away land called Finland. I live in a small city called Oulu, but right now I’m located in Helsinki. I live every day with passion and an urge to express myself. But you can call me SKWII!
Kim: SKWII? I love it. What does it mean?
Jussi: Ermm… Early nerd times, that nickname was something me and my brother used on online games :Y – one computer, one nick, we’re twins 🙂 …Eh so the meaning… It’s a sound of a hamster squeeking, as it translates to Finnish. Skwiik=squeek
Jussi: And Kim, what can I know about you my friend?
Kim: My name is Kim and my parents chose it cause it was short and hard to make shorter so my friends made it longer to find me a nickname! You have to say it with a French accent, it’s not Kim-O but more like Kim-OOH haha! You can call me Kimou or Mik or Mikmik. I’m from Switzerland. I was born and raised in a village where the population was mostly composed of cows, sheeps, and horses. Soon I’m moving to the land of Goblins, gold pots, and cloverleafs. I shall call Dublin home for at least the next 6 months.
Jussi: That is awesome my friend. (He reaches for his trusty iPhone to snap a picture)
(At that same moment, Kim has done the same. They point the phone slash camera at each other.)
Jussi: I see you have an iPhone too my dear.
Kim: Yes my friend, Skwii. I love it so dearly. I hope that you aren’t offended if I show you what is on my camera roll.
Jussi: Of COURSE not. I was going to do the same.
(The both of them thumb play on their devices. Each of them almost trying to beat the other to their camera rolls. Alas, they both reach their rolls the same time and flash each other their favorite shot in a FBI agent showing their badges.)
Kim/Jussi: Look at what I’ve got.
(They both show them a photograph of the others.) Jussi’s UP, Kim’s Down.
Kim/Jussi: This is my most favorite shot of yours. I have the utmost respect for you. (They look at each other, in awe.) JINX, BUY ME A COKE. (They both must have read online somewhere some of the stupid, crazy games that Americans play. This is a game when 2 or more people say the same thing at the same time, they say JINX, and the first to say it must buy a coke. Again a real stupid game and this narrator must now digress)
(Bumbershoot In The Winter – Seattle Center – Under the shadow of the Space Needle)
(Flash forward to a panel – This panel consists of the two of them that Brad Puet has put together. The panel is a discussion on mobile device artistry and how this has affected/effected the world of photography. Jussi and Kim have gained international accolades for their work as mobile photographers. Jussi is asked the first set of questions.)
Jussi: Esteemed colleagues, ever since touching an iPhone, the photography possibilities were and have been my highest interest. I was so excited about my first paid app TiltShiftGen that I took hundreds of photos and some photo walks even before the Instagram community had adopted it. And yes, I always did every art course project as photographs if I had a chance.
Moderator: What inspires you, Jussi?
Jussi: I love instagram so much. I go there to learn and get inspired. There are many sources of inspiration with the people I follow on Instagram, and more. Street art, Japanese Manga to name a few.
It gives me the feeling of dancing and strange films which also inspire me greatly.
(He looks over and sees Brad dancing a jig. Almost as if they planned it. Looks over to Kim and says, “that is for you my friend, I know you will see some jigs in Dublin.)
Jussi: I’ve said this like a thousand times to anyone asking and I’ll say it again (He bellows a laugh.) I LOVE Juxtaposer- Don’t even wanna start about why this app BLOOOWS MY MIND. Any photo on my stream that looks or feels imaginary has been through Juxtaposer.
(He then looks at Brad. “Brad, this is for you and the rest of the Juxters.” And he gives a raised fist)
Jussi: I create while I go. Sometimes if there’s no inspiration, I take a lot of simplified shots to use later and mix mash and blend. Ideas come as bursts, many at a time and you just have to start creating them as soon as possible. Never doubt even the silliest ideas or the progress will stop. Don’t trust yourself? Then do it sarcastically 😀
(Jussi then passes the microphone to Kim. As the moderator turns her questions towards her)
Kim: Hello everyone! I always been crazy about photography, always has been a great passion for me… I started to do mobile photography with my first iPhone the 3Gs, I actually found out about instagram because of my passion, but it was late in February 2011.. I remember that I could spend whole weekends out in the cities of Switzerland, taking pictures of candid.. I had a passion for shadows and redscale when I started! Now my style evolved and since a week I’m in love with my 4S.
Moderator: You have a very unique style. It’s very vibrant and the miniature vehicles are an added touch. How did this come about?
Kim: I’m quite an hippy in heart kind of person. I need colors in my life, they make me feel alive! It’s quite impossible for me to turn a colored picture into b&w HAHAHA. I’ve received my first miniature vehicle 4 years ago while we were in holidays in Spain. It was the blue hippy minivan! Then one sunny Sunday of April, I was alone at home with my camera. I took all my favorite toys in my room and went outside for taking pictures, since that day I started to put the minivan in every situations I could, took it in holidays with me.. And I started to buy others, even if a lot of them are presents! I received a yellow new yorker taxi for Christmas! Can’t wait to find the perfect situation for him!
Moderator to both Jussi and Kim: How do you picture yourself in 20 years?
Jussi: An hour ago I imagined I’d still be sitting here, trying to write this interview… But then I thought “Whatever, the people I like and love will still not hate me no matter how dull or shockingly I write” and been enjoying it ever since 🙂 … 20 years… Maybe our galaxy has been destroyed by a giant supernova? At least I won’t be a physicist HAHAHA
Kim: Haha in 20 years?!?… That is a long time! I didn’t even live as many years yet HAHAHA! Maybe I’ll have my own photography shop, or maybe I’ll have to live in the forest and eat mushrooms for surviving!
Moderator to both Jussi and Kim: Tell us 3 more random facts about you that you didn’t already say?
Kim:
- I’m not a morning person,
- I can’t spend more then 5 minutes without hearing music,
- and I have a phobia of everything that doesn’t have legs (fish, snakes,…)
Jussi:
- Ginger and garlic are my favourite,
- I have no idea how to pay back everything our parents have done for us,
- Email me at jussi.ulkuniemi@gmail.com if you wanna buy my 3GS with my own background design attached. :)) or just wanna chat
(Flash forward to the Seattle/Tacoma International Airport: Both Kim and Jussi await their flights back to their respective homeland)
Kim: We have a few more moments together my friend. It has been an honor and I look forward to our next mobile device arts conference sponsored by Juxt and this isn’t a shamless plug, I’m just saying that Brad Puet is an awesome man with awesome artwork and is great at being a friend, and on top of that he is funny as hell…”etc etc…blah blah blah, whatever whatever”…
(Kim talks for another 7 minutes about how Brad is really cool as Jussi nods his head in COMPLETE agreement and even a couple times in talking about Brad they HI5’d each other, gave pounds, shed a tear, sighs…and then she asks Jussi)
Kim: What is the most craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Jussi: Tough one. Revisiting memory lane… Beep beep. Filtering family-friendly and socially acceptable solutions… Beep beep…Hmm… How’s eating ice cream out of a public trash can during the summer? Just for the thrill of it, with another crazy friend….Also just laying on the middle of a busy walking street just to see how the crowd reacted. None of this would have never happened if I hadn’t had my friends backing me up though.
Kim: Oh Jussi, you so CRAZY!!! Is your sense of humor a family thing? Or a typical Finnish thing?
Jussi: My father is a very humorous guy so I guess that’s where I’m getting the need for all the meaningless fun blabber. (He smiles) Can’t say this is anything traditional, I’m not that good with any “traditional Finns” or anything. For starters I haven’t met many Finns who’d ever take mobile photography seriously.
(Jussi hears his flight number called but looks to Kim)
Jussi: Now your turn before I leave. What is the most craziest thing you’ve ever done my friend?
Kim: Nothing as crazy as you Jussi! I don’t do craziness on purpose, just like to enjoy life and do whatever makes me feel happy! Just like jump in a boat going I don’t know where even if I’m sick as hell and supposed to go somewhere later.. I finally lost myself in the middle of the lake.. I often lay on the ground for taking pictures, people must think I’m crazy! I’m more clumsy over crazy too…don’t forget we have to try the bungee jumping together someday!!!
(Jussi hears his flight calling for the last time. Kim then hears The Beatles on her iPhone.)
Kim/Jussi: WAIT…what is our last word to each other before we go home? (Again another JINX, BUY ME A COKE MOMENT)
Jussi: SKWIII
Kim: KIM-OOH
(The two of them walk away from each other. One walking away with his Finnish swagger. The other walking away with her pup at her side making airport staff smile. They both look at each other one last time and throw up a big thumbs – EMOJI style, and hand their flight attendants their tickets and disappear into the tarmac)
THE END.
by Brad Puet | Dec 27, 2011 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles, The Temples
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.
by Brad Puet | Dec 21, 2011 | Chops with BP, Featured Articles
BP’s Introduction
Peace ya’ll. For my first Juxt interview, I wanted to find someone who definitely represented themselves in a proper fashion. Someone who not only killed the photography portion, but killed the edit side with style, purpose, and vision. I couldn’t find anyone so I went with Marco. BAH, just playing. I chose to interview Marco because I was blown away by his feed. He has a crazy style and flare to his edits that not only represents him as an artist but his area, Brick City. I love that. I try to do the same (Seattle, Stand UP) and I find that Marco is someone who inspires me to look deeper into my own art to capture that. To me, it’s easy to capture people (oooh, that may get me some heat) BUT I think there are a few folks that I follow on IG, EyeEm, and SZ that are able to really capture the person and fully represent them on that level, not just a picture of them but a photograph of them. That sits true for Marco, real strong.
One of his first images that caught my eye, was of a woman walking by a mural in Brick City where he isolated the color on the girl and left the rest of the image in black and white. The woman has her head down, almost scared of the mural. The mural has the flowers coming out the sidewalk, a monster mothra sized butterfly, and a globe just a bit bigger than the mothra sized butterfly. The womans head is just about framed by another piece of the mural as if trying to box her head in. The caption reads, “Butterfly up high, got it’s eye on all passersby. No lie.”
Once I saw this image it was an immediate follow, an immediate homie holla, and an immediate mutual artist respect and friendship. I’m not the only one either. One of my friends on IG, Ryan Coleman @rcoleman, tagged me on one of his photos and exclaimed the same feelings, “DARY” (short for legendary). The both of us use that term only when appropriate and this feed is just that…DARY.
He has a new series that he is working on (but hopefully continues his “TAG” series) entitled “70’s album covers”. The vintage feel and art from back then is CLASSIC and he will definitely be able to capture that with his own background and experience in that genre. He is also is real keen on music. Marco sits back in not only his Hip Hop but is also in many genres like myself. But we rooted. We are of the same fabric. Enjoy his words, and his works. HOLLA at him when you get a chance.
And with that…I introduce Magic Marco…
BP: BP M: Marco
BP: Who is @magicmarco? What are you all about?
M: First I’d like to say peace to the whole Juxt fam. I think what you guys are doing here is a great thing for the mobile photography community and I look forward to seeing the site grow leaps and bounds. But ok, me…I’m just me like 50 Cent said years back. I’m your average trash talking, joke a lot, dirty flick watching, paperback book reading, working and family man. Oh and due to my wife’s work schedule, I’m Mr. Mom every other weekend. It’s because of my two kids that I’m so grateful the liquor store is right down the block.
BP: Tell us all about your area and how does this influence you. Your style?
M: I’m from a small town called Newark, NJ. It’s like Miami’s South Beach but without the palm trees, beautiful homes, nightlife or beach. Ok, all joking aside, Newark is an old industrial city. It’s not much of a tourist attraction. Not by a long shot. In fact, our biggest draw is the close proximity to NYC and the lower rates offered by local hotels. Essentially we’re the unofficial bastard “6th borough” of NYC. About as appealing a place to live in as the Bronx but I love it. I love it and hate it at the same time if that makes sense. Brick City, or the The Bricks as we sometimes call it, has that whole hustle-n-bustle type vibe….the epitome of the rat race. You either hustle and make something of your life or get lost in the cracks. People love to write off Newark as the slums but there’s a lot of beauty to be found. The vibe, the essence of the people, the melting pot of the different ward’s cultures and mentalities is home and it’s my mission to capture them in a honest and artistic way.
BP: Bro, who are the biggest influences in your life? And why?
M: My mama, my baby mama and everything in between. Yeah. Oh, and I’m influenced by how much money I have in my pocket at any given moment. Cause if I’m broke I don’t feel too confident. Therefore I’m not my usual me. Ok, I’m not even making sense here. Next question.
BP: Whats the weapon of choice when it comes to shooting? Where does it shine? Where you think it needs some assistance?
M: I use an iphone4. It helps me tremendously because I’m listening to music all day while working anyway. So, you can usually find me with the ear buds on and when a photo op presents itself, bamn!, I whip the trusty iphone out my pocket and snap. It’s super convenient. Plus the 5 mega pixel camera isn’t too shabby either. Those are pros for sure. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of photo apps accessible at any time. Editing a pic while sitting in a Wendy’s Drive-Thru is a beautiful experience. Cons? Um, well it’s a given that the iphone sucks donkey balls when it comes to night shots. So far that’s my only complaint. Dear Apple, fix that shit. Sincerely yours, Marco.
BP: What apps you got in your darkroom, bro? You chose to share this shot with us, tell us the movement/ process you took on this one.
M: I use ProCamera for all my shots. I like the default big button feature and auto saves to the camera roll so I definitely stick with ProCamera. I also use Snapseed, Filterstorm, and Juxtaposer. Oh and Camera+ for the Clarity and of course a bunch of other shit cause I’ll appstack the hell out of a pic if need be. The ones I mentioned though are my staple go-to apps. But ok, lemme break down the editing process for P.i.G.e.O.n.S.
First I’d like to say I hate pigeons. Bunch of dirty ass shit dropping nuisances with feathers is what they are. One of them fuckers shitted on my head a few years back. So fuck them.
Anyway, so for this pic I captured with ProCamera in the daytime. Then I added Clarity in Camera+ and sent it to Filterstorm to turn into B&W and saved. Still in FilterStorm, I used the Vignette damn near all the way in to create fake moon and saved again. I took that B&W image without moon in Iris and used the Solarize effect and saved. Then I blended both images in Juxtaposer and finally added ND-Grad in Photo fx. Tah-dah, Halloween looking ass pigeons!
BP: Ok bro, what do you want us to take away with your photography? What’s your expectations?
M: Basically I’m looking for the same response as every other photographer….if I may so boldly refer to myself as that. What I want is simple…….I want you to look at my pics and be like, “Damn, that is the most beautiful photo I ever seen in my life! Marco’s a fuckin’ genius and I hope all my kids turn out to be just like him!” That’s it, I don’t expect much.
BP: OK Marco, you rolled out a new-er series using TAGS. Can you tell us what is behind this series? Why are you doing this series and its meaning to you? For some folks, they don’t know really what “tags” are. What would you tell them “tags” is all about?
M: Ok, TAGS are the overlooked, more simplified style of graffiti that you see everywhere in the city. They’re mainly just names of the writer. Definitely nothing fancy like murals or the more elaborate, colorful type pieces that most folk associate graffiti with. Urban calligraphy if you will. Writer’s bomb the city with their tag…..basically tattooing as much property as possible as a claim to fame. I started the TAGS series as a challenge to myself because I was getting bored taking regular street candid shots. The challenge is that for every tag I see and like, I take a photo of it and then have to take a candid street shot within the vicinity. No more than two blocks apart. Afterward I combine the two and make the funky fresh images I post on InstaGram. Lately I’ve been including stand-up comedy in the captions as well. Might as well share some laughter while I’m at it.
BP: You and I connect lots of levels. One of which is the love for Hip Hop. You got Hip Hop references all over your stuff. Tell us about what Hip Hop means to you.
M: Most definitely! I’m a Hip Hop head 155% to the 10th power. I walk, talk and live Hip Hop. I don’t breakdance but I’m a B-Boy at heart. Does that make sense? As a kid, when my parents were vibing to their Merengue and Salsa, I was bumping Run-DMC, Afrikaa Bambataa, LL Cool J, and so forth and so on. I fell in love with Hip Hop around age 5 or 6. Not as a casual listener, no sir. I completely submerged myself into the whole culture. I would run to see the older kids have b-boy battles on cardboard or I’d rush to witness rhyme cyphers at the lunchroom tables and the beatbox rhyme cyphers after school. I knew which artists were down with who and the beefs…..ah man, I could talk about Hip Hop all day. That definitely has a huge influence on my life period. I’m Hip Hop like KRS said.
BP: Knowledge gets shared. No doubt! Drop something on us that you live by.
M: Ok, there’s an old grumpy fuck on the radio named Gary Null. He has a talk show that covers health, political and societal issues in general. Dude is very informative and I’m definitely grateful for the knowledge he shares but sometimes he’s boring as fuck. His voice could put an insomniac in a coma. Plus he gets irate too easily. But he’s old and that’s how old folks get down.
Anyway I copped one of his books, and a particular paragraph stood out. I typed it, printed it and framed it. It goes, …….
“When you let go of your relentless thinking, you can rest. Once you’re relaxed, visualize what you want and start your journey. When we wake up we just jump into the day. We’re so focused on starting our rituals and routine that we don’t visualize the greater importance of the day. This is a twenty-four-hour-period we can never live again. So what can we do in this twenty-four hours that’s new and unique, empowering and fulfilling?”
I love that.
BP: You represent New Jersey. Brick City. Tell us all about your area. What do you love about your area? Describe for us the people, the culture and how that influences your art.
M: Yeah, like I mentioned earlier….I have a love/hate relationship with my city. I love it but hate the fact that plenty folk don’t take more pride in maintaining their surroundings. Therefore whole blocks of the city look like they do. And I hate referring to my neighborhood as….’the hood’, but that’s what out-of-towners think of it anyway. Still though, I get annoyed with tasteless ‘ghetto’ pics. Newark may not ever make the “Top place to live in America” list and yes it has it’s share of riff raff but it’s also full of hardworking folk just trying to make ends meet and trying their best to ensure their kids have a bright future just like any other town. There’s so much more to Newark than being ‘the hood’. In fact, fuck that label….’the hood’. I promised myself to never to post any disparaging images of Newark and it’s people because we already get kicked and put down by out-of-towners enough. I don’t kid myself or try to portray Newark in some phony pretty type way but I do try to capture it with style. Well….I think so at least. My bad, lemme get off my soapbox. Hi Mama.
BP: Who influences or inspires you as far as your photography? and why?
M: Oh by the way, I don’t have a baby mama. I mean….my wife is my baby mama. Just her. And I’m a superb dad. Like Dad of the Year type dad. I just wanted to clear that up. Just so you know. But um, ok…my influences? Um, shit I don’t know. Jesus? Oprah Winfrey? I don’t know. Everybody. There. Everybody in the whole planet inspires and influences me. Especially and most definitely all the cool ass people I’ve met on InstaGram. You know who you are.
BP: Your style is dope (awesome). Have you experimented or found a different style that you would like to try out?
M: Thank you. I appreciate that. For reals. I know I’ve been talking trash throughout the interview but seriously I second guess my work a lot. I feel there are much better street photographers and I aspire to capture at least a smidgeon of that same magic, ya know. The emotions, the real life, the powerful evocative type images is what I’m after and I got a long ways to go. So in the meantime, I’m definitely experimenting as I go along. Like what I’m doing with the TAGS series for instance. When I get bored of that, I’ma try something else and hopefully it’ll be aesthetically pleasing and then some. I like candids but I also love approaching people for portraits. So I’m thinking I may do a series of portraits but edited in a way to look like old 70’s album covers. A lot of 70’s album covers are funky as hell. So yeah, matter fact I think that is gonna be my next project.
BP: Lastly, what’s the future looking like for @magicmarco and this art form?
M: Honestly I would love to be more involved in capturing my city on an official level. Not something lame like taking pics of the Mayor cheesing for the camera while he’s shaking hands with other cornball politicians. Nah, I wanna be commissioned to capture the heart and soul of the city. The people. All with my iphone. I know it sounds far fetched but that’s my goal. And no, I wasn’t smoking weed. I don’t smoke. Not anymore.
But yeah man, I just wanna do my little part to help push the craft forward. Ya know? To help show that mobile photography is indeed a respectable craft…not looked down on as some fake ass offshoot of ‘real photography’. There are already so many talented people making and posting mind-blowing images online and that’s just with the current technology. Can you imagine how much more the envelope is gonna get pushed as the phones and apps get more advanced? We’re on our way to a world where brides will look to hire professional mobile photographers to shoot their weddings. And without one skeptic in the crowd. Watch, it’s going to happen.
Marco L., Instagram: @magicmarco
BP for Juxt, Instagram: @bradpuet
**Stay tuned**
This is a TAG Interview. @magicmarco will interview @brooklyntheory in the near future!
