by Anna Cox | Oct 28, 2014 | Anna Cox, Stories, Storyteller
The Art of Alexandre by Anna Cox 
I came across the work of Alexandre while looking through the #wearegrryo tag on IG. I am in awe of most mobile artists and Alexandre is no exception. While in school, my art focus was on the human body and my chosen format was oils. I have a deep love and appreciation for those who can create nudes without the sexual component that our society so often adds. I think it is the painterly feel to many of Alexandre’s edits that felt like a breath of fresh air. I was immediately in love with his work and couldn’t wait to share him with you here.
A: Alexandre AC: Anna
AC: Tell us a little bit about you and perhaps touch on your creative philosophy.
A: I’m Alexandre. I’m french and I live at Marseille. I work in a leading company’s financial department.I’ve never had skills in photography, but I’ve always been fascinated by images through photography, cinema, comics… since I was a boy. And now, I’m moreover fascinated by bodies. I like creating things, it’s almost vital for me. I did drama, short films, and I still play music. But in retrospect, I’ve realised that I manage to express myself much better through Iphoneography or Mobile Art.
I’m quite interested in new technology. I bought the Iphone 3, and liked the new design as well as the practical aspect of the (ecran tactile); then, I digged out the new apps, especially those dedicated to retouch and modification.
I’m a great fan of printed shirts (super heroes, films, etc..). I collect them. But as some got unobtainable, or no longer existed, I thought It would be a great idea to make them myself. This is how I ended up retouching photos. Now, retouching and editing is the best way to explore my deep inner feelings, using it as a therapy. Those feelings can be part of me or part of other people who bring me some kind of inspiration through relationship.
AC: What is it about the human body inspires you?
A: i don’t know exactly. I just find it so beautiful, lines and curves.
AC: Would you categorize your images as nudes or as erotic?
A: What do you think?
AC: (grins) touche’ . Being naked has multiple connotations, which ones do you think your work evokes?
A: I don’t care what feeling is evoked. We are all different and see what we want to see.
AC: Could you share your favorite image with us?
A: I’m touched by various kind of atmosphere. It’s hard to choose, but I’d select this one. It does match with what I want to give (to express pour “exprimer”) at the moment. It’s linked to the pose, the movement, a mixture of dream and reality. I tried to keep the body aspect as close as reality. I love the effects. The difficulty was to find the right balance to get the right final touch between dream and reality. And the vintage touch obtained by scratches and tonality.
We are connected?
AC: Share with us how you get out of a creative slump.
A: Very good question! I must admit, these phases are difficult to deal with. The brain needs some rest. But I always try to get inspired by anything, at any time. When I fail, I try to change direction, exploring different things. This is how I may find some unexpected sources of inspiration. If not, I would just leave it, and come back later with a fresh view.
AC: Would you mind to share a few influences?
A: Many people do nice edits, but it tends to be the same, you will find the same kind of atmosphere. I do respect their work, though. I know I’m mostly inspired by the same subject that is the body, but I always try to treat it in a different way.
The people I’m impressed by are people who can change direction, challenge themselves, who manage to do the simplest as well as the more complex things :
– Alice LaComte (friend German Artist)
– Helmut Newton
– M83 (It’s a band)
– @alabamawonder (Marta is a Spanish friend from Instagram).
AC: Have there been any pivotal moments in your journey?
A: Oui, les rencontres.
Un jour une amie m’a dit “…les rencontres te porteront… ». Elle avait raison comme d’habitude.
Alexandre thank you so much for your time and energy for this interview! I look forward to seeing more of your work.
by Jeff Kelley | Oct 27, 2014 | Jeff Kelley, Mobile Photography, Stories
I discovered the account Me & You, 52 on Instagram a couple of years ago and was drawn to it for two reasons- one was the weekly themes that gave me something to think about creatively. The other was the purposeful pairing of two pictures, created by two different photographers, into one diptych. It was a concept I hadn’t run across before. I ended up chatting with Anika Toro, one of the co-founders about it- here is her story:
J: Tell me a bit about how the idea of Me & You, 52 was conceived?
AT: Me & You, 52 was started in 2011. Christy and I were on the Blogosphere a lot. I had hosted a link-up on mine for mobile photography. We had both just gotten an iPhone and I think it changed the way we both looked at taking photos. Christy contributed her shots every week to the link-up and we began a virtual friendship. When we both started blogging less, I asked Christy if she wanted to collaborate in some fashion. We both loved mobile imagery and so we went from there. She had followed a side-by-side Polaroid project called the Polaroid Girls; I contributed to the defunct diptych project called The Miss Match Project – we both had a love for diptychs! We wanted the project to span one year, 52 weeks, and to be prompted by something new each week.. So we decided that we could shoot for two rounds of the alphabet – we would follow the letters of the alphabet to guide each week’s word, each week’s inspiration. When we got to the end of the round we realized that the creative push from the project was sometimes the driving force to keep us producing. It challenged us to come up with ideas we wouldn’t have thought of if it weren’t for the project. So we went for another year!
“H is for Horizon” by @deuxpieces
J: When did the project grow from just the two of you to include others?
AT: In early 2013 we both thought it would be even more fun to include other people’s perspectives. More people were using their phones to create art and experiment. It seemed like a good time to involve more people. The more the merrier! I have always loved collaborating and so think that I enjoy the project when it feels like more people are contributing their viewpoints. We all see things in our own unique ways but sometimes we happen to think of the exact same thing, sometimes we imagine the lighting the same way, sometimes we happen to use the same apps, and sometimes we come up with something nobody else thought of. Then, when images are connected into a diptych, a story, they become something even more… They become half of the story -The Me to the You, the You to the Me. For me, one of the best things about this project is the serendipity. The connections made between our unplanned images start to get this groove where it’s not just a narrative that takes shape but our horizon lines match up, shadows blend perfectly into another’s image, the story on one side completes the end of a story we each didn’t know the ending to. More artists means more interpretations, perspectives, inspiration, and more possibilities for impromptu story telling.
J: The serendipitous pairing is definitely one of my favorite parts of the account. We end up seeing the visions of three artists in the end- the two created by the individuals, and the third created by you, who has paired them together. Can you pick a few of your all-time favorites and tell a little bit about them?
AT: Wow, well thanks so much. Funny, but I feel like the diptych is second to the idea of mobile-only imagery. I honestly haven’t really thought of it that way…until right now. I think of the storytelling angle, yes. But I guess I feel like I am facilitating a presentation for each image so that it can shine even brighter on its own while working in tandem to strengthen its neighbor’s image. Even though a collaboration of sorts, I think of this project as an individual challenge; one created by the participating artists. We each contribute our images without knowing what the other will be creating. Even I try to stay ahead of the group so that I am not swayed to create something to match with another member’s image. We all to come from the same place of not knowing, of using just our own experience to create from. That way when images are put together it seems even more magical how they match up. It’s like the personal inspiration comes first, the connections come second. That said, I have always really loved the story telling of two images.
I do have a couple of favorites. The first pairings that come to mind are from the beginnings of the project when it was still just me and Christy. Most of the earlier diptychs were less narrative and more graphic in nature. For example, with “E is for Eyes”. Our styles are quite different but seem to go together well in this duo. We were both inspired by that week’s theme. I feel like this diptych really showcases what we were trying to do when we started the project.
“E is for Eyes” by Anika and Christy
With more voices come more possibilities for narratives. I just posted a diptych with an image from Claire and an Instant Lab image from Chris. It’s beautiful. They both were on the same page as far as the idea and even the coloring! I was blown away when I got the second image of this pairing…it was too perfect. This one for me, now, feels like what the project has become.
“G is for Guide” by Chris and Claire
It’s nice to see how this project, this collaboration of sorts, is evolving. I think that’s why I am drawn to a current pairing with Christy. It’s interesting for me to look back and compare it to our earlier connections. This was from a few weeks back and is “D is for Double”.
“D is for Double” by Christy and Anika
J: Can you tell me a little more about Instant Lab and the Deuxpieces account?
AT: Gladly. During the last round {Round 5} I learned about the Impossible Project’s Instant Lab. It was like a little fairy produced this magical camera – one that combined the spontaneity of Instant photography with a mobile device! It seemed like the perfect thing to add to Me & You. This all began with a love for mobile art; why not showcase it in another form? I decided to seek out some Lab users who may like to join the project. I tried to find artists that were passionate about instant photography, had experience using the Instant Lab, and that had a strong unique style. {I think it may have also been an excuse for me to justify the purchase of more film.} You know, every one of the Instant Lab shots, so far, have lined up perfectly with its partner…it’s wild! Here is an example, “A is for Arch”. The Instant image {on the right} is by Keith. It is partnered with Monica’s image. To me it’s like one image is an abstract drawing of the other. I love this one. The addition of the Lab has been very inspiring.
“A is for Arch” by Monica and Keith
Also, new for round six is Deuxpieces. Deuxpieces is an ongoing diptych project between Elke and Corinna. I had known both Elke and Corinna from those way-back blogging days and have admired their photography and stories ever since. We had discussed, a round or two back, how we might be able to work together and so for Round 6 we figured out a way. The difference in their creations is that they make purposeful connections. One of them will play off the other’s image and work from there. Sometimes their diptych is connected by color or design, sometimes it’s planned conceptually, and other times one half of the diptych is half of the other’s half. It’s a great project! M&Y has always been about connecting the unplanned but the addition of Deuxpieces adds the intentional. It’s interesting to compare the processes and see what two people working together come up with for the same exact inspiration that individuals create for (for example, “H is for Horizon”, shown at the top of the article).
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If you’d like to get involved, feel free to follow the Me & You, 52 account on Instagram and add to the #meandyou52 tag. You can also visit the blog site online, or if you are interested in being a part of the future of the project, you can contact Anika at [email protected].
by Joel Aversing | Oct 17, 2014 | Joel Aversing, Stories
Second Week of October by Joel Aversing
The crisp air, falling leaves, bonfires and football games, a few things that come to mind when you think of early October, but that’s not why the second week of October is my favorite time of year. It’s hunting season, but more importantly it’s a time when all the men in the family get together and forget to act like gentlemen and go camping. Manners go out the window, as we drink beer and whisky around the poker table and curse at the refs when they make a bad call against LSU.
Now I only go hunting once a year, so I can’t tell you I go for the sport, or just to shoot off some rifles and shotguns, that’s a small part of it. Yes all this is primitive and it feels good, but to me what’s more primitive is the gathering of a family or “tribe”. Enjoying each other’s company while I cook breakfast on a makeshift stove while having a MORNING beer, and listening to my brother in-law telling me “you’re burning the bacon, that shit is burnt”, these are good times.
There was a time when my son would come out camping and all he wanted to do was see what he could burn in the campfire. He was such a good fire poker. Now he’s toting an old crack barrel shotgun that’s actually four times older than he is and the pellet gun now gets left in the closet.
The young nephews have grown, have beards, and kids of their own. Pop still says “meet back at 9:30 unless you’re having fun, I got nowhere to be”, and the men secretly still try to out-cook one another. My son still likes to tag along with his Grandpa but is willing to explore the Kisatchie wilderness on his own.
If I’ve learned anything in the last fifteen years hunting with the family it’s that change is constant but a family’s bond is forever, and to bring plenty of toilet paper because you will be sh*tting in the woods.
by Rebecca Cornwell | Oct 13, 2014 | Stories
The Uncensored Stripper by Rebecca Cornwell
I first came across @TheUncensoredStripper in my @SundayBluesEdit tag. This Sunday community has been my Instagram home for almost 3 years. I’ve met incredible people, heard amazing stories and viewed tens of thousands of breathtaking and sometimes gut-wrenching photos. I’d started to feel, in the glut of images I see everyday, that there wasn’t going to be anything new, and maybe there isn’t, but every once in a while something knocks you off your feet and out of your comfort zone. @TheUncensoredStripper snagged me with her moody, beautiful, insightful, surprising, sometimes seedy and always eye-opening images. Not long after studying her photos, like any artist might- we’re always interested in “how it’s done”, I started to read.
With each consecutive image and its accompanying text, she drew me closer. Like with any great writing, I couldn’t stop reading. She pulled me along with every image, giving me the honest, brutal, heartbreaking and sometimes hilarious details of her life. I don’t think of myself as prudish or even very shockable. I didn’t know if my fascination with @TheUncensoredStripper had to do with an element of voyeurism into a world I really knew nothing about, or if it was sensational or even taboo at times. After continuing to read and study her images, I decided @TheUncensoredStripper is just a brilliant storyteller. Pair that with her compelling photography and she’s given you something you wont be able to tear yourself away from. She will have you returning to her blog and her profile over and over to find out what happens next.
TUCS: I was born in San Francisco and raised in a loosely based hippie commune by vegetarian drug dealers. Yearning to live my life on my own terms, I moved out when I was sixteen and worked as many as three jobs at a time to make ends meet. I started stripping two years before I earned my BA in Social Science and have been a stripper and prostitute for over twenty years. The sex industry is demanding, both mentally and physically, as strippers are often treated like living blow-up-dolls while simultaneously acting as therapists. Strip clubs are a circus, brothel and wellness center wrapped into one. The sub-culture requires thick skin and an open mind in order to succeed, as well as avoid going insane. My longevity in the field is a reflection of my chameleon-like nature and my innate skill in the art of giving (and faking) affection.
In conjunction, thanks to my in part to my unconventional upbringing, my tolerance for dysfunction is set impossibly high, rendering me well equipped for the industry. I have lived my life as an open book, having the opportunity to dispel a few myths and misconceptions along the way. My memoir, Anything but a Wasted Life, aims to capture and reveal my unorthodox life. I have always loved photography, and about a year before I started writing Anything But a Wasted Life, I took pictures of one of my co-workers for her modeling portfolio with my point and shoot digital camera. I loved it, and she said that I had talent and a good eye. I continued to shoot. One of the perks of being a stripper is that I am surrounded by gorgeous, uninhibited women who want/need sexy pictures of themselves. I had my first solo art show in 2007. I started shooting with self-manipulated medium format film camera’s later that year. I am self-taught in both arenas.
I have journalled in a stream of consciousness style off and on my whole life. When I shared bits and pieces of my life with people (I have always lived my life as an open book), a common reaction was: you should write a book. I had never considered myself a writer, nor was I trained in the field, so I would laugh and write it off as something people like to say. But I kept it in the back of my mind as a possibility for later. Then, in the mid 2000’s business at the club took a dive, and I had long pockets of down time. I brought a composition pad one evening, and it poured out of me. I was hooked. My manager wasn’t quite as thrilled, but he loves me so he let it slide. The entire memoir was written first-hand and then later put into the computer. It was written mostly at the club as well as in local watering holes around Los Angeles. I knew that if I ever did write a memoir, it wasn’t going to be in the traditional autobiographical style; I was born on this date and raised here. I am not famous in any capacity, so who cares about me? It’s how I see life and human behavior that I think people relate to and are entertained by. It also happens that I have crammed a lot of off-the-wall shit into my forty-four years, and people are curious about the sex industry.
I believe that watching women dance nude on stage for over twenty years has given me a unique perspective of the female form, as well as close proximity to harnessing sensuality in a visual format. And of course, the use of angles and light. I wrote Anything But a Wasted Life as a candid, unapologetic, 115,000-word memoir. I have experienced the pitfalls of being naked in front of strangers and the absurdities that arise when you fake intimacy for a living. As the title suggests, it is also about rarely said “no” to life I recount falling in love with a girl in high school, patrolling at night with a couple of cops while high on acid, living in a luxurious, converted missile silo from the Cold War. It’s always my intention to show the reader the secret world of stripping and prostitution through an often drunk, occasionally sarcastic, and frequently funny magnifying glass. Until recently, I had kept my writing and my photography separate.
Last year I had the idea to open an Instagram account to post excerpts from my memoir. I matched these excerpts with images from my past, then started posting some of my fine art photography photos. Currently, I am putting together my third solo art show where images will be keenly interlinked with my memoir. Unlike my previous art shows, this one will be keenly interlinked to my memoir. Anything But a Wasted Life is a tell-all about myself, no one else. All of the names of people famous or otherwise, referenced in the memoir, have been changed.
These images: The three black and whites are self-portraits. It’s damned near impossible to shoot myself with my medium format plastic cameras, so these were done with my 5D, and then a mix of filter fun via various apps. I like cutting women’s heads off in my photography, this is the same with myself. The shot with the records was taken about a month ago with my point and shoot 35mm. One of my images I sell the most is of a woman’s legs, retro lamp, record player and vinyl records that I took in 2010. I put this shoot together so I could add to that genre to sell. I took the Holga shot of the Capital Records building back in 2008 when I was still living in Hollywood. That building has been captured in so many ways, I was wondering if I could get it from my own perspective with my manipulated camera.
The last image is actually the girl I had my very first photo shoot with (this was taken a couple years later). She freaked out when she saw my Instagram account and asked me to take down some of her pictures. She did not want to be associated with stripping in any way (no one knows she used to dance). I removed a couple shots where you could semi see her face, but I have signed model releases, and no one will ever know who she is, so I kept this one up, which I love so much.
Excerpt from Anything but a Wasted Life:
It’s your typical night in the dressing room. Girls drinking, girls talking shit, one girl inserting a tampon. Another is on her cell phone. Two are speaking too loudly, and four are heavily spraying themselves with sickeningly sweet body spray. And me, leaning over the counter applying my ho-bag makeup. Two plastic bottles sit next to my Mac brushes, one with vitaminwater, the other, apple vodka in a vitaminwater bottle. I swig one, then the other. Total shit. I hate vodka, but it leaves my breath smelling less like a barroom floor. And it’s cheap. I apply shiny powder to my cheeks and over the thin lines around my eyes, to mask my experience. I’m a forty-three-year-old stripper. I’ve been dancing since college, more than twenty years ago. One of my roommates worked at The Lusty Lady in San Francisco, a female-owned and operated peep show, and another acquaintance of mine worked at Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre, the city’s premier strip club. Having witnessed their lifestyle of glam and financial freedom, I decided to give stripping a go. I was tired of being broke, working three jobs and having very little energy or time for homework. I was pre-law. My goal was to re-design the prison system. Suffice to say, law school never happened. Within a year, I was making more money than judges in San Francisco, my hometown. The prisoners would have to wait. I’d never had that much money before. I was raised by a single parent and have been on my own since I was sixteen. Most girls (myself included) start dancing with the intention of doing it less than two years (in the beginning I thought I would dance through law school and then quit). Nearly all stay two to seven years. Only a few of us stay this long. Stripping was incredible when I started. It was special and still somewhat underground, a unique adventure for the wealthy. Times have changed. I make an eighth of what I used to, and there’s practically a strip club on every corner. I suppose I’m a bit spoiled. Wake up when I want, work when I want, get paid in cash. It’s not a bad life. And I’m good at what I do. Sometimes I think it’s a curse to be skilled at making men feel good. Funny thing is, most of them want to make me feel good. That’s the secret.
by Anna Cox | Oct 7, 2014 | Stories, You Are Grryo
As a filmmaker, I’m always looking for new projects, developing short film ideas and collaborating with creative individuals. I found Nicholai’s work online and liked his style as an artist straight away. His photos of abandoned houses stood out to me and I thought it would make an interesting film. I contacted him, discussed some ideas and a few days later we were shooting.
The premise was pretty simple – drive around Minnesota for a few hours and look for abandoned houses. I interviewed him the day before and wanted to get some shots that captured the abandoned vibes found in his work. When I started this project, I set out to document him exploring these places without interfering with his creative process. When he would find a cool looking place, I followed him with my camera while he searched for the right shot. He would look for a spot with an interesting background or good light and I would just sit back and film his natural workflow.
The houses we found looked untouched. There was a calendar from the early 90’s tacked on the wall, toothbrushes by the sink, floral couches and old televisions… It was surreal. Definitely makes you think about the house’s history, who lived there before and why they left. Going somewhere unknown and being a little out of your comfort zone is my idea of an adventure, even if it did get pretty sketchy at times. You never know what you might find in those places when you turn a corner. But from a cinematography standpoint, every direction I pointed my lens at looked interesting because it was an environment I had never seen before.
The purpose behind his work is to capture the feel of places that rarely get noticed. It’s a brilliant example of what you can find if you explore and look for things that normally get passed up. I’m glad I got to go along for the ride and document everything. Nicholai just moved out to LA so be sure to keep an eye on him and his upcoming projects.
For more about Caleb and his films.
by Bridgette | Oct 6, 2014 | 1000 Words, Bridgette Shima, Stories
Photo by Jen Bracewell
1,000 Words is under the premise that “a photograph says a thousand words”.
Grryo believes that mobile photographers/artists tell stories through the photographs/images and art that represent their families, their environment, themselves. This is important because of the level of communication that is portrayed in imaging today.
This month, Grryo storytellers sent in one photograph depicting what FREE means to each one of us.
We hope that you enjoy this showcase as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together.
Photo by Rebecca Cornwell
Photo by Natalie Maddon
Photo by Andy Butler
Photo by Matthew Wylie
Photo by Brandon Kidwell
Photo by Josh St. Germain
Photo by Hector Navarro Torres
Photo by Matt Coch
Photo by Todd Leban
Photo by Jeff Kelley
Photo by Bridgette Shima
by Josh St. Germain | Oct 5, 2014 | Stories
Welcome to the tenth edition of the GRRYO 1000 Words Facebook Showcase! Since the creation of the Facebook group, we have seen it grow and watched inspiring work being posted daily. We are happy to be able to showcase some of the outstanding work that is being shared.
GRRYO believes that mobile photographers/ artists tell stories through the photographs/ images and art that represents their families, their environment, themselves. This is important because of the level of communication that is portrayed in imaging today.
We want to support the mobile arts community by having a place for artists to share, discuss, and critique (if requested by individual). These dialogues help the individuals and the community to grow.
We look forward to you and your art. We thank you for your contribution to the mobile photography/ arts community. To submit your work click here.
“Let me ease your pain…” by Rob Depaolo
“I have always had a thing for “dark” art as well as for the steampunk aesthetic. In particular, the “Plague Doctor” look has always fascinated me, and I’ve recently acquired a few different masks of this sort to use in some of my conceptual work. This photo is the first in what will be an ongoing series that I will add to slowly over time. I won’t say where it is going, but it will continue to evolve at a slow pace.
As human beings, we all wear various “masks” throughout our lives. They are the different personas, attitudes, and images that we “wear” when interacting with others. Deep down we know that we are all hiding our true selves from others, and to see someone wearing a mask can be an unsettling reminder of our own inauthenticity. If we were truly comfortable with ourselves as we really are, the sight of someone else in a mask would be as natural as seeing clouds in the sky.
This photo was shot with an iPhone 5s using the beta version of the new 645 Pro with manual controls. The manual exposure control, in particular, made it easier to get the exposure I wanted for the dark feel of this image. I edited this photo in primarily in Filterstorm Neue with subtle textures added in Mextures.”
On most days, I would say that the intricate textures, shape, and intimate quality of this Queen Anne’s Lace drew me to this particular flower. Although, this day, very soon after the recent death of my dad, it was more about capturing the beauty that exists all around us, everywhere.Setup included small studio with black backdrop with lighting. Initial shot was taken using Pureshot. The edit was in Snapseed, adjusting the brightness and adding details. I then used the curves feature in Filterstorm/Nueue to dramatically darken the background. The shot is titled… Fibonacci
“The queens command” by Stef LP
Website
“Thrilled to be able to do multiple exposures with my iPad I began experimenting with it.
This particular shot came after a series of light and shadow that felt empty.
I wanted to add something
Randomly hanging around,
-this mask worked well for me.
These heads can be very moody looking and represent a neutral but universal presentation of being.
There was no post processing other then increasing contrast.”
“The Rudeboy Barbers at Somerset House” by Vivi Hanson
Apps used : ProCamera 7 to take photo, Snapseed, BlurFX, Mextures
I love visiting Somerset House in London http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ and always go in to photograph it’s magnificent staircase! Somerset House always has really interesting exhibitions and on this occasion there was a fantastic exhibition of The Return of the Rudeboy which combined beautiful portrait photography, music, fashion and barbering! http://modernbarber.co.uk/check-in-at-somerset-house-for-return-of-the-rudeboy/ The set up was wonderful and I asked the barber if I could take his photo and he gave me a huge smile! Loved that I got the customer in the mirror!
I wanted to focus my edit on the barber and his customer so used BlurFX to blur everything else out. Then edited my image using one of my B&W presets in Mextures.
“Little Dolls” by Aldo Pacheco
Flickr // EyeEm
I took the photo with native camera from iPhone 4s, when I went to a local thrift store looking of I don’t remember what. Then I get to the toys section of the store and I found little dolls form many brands packed in plastic bags, and the “babies” called my attention, they look weird and kind of sexual. So I took the chance to shot some photos before I left the store empty handed.
The process was very simple and I only used Snapseed to work around the color and make it soft, the add a little grunge and crop to square format
“Fok” by Andy Alexandre
Instagram // Facebook
I’m Andy, i’m french from Marseille, and my way is to use only iPhone to take and to edit pictures.
I like to work on bodies and faces with different mood and touch.
All male bodies part are mine.
– Fok – (inspired by Olafur Arnalds – music)
To start i used “Timer” to shoot myself with delay.
I use “Mextures” to create a texture background.
With “Image Blender” I can overlay my selfie onto the background picture.
I use “IcoloramaS” to create this effect explode on my head.
To add clouds i use “SpacePaint”
And finaly “Mextures” to add some scratch for a vintage atmosphere.
by Jeff Kelley | Oct 4, 2014 | Jeff Kelley, Stories
JUXTAPOSITION
noun
1. the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side.
2. the state of being so placed.
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We asked what JUXTAPOSITION means to you.
The following have been selected from more than 100 images tagged:
Photo by @clence
Photo by @dbrondeau
Photo by @basia_pro
Photo by @sirreal
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SPECIAL MENTIONS
Photo by @strongcomet
Photo by @natehill
by André Hermann | Oct 3, 2014 | Stories
If you’ve ever gone to school to pursue a career in the arts you know how important assignments were. Whether we liked the assignments or not, they guided us, gave us reason for being, kept us inspired and creating. But we all know those assignments wouldn’t last forever. All too often you’d hear people give one very important piece of advice, “stay on top of giving yourself assignments”. After you graduate there is no one to provide you with those thought provoking assignments, well, until you begin acquiring work. There is no longer the responsibility of performing or earning a grade to get that expensive piece of paper. If you talk with most graduates from art school, or any creative degree program, they will tell you that the scariest aspect of graduating besides job availability is staying motivated and producing new work.
If you do a Google search for ‘photo challenge’ or ‘photo assignment’ you will face 458 million search results. Yes friend, you read correctly. 458 million. Now narrow your search to the reasonable first three to ten pages. Everybody and their brother has a page dedicated to the ‘photo challenge’ or ‘photo assignment’. There is one for every genre and sub-genre of photography as well. The problem is that these challenges and assignments are dominated by the 365-selfie, 52-week, 30-day, 24-hour, photo-a-day challenges. Are you seeing the pattern here? It sounds like a diet. Believe me, I’ve tried all of these and found myself in most cases miserably bored and quitting. Photography was no longer fun. It actually became more of a chore. The problem is that these challenges and assignments do not give us any real world parameters that could spawn creativity besides a time frame. Yes, the time constraint is a real world challenge, but the creative limitations our environment or clients challenge us with are far more helpful in sparking creative, new ideas.
Just telling someone to think outside of the box isn’t always enough. You have to challenge people with limitations. By doing so you draw a line in the sand and dare them to cross it. Parameters. Boundaries. We need to define the box before we can step outside of it, right? If you look closely, the one thing that these challenges listed above are missing, are rules and guidelines. No, I don’t mean “your image must have these dimension, at this ppi, titled this way, uploaded here, by this time”. No, what I am talking about is a set of parameters that we have to work with. We all know what happens when we are put in a box. We want to get out. When we step out from the confines of the box we take our first risk. This first risk leads to more risk taking. In photography, when risks are taken, scary and interesting things happen. We learn about ourselves and others. We find our voice. We discover some new worlds. Most importantly, we create new work.
The whole point to my story here is to share with you a collection of challenges and assignments. Some are my own, and others I have found scouring the web (sorry, not all 458 million search results), looking for the most interesting challenges and assignments. These are blogs, websites and books that offer other-than-the-normal tired assignments and challenges. In some cases I might have found them inspiring to begin with— adding a few parameters of my own. Lastly, I was inspired to write this after giving my Fundamentals Of Photography students at Houston Community College a final assignment to photograph a bench. You can read about it here. Otherwise, enjoy the list. I hope you find inspiration and begin seeing things a little differently.
Some interesting links:
• A really interesting way to rethink time constraints
• National Geographic is always a great source for assignments – They have a page dedicated to assignments. If you knock it out of the park, you may get chosen for their online gallery.
• ‘Gain access to…’ and, ‘It would it be interesting if… – A student’s reflection on her instructor’s assignment that she continues to give to her students now.
• An interesting way to look at people in their cars on the freeway.
• CNN has a page dedicated to assignments
• Project Soul Pancake• Reddit picture challenge
• The worlds longest list of photo contest ideas (challenges)
• Google’s page dedicated to photo challenges
• An interesting list of words to to challenge yourself visually with
Interesting assignments I’ve given my students in the past, or that were given to me while I was a student in school:
• A portrait or self-portrait without showing us a person.
• Tell a complete story in 3 images.
• 10 photos, one subject (Shoot from the hip. You cannot look through the viewfinder).
• Light as subject (photograph light as if it is a person).
• 4×4 space. Find a space and map out a mental or physical perimeter and photograph everything you can within that space using multiple camera angles, perspectives, and POVs. (Try to capture a sense of place, space, mood, tone, and structure.) Explore photographing something that lies beyond the boundaries (box).
• Get out of your own head, “How would [enter person’s name here who isn’t a photographer] photograph it? My favorite person to think about is Gene Simmons of KISS in full make-up and theatrical garb.
• Make an ordinary object look unrecognizable.
• Visualize a classical music piece, or your favorite song using only colors and textures as the subject.
• Sometimes just a phrase can offer challenging parameters, “I can barely remember…”.
• Visualize the scent of a woman, or a man.
• Photos from your neighborhood from someone else’s perspective. Walk around and have someone else tell you what to shoot.
• 25 strangers (one of my favorites). No, not your friends and family. People you don’t know. You have to be close enough to hear them respond when you ask their name.
• Walk blindfolded (with help from someone) and when you bump into something photograph it.
• Recreate an image or mimic the style of a photography master.
• Photograph a park bench. You only get 36 frames. No more no less. Choose your 8 best images.
Books with some thought provoking assignments:
The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas
I know there are so many more amazing assignments and challenges out there. Hell, I only made it through the first 10 pages worth of millions of search results. Give these a try. Search flickr, or other photo sharing communities, for groups who are creating amazing challenges. Don’t be surprised if all you find is words to visualize. If you are that type of person who likes visualizing a word like ‘blue’ or ‘love’ or ‘sorry’, try challenging yourself by creating an image visualizing the word using the ‘LIFE formula for visual variety’. I’ll leave that one for you to research on your own.
by Grryo Community | Oct 1, 2014 | Mobile Photography, Stories
Capturing the Colonias of Acuña, Coahuila (Mexico): An Interview with Jessy Menchaca by Matthew Wylie
Jessy Menchaca (Del Rio, TX) began mobile photography in 2010 and has since had her work featured via The Mobile Photo Awards, various EyeEm events, Hipstography, Visure Italia, and both Street Expose books. She is a proud new mother of her daughter Chloe Londyn, who, each and every day, woke up like this.
I spoke to Jessy about her recent visit to Acuña, Coahuila and her desire to capture the family life, value system, and work ethic of those residing in the colonias of Acuña, Coahuila – Mexico.
Matthew: I can’t help but notice an eye in your photographs, at least many of them, that seems to focus on issues of class and ethnicity, particularly that of the Mexican / Latin American working class identity. Can you speak to us at all about this and what you are attempting to do, or say, when capturing these moments, let alone sharing them with us?
Jessy: When shooting in Mexico, I normally visit the not so privileged neighborhoods (known as “colonias”). The people in these neighborhoods, on average, work 60 hours a week for a compensation of about $70 U.S. dollars. Their ability to stay positive and happy, considering their circumstances, is a quality that evokes interest in me. These people manage their household and families on less than $100 a week, while foreign corporations pocket the profit that results from “cheap labor.”
The citizens of Acuna, Coahuila have taught me that when there’s a will, there’s a way. While photographing, I always hope I can capture their persevering spirit. This is something I admire in the Mexican people.
Matthew: This makes me think of the privilege you (us) have doing what we do. I mean, from the privilege of having a piece of equipment like an iPhone, to the privilege of being able to walk around with it in broad daylight without concern, do you see your privilege as a form of responsibility to use it for reasons like this, such as sharing the stories of those who can’t? I think you’re not just seeking to capture their “persevering spirit.” You seem to have something else to say in the sharing of these photographs with the rest of us, no?
Jessy: I’m trying to share some of the circumstances that Mexican people struggle with. Observing them from my moving vehicle, while getting captures with my iPhone, helps me to understand why, to some of them, crossing the border and migrating into the U.S. in an illegal manner would seem like an “opportunity.” When I share the photos, I hope that those who are intolerant and quick to suggest “Mexicans should go back to Mexico” realize and understand where these people come from and why they might desire to leave. There’s nothing attractive about living in a third world country and making $70 a week. In my opinion, if the U.S. and other foreign corporations that operate in Mexico compensated labor in a fair manner, maybe the quality of life in Mexico would increase and less Mexicans would consider taking the risks involved with migrating into the USA. Make no mistake, I’m not saying “Open the borders and let them all in!”, no, not at all. I just would like to spread consciousness and hope for a bit of understanding towards their situation, and, living in Texas, ours.
Matthew: In terms of the idea of photography being more than capturing “pretty images,” which is, in my opinion, far too often the case for mobile photographers, both amateur and professionals alike, I wonder if there is any one photograph (or even photographer) that for you, personally, has helped you “understand” a situation that you previously simply did not?
Jessy: The work of Louie Palu while covering the drug related crisis along the US-Mexico border was an eye opener for me. His “Mira Mexico” portfolio reveals who has been affected the most by this conflict. It’s a very explicit visual narrative of this ongoing crisis.
Matthew: Can you tell us a bit about what it is like to compose your narratives / make your captures in the colonias you mention, rather than in your own city? Did any of this make you think differently of what you are doing with your photography?
Jessy: Photographing in Mexico is more attractive to me for many reasons. The people seem more aware of their surroundings due to their general inability to purchase technology. As such, the streets are filled with children playing with old tires, cardboard boxes, deflated soccer balls, or any other item that requires the direct use of their imagination. Women can be seen gossiping with each other, or sweeping the sidewalks and men are usually seen working on something, whether it’s an old car, their house, or anything else that needs fixing. Most of these scenarios simply can’t be found in U.S. cities as frequently, at least not the cities I have spent time in. For example, I’ve searched for similar scenarios in Los Angeles, California to New Orleans, Louisiana, and all over Texas, my home state. What I have found, everywhere, is that people seem to be too busy living their lives of undeniable privilege. Children play on electronic devices, women gossip through social media and men pay other men to fix their broken items.
Matthew: Are you not also seeking to capture something that we, as a society in general, are losing? Might you also be seeking to “capture” this too? You seem to remind me of how photography can help us see what we may have not seen otherwise, and what you are talking about is not just a moment, but an entire set of cultural and social values and habits.
Jessy: One of the things that I fondly admire is that the people of these colonias seem to retain this unique sense of innocence, something that is not easy to find and normally lost through the materialism that pervades the U.S. They seem to find happiness easily, and not simply through obtaining material possessions. I admire how they’re not preoccupied with “Keeping up with the Martinez,’” so to speak.
The U.S. seems so often to be an “all about me” society. With the Mexican concept of family life, this type of egotism just is not as prevalent. This is something I also admire. The difference was highlighted to me some days ago by one of my very own relatives, who happens to be a second generation American citizen. While going through some of my photos, he said “It’s crazy how this woman is so young and has pretty much given up on her life because now she has to care for all of those kids!” I looked to see which photo he was referring to and it was a photo of a young Mexican woman, ready to cross the street with her two children. He was so quick to pass judgment, never stopping to think that maybe this woman, like many Mexican women, believe in forming families, even if that need is determined by their environment. What if that was the life she chose (rather than seeking one in the U.S., legally or illegally)? What if that is what makes her happy and complete? Mexicans are exposed to the same media as we are, they have dubbed versions of our same films, same reality tv, and they at times sing along to the same lyrics people in America do. Even with all of this, they still consider forming a family, and managing with a very light income, living an “accomplished life”. #VivaLaFamilia
Matthew: You are a mother of a newly born child (congratulations again!), and I wonder, what advice might you give to young people today who may see the camera in the mobile device primarily as a means to self-glorify, or socially interact?
Jessy: I’d tell them to live a little more and worry a whole lot less about looking attractive for strangers. Coming across shallow “selfies” on any social network really irks me. It is rather unfortunate that females need to be validated by the amount of “likes” they can obtain by showing off their physical attributes. When I come across an attention seeking post, I always wonder “who raised you?” I was taught that I don’t need for anybody to validate my existence. Only I can do that for myself.
Matthew: Jessy, thank you for your time and for sharing your time in and impressions of the colonias with us.
If you will permit, I would like to conclude the interview with the famous Benard Pivot questionnaire that is actually a take on Marcel Proust’s (one of my favourite authors) set of questions, because that’s just how I roll. You good?
Jessy: Bring it on.
Matthew: What is your favorite word?
Jessy: “Fuck”
Matthew: What is your least favorite word?
Jessy: “Can’t”
Matthew: What turns you on?
Jessy: Self-confidence and the smell of good cologne
Matthew: What turns you off?
Jessy: Lack of self-confidence
Matthew: What sound or noise do you love?
Jessy: Chloe’s (my daughter) baby gibberish
Matthew: What sound or noise do you hate?
Jessy: Racist remarks
Matthew: What is your favourite curse word?
Jessy: “Fuck”
Matthew: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Jessy: Samba Dancer
Matthew: What profession would you not like to do?
Jessy: Anything in the medical field
Matthew: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Jessy: “Hi Jessy, what a ride! Nice heels. Your Dad has been patiently waiting for you.”
by Bridgette | Sep 29, 2014 | Bridgette Shima, Stories
Smelling the sweet perfume of florals Chloe makes her way through the market.
She orders an espresso and sits by the waterfront, listening to the murmur of people chatting next to her. Kids chase each other around the bench as their parents feed the telescope some quarters.
Her mind traveling to a time of sheer wonder and beauty. A time when everything was so simple and the sight of a flower offered a sign of hope and love.
{ Flowers are her favorite. }
With her eyes closed she imagined this life again.
Editor’s Note: To understand where Chloe is now you need to understand where Chloe began her journey and where it is headed. The Reinvention of Chloe is a collaborative effort by much of the Grryo team to realize a dream our dear friend Ale began before his death. We do hope you enjoy the journey.
