by Jeff Kelley | Dec 29, 2014 | Jeff Kelley, Stories
We all know there’s more than one downside to the omnipresent smartphone–the invention of the ‘selfie’, the calloused thumbs, the inability to bullshit our way through a discussion about, well, anything that can be Googled.
But you know what my favorite upside is? The ability to take a picture at any given moment. No, I’m not talking about catching a nominee for the ‘People of Wal-Mart’ blog; I’m talking about taking pictures of my kids.
The truth is, I really didn’t take any pictures at all before I succumbed to the allure of that sleek rectangular gadget. In fact, everything I’ve learned about photography has indirectly been the result of stumbling across a photo app a few years ago. Now that I’m able to take photos at any given moment, countless events that were once seemingly insignificant (like, uh, dental visits) have been captured on-the-fly, off-the-cuff, and even in middle of the street. The fact is, even if I <em>had</em> owned a camera, those spur-of-the-moment memories would likely have never been immortalized had I not been wielding my trusty iPhone.
So the next time someone collides into me on the street whilst checking Facebook, I’m going to think about that perfect photo of my kid–the one that was taken by a phone, the one that’s going be sitting on the mantle for the next six years, and yes, even the one that’s going to be sitting on a hard drive for the next sixteen.
Sure, I’ll likely succumb to carpal tunnel syndrome within the next year or two and end up with the permanent posture of someone decades older than me, but that hike we took on our family vacation? It holds a permanent place via some pixels in square form.
And when I’m in line for a coffee and the guy in front of me is haphazardly ordering a chai tea latte with almond milk and an extra pump of chai while day trading stocks, instead of whacking him upside the head, I’ll just take it as a trade-off. He gets to be obnoxious, I get to remember that look on my daughter’s face when she’s grown, and maybe her kids will get to know her a little bit better because of it.
Admittedly, not all of the disadvantages involve other people, and the perceived urgency my phone causes in me is distressing. It’s just slightly possible that I don’t need to take my phone in with me every time I use the bathroom. And it’s probably a good idea to actually interact with my kids in addition to getting the perfect shot for Instagram.
Maybe, if I’m lucky, my kids will take up photography. Or at least look back on the photos I’ve taken and appreciate them. It’s possible that in a few short years they will have their own phones and will be telling me to go stand in front of some foggy woodland scene so they can post it somewhere. I certainly hope so. I’ll try not to be annoyed.
by Grryo Community | Nov 25, 2014 | Stories, Storyteller, StreetPhotography
I was introduced to Jordan Foy by a mutual friend. I was told Jordan had something to do with a mobile photography and I needed to speak to him. We hooked up and from there I discovered more about his involvement with the app Steller, a new storytelling app that has become a firm favourite in my camera bag.
Jordan is based in the historic city of Chester, UK. Even though he is still at university Jordan has worked in the creative industry for others or by himself since the age of 15. In 2011 he was nominated for the Young UK Entrepreneur Awards due to the work he did with the hotels in his local seaside resort of Blackpool. Jordan saw a market on his doorstep where he could sell photography on a large scale. Following on from this he has held an exhibition in a small gallery in Chester and become involved with the team at Steller. This has been an awesome opportunity that has enabled him to meet so many talented creators in the community.
AB: How were you first introduced to iPhone photography?
JF: I first got my hands on iPhone photography when I got my first iPhone. I was obsessed with it, it blew my mind. I even had two cases! I went through the Instagram filters and frame phase and luckily looked back and learned from my mistakes. I love iPhone photography more than I ever thought, and I haven’t picked up an actual SLR since, I feel it doesn’t matter what you take the snap on.
AB: Photographically, what subjects fascinate you and how would you describe your style?
JF: I don’t have a style. This is something I used to constantly worry about. I was worried that I would get left behind and be a failed creative if I didn’t have a style, so I would try and fix this with a style/genre. I soon learnt this is really not the way to do it. I am consistently inconsistent with what I produce, I just like to document everything. I am fascinated with and inspired by others’ creativity. That is what drives me to be better to experiment with new approaches all the time.
AB: We were introduced by a mutual friend who told me about your involvement with the app, Steller. Tell us about Steller and how the idea behind the app came about?
JF: Steller is a new creative social media app where people can share their stories, experiences and interests, which elsewhere can be hard to share. Steller allows you to create your stories right on the phone through images, videos and text. It has a beautiful design aspect to it for creators and its simple to use. There’s a really vibrant and diverse community taking shape of photographers, food lovers, adventurers and creatives that are very inspiring and sharing in a whole new way.
AB: During its launch week, Steller was featured as Apple’s ‘Editors App of the Week’ which is quite an achievement. What makes Steller so special and how is it different from other photo apps or social networks?
JF: I think the thing that makes Steller so unique is people have a fresh way of sharing. This is something that today everybody is doing, everyone is sharing that latest snap in their camera roll, everyone is keeping people updated with what is happening in their lives and what makes them tick. Steller allows you to do all this in a bitesize interactive story where you can share everything from your latest holiday, to your latest creative photography project, to you’re freshly baked goods straight out the oven! Steller allows you to tell a story, which we all have the ability to do, in a way that’s very beautiful looking and personally designed. With Steller, you have a platform to tell stories grand and small to your hearts content and share them wherever you like.
AB: What are the key ingredients that make up a good photographic story?
JF: Great original photography. I am always very intrigued with how people see the world. I actually have an ongoing hashtag series called #seewhatisee on Steller. This allows people to see into other peoples lives and the way in which they document their last 7 days. This is always very interesting. The app is filled with incredible creatives who use photography and videography in all different ways.
AB: Who are your favourite Steller storytellers and why?
JF: I love all different types of stories and new users keep catching my eye with stories that really keep me interested and anticipating their next ones. Recently I have really enjoyed stories from:
@Devin Castro : Devin’s Memory Bank Series in ongoing series which contain fleeting moments in his life.
@Dariustwin : Darren’s dinosaur lightpainting is magic.
@srt4shawn : Shawn’s Convex Views is a real head spin, very creative.
@asenseofhuber : Turtle Tuesday is an awesome project!
@ChadCopeland : iPhone Only Alaska has mind blowing captured scenes.
@tifforelie : Tiffany’s recipe for autumn chili has her signature mastery beautiful natural light in mobile photography.
AB: Where do you get your inspiration for the stories you tell?
JF: I take a lot of inspiration from Devin Castro as I am fascinated with how he tells a story, and how he documents scenes. I also love taking inspiration from different genres. It expands my eyes to the way others produce photography in say food or interiors or architecture, and adopt it to my own practice.
AB: Where can people find out more about Steller?
JF: People can get their hands on Steller for free on the App Store. You can also check out our featured stories on our Instagram page which is updated everyday with the top stories from all different types of creatives. You can also check out the Steller website for our Editors top picks and Most Viewed stories, as well as search for any subject or user on the app.
Connect with Jordan Foy
Steller // Instagram
by Anna Cox | Nov 10, 2014 | Anna Cox, Mobile Photography, Stories
A: Hey there! Thanks for joining us and sharing a bit more about you. Why don’t you give us a little background info.
D: I’m 46, married and father of 3, live in the countryside in Israel and work in a chemical engineering company. I never studied photography but was always drawn to it. I publish on IG under the username @dot4n, and by same name on AMPt website for mobile photography.
A: What is it about taking photographs that moves you?
D: Taking photos allows me to process the visual stimulation which could otherwise overflow me. Editing images later is done under a strong sense that I must lift-up reality as it’s never good enough as it is, being too small and too local. Things must look unrelated, locations unidentified, reality disguised.
A: Do you have a favorite image?
D: One of my favorite images, not being a landscape as what you noted you liked, but a shot with a sense of mood that I highly relate to. Pic is made from two layers put together. One is of a man standing on the shore at the sea of Tel-Aviv. He is clearly an immigrant, dressed so differently to what local people do. The sky is a shot of a dirty window in my office cafeteria, dust smeared to resemble rain. This is probably the most exact story I wanted to tell of being far away, in a totally strange location with vast space, quiet and moody.
A: What do you think creativity is?
D: I don’t know what creativity is. I want to tell a story. I want to relate to others. I want to repeat myself as little as possible. There’s no deadline for publishing. Pics are posted when I feel they’re ready. And if posted too early I take them off.
A: Who are you inspired by?
D: Mostly, what I know of photography now comes form IG and AMPt. I am inspired by many users, mostly by those who aren’t afraid to be creative and post regardless of the popularity of their pics.
A: Was their a pivotal moment in your photography?
D: I don’t recall any pivotal moment. I thought it would happen with the next follower, but it was never different. Eventually it’s the inner discussion about what you believe worth posting and not the amount of feedback you get.
A: Do you think the number of followers matters?
D: Followers serve as false assurance. You always think that more of them would make you happier, but it never works this way.
Having many followers impresses only people with less followers than you do, if at all, but it does distract the attention from what you want to create to what would make your followers like and comment and to what would bring more followers.
A: What does community mean to you?
D: Community is anything that would make you belong and be less alone. On IG this feeling comes more from the comments I get than the number of likes. I don’t feel I need more than this. I don’t post on Twitter and hardly take any part on Facebook.
A: How do you think social media has changed how we share thoughts, ideas, photos?
D: Social media have become so common that people don’t regard the publication as something that requires self restraint or filtering on their thoughts. It’s not the case for me and I’m sure that also for other IG users. It’s always interesting to try and guess how much effort it takes for someone to share their pics. For me it’s always a struggle. My regular caption of plus-minus sign (±) also means that words don’t come easy, and ifthey don’t create any added value – better not be said at all.
// IG // AMPt //
by Todd Leban | Nov 2, 2014 | 1000 Words, Stories, Todd Leban
Welcome to the 11th 1000 words Facebook showcase
Inspiration for this 1st image is easy , I was in Maui on a Brooke Shaden retreat. Our model Marsha Denlinger, was in a wonderful cave posing for fellow photographer Maureen Sullivan aka Wandering Alice that was setting up a conceptual shot around a beautiful head dress made on the Island ( which by the way you can support Hawaiian artists and find this one on Etsy called “Hat and Mouse” )
i was behind the scene and shot this in Hipstamatic using the Chunky lens and Ina’s 1969 film flash off with the double exposure mode on. The editing i did was minimal opening it in Snappseed and cropped the frame out, i usually hit automatic and let the app correct contrast for me but in this case it changes the color to much so i left it, hit detail and sharpening a bit. I sign in title fx.
Unfortunately, my friend Eric Rosen let me know that the little thingy to the left of the lens is res, high med and low !
I love it but Im not Hipstmatic savy, and the film and lens were chosen by the app… The setting seem to switch setting on me,
( which i JUST learned how to save favorites ) I use to get mad, when it would change on its own, but now i am plesently surprised on a lot of shots in which i would have never chosen that film or lens.
website // flikr // instagram // facebook //
First of all, thank you very much Todd and GRRYO for featuring my Work.
The image that you have selected has been inspired by the lack that I tried in a moment of distance from my partner. I took this image of him while he was swimming in water (made this summer in a short and happy escape to the sea). I love ‘clean’ and ‘pure’ photographs, but sometimes it happens to me to feel the desire to stratify, to abstractify to make photograph like a multidimensional object, dreamlike. That’s why I sometimes lean towards a kind of photo manipulation. So, as often happens, I felt the need to add something to this photo, maintaining the formal structure of the original image. Based on what I felt at that moment, I had the idea to superimpose a relatively old self-portrait.
Shots were both done with my IPhone.
The editing is quite simple: I only have used image blender and analog film apps. Image blender for the superimposition, analog film to apply a bw filter, adjust exposition, contrast and to add some grain to emphasize the foam of the sea. Also to confuse a little the definition of the image. I Like the fact that you can’t recognize specifically a person and this fact allow everyone’s imagination to flow free and make his own story.
// instagram // Flickr //
Diana Nicholette Jeon
they can only succeed by silencing our voices
iPhoneography/Mobile Art
Composite of 4 images with a lot of drawing/painting in Procreate and iColorama.
This work is in response to the idiotic pronouncement of Satya Nadella that was affront to working women everywhere.
Recently I was working on a series of images, and I got stuck…It wasn’t going the place I saw in my mind, and since it was part of a larger series, I needed to maintain a certain ”look and feel” to the work. As is often the case, I put it aside so I could come back to the work with fresh eyes. I started on a different series.
As I was working on the second Image of the newer series, I read this article: http://readwrite.com/2014/10/09/nadella-women-dont-ask-for-raise. The male CEO of Microsoft was telling women that they should not ask for raises. “Karma” would take care of that for them. I used to work in high tech in the Silicon Valley, and found that it was enough of boy’s club that reading this made my blood boil!
I posted about it on Facebook. I told my husband and son at dinner. I got barely a nod about it. We went to dinner the next night for a birthday, and there were three women at the table with us. I showed the article to them, and they were as mad as I was. I knew I wasn’t alone, and I was sure I wasn’t crazy.
I went home that night and created this work. The woman’s face is composited via three self portraits of myself. I used a heavily textured shot positioned so that part of it would be similar to a noose. I crossed out her mouth. I work with black, for mourning. I was seeking a dense dark look, like an aquatint intaglio print or a mezzotint work.
I used iPhone 5s native camera to shoot the images of my face, and worked the image back and forth using iColorama, Procreate, PS Touch, Photoshop Mix, Pixel Blender, Diana, Mextures, Stackables, Scratch Cam, Stackables to create it. The process was fast but very involved. I rarely use only one or two apps. I go into and out of apps rapidly, taking what I need for this or that, and moving on to the next, then maybe back again. I have been working with digital tools for art practice since 1997, so using apps is, for me, like using different features in Photoshop. It is second nature. I don’t think about the apps, I just move from one to the next as I need.
FB // art // web // flickr //
I live 5 minutes walk from the river close to Richmond. A couple of mornings a week I go out walking along the river with a friend of mine and a couple of doggies. We set off approximately 8.15am so we have been getting lovely light on the riverside. On this particular morning the water was very still and produced beautiful reflections of the boats. I took the photo with VividHDR using the Lively preset. I then opened the photo in Snapseed, cropped it and applied a few minor adjustments. Then I took it into PhotoCopier which gives me the option of so many wonderful effects and textures. I bought a new app Brushstroke so this was my first time using it. Loved the painterly look I got! Then my last app I used was DistressedFX where I applied the Charm preset.
Instagram // Twitter // Flickr
by Jen Bracewell | Oct 31, 2014 | Jen Bracewell, Stories
1000 Words, Instagram vol. 4 by Jen Bracewell
Welcome to our fourth themed Instagram 1000 words showcase! There are many talented artists on Instagram and we wanted to tap into their creativity and showcase their work here. ‘Tis nearing Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos, so I chose “Spooky” as the theme for this showcase.
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.
I chose these images for their scary, creepy goodness.
Image by @theljilja
First I want to thank you for featuring one of my images. I really feel honored to be a part of this family.
This image is a part of a series inspired by inner alchemy and the nigredo process. It speaks about the awareness of dark realm. Deep down in blackness there are hidden mythical monsters. We can learn from them if we shed the light on every single one of them. Repression is the heritage and we need to break that cycle!
Image by @_joanna.h_
This image was taken was taken during one of my fairly recent nosebleeds (sorry if too much information!?!), also I now feel a little weird that I took a photo of my nosebleed but I felt like documenting it at the time. Anyway I took the photo with Hipstamatic app on my iPhone; Burke lens and Blanko bl4 film. I used Mextures app to give it a more grungy, grainy appearance. I’m currently reading Dracula by Bram Stoker and found the particular excerpt (used on my Instagram post) inspired to this photograph.
Image by Caren Drysdale (@carenzo96bnw)
As I was closing the door to our home office late one night, I noticed that the night light in the room created the “spooky” shadow of my hand as I reached for the doorknob. I thought it had potential to be an interesting photo. I shot it on my iPhone 5. It took me a few attempts to get the shadow looking the way I liked and to keep it sufficiently in focus while shooting with my left hand (I’m right-handed). I originally converted it to black and white using the Snapseed app, then used the Willow filter when I posted it to Instagram to capture the final look I was satisfied with.
One final side note to mention is that it may look like the wood on the door is inlaid, but it’s a cool cheat done by my fella, Paul. It was pencilled in, taped, then stained with a darker stain.
Image by Daniela Ubide (@4thieves)
Most of my pictures, I take with my iPhone, in different locations when on holidays and most of my self portraits at my home like this one. I use selftimer and/or a small remote ISnapxRemote, with the limitations, I prop my camera in creative ways. My edits are very simple always in my phone or iPad, using apps like Snapseed, Picsart, Repix, Sizeit…
I called this one Clytemnestra’s torment and I based my inspiration loosely in the classic Greek drama, the double edge sword used as weapon of her murder revenge, I represented with this double pointed cross. The hands or lack of them are very important for my pictures, I tried to represent here with my hands the resignation and despair at the realization of her own acts ( The murders) still keeping a sense of pride, as she never repented of it.
Thank you again for this opportunity
Image by @columnsovsleep_
“Hyde” was part of a series I had done awhile back called “The Grotesque”. It’s an obvious take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but with my own twist of having both sides dark, just one a little less than the other. Sometimes the duality isn’t as clear as I’d like it to be. This is my expression of that.
Image by Jim Perdue, @jimsiphone
Who is on the outside? Who is on the inside? Who is the real outsider?
My photo submission for the #grryo_spooky challenge is titled “The Outsider”. This is a re-edit of a photo that I did a while back. What appears to be a person communing with an ominous specter is really my son and daughter playing in our garage. The bulk of the editing was done in SnapSeed. The distressing was done in ScratchCam and SnapSeed. The dodging & burning and blurring effects were done using PhotoToaster.
Image by @maritahodges
I was out taking pictures and found this beautiful abandoned farmhouse.
I edited it entirely in Snapseed, going back and forth between tune image/details and grunge until I was happy with it.
Image by Eitan Shavit (@strongcomet)
I was living in the Countryside at the time, and everything was so mysterious and haunting. The forest, the fields, paths, trees, all so quiet, lonely and dark during winter time.
I would travel 10 minutes from my house and be completely embraced by nature, with no one around.
I love ghosts and ghost stories, and after seeing this beautiful scenery of magical flowers, I knew something must be added to complete the mystery.
There’s one ghost figure I’ve been using a lot in my gallery. She’s a mysterious girl with long black hair. You never know if she’s looking at you with her hair all over her face, or you see her from behind, and that’s creepy 🙂
Shot taken with Hipstamatic / John S / Blackeys Supergrain. Ghost (from the strange app ‘Scary Camera’) added with Superimpose.
This photo is my most popular one on IG, and one of my personal favorites 🙂
This shot is a composite of two photos, the droplet/web being from the fantastic @pickledgoose, the girl/sunset being mine. I edited with Mextures and VSCO. The original intent wasn’t to make something creepy, but that’s how it turned out, so I just went with it.
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 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 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 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.
