THE LUMINESCENCE ISSUE
LOST FREEDOM vol. 2, issue v | june 2013
luminescence
|ˌlo͞oməˈnesəns|
noun // the emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence. also light produced by luminescence
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1. Evita Weed // 2. Tuane Eggers // 3. AurĂŠlien Buttin
Elena Brangi
STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF LAYOUT DESIGNER
Angela WU
CO-EDITOR
Natalie CHYI
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lisa-Marie KASPAR Danny LAND Stefanie TAN Claire Alice YOUNG
FIND US AROUND ISSUU http://issuu.com/lostfreedom FACEBOOK http://facebook.com/lostfreedommagazine MAGCLOUD http://magcloud.com/user/lostfreedom FLICKR http://flickr.com/groups/lostfreedom TUMBLR http://lostfreedommag.tumblr.com 8TRACKS http://8tracks.com/lostfreedom EMAIL lostfreedommag@hotmail.com WEBSITE http://lostfreedommagazine.com/
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Honey in the Sun, by Claire Alice YOUNG Evan WALSH Jessica MAY Lucent Lullaby, by Stefanie TAN Ethan COVERSTONE Mehmet AYTEKIN Amamak PHOTOGRAPHY Luminescence, a playlist Anita FILIPPONI Chasing Dreams, by Lisa-Marie KASPAR Stephen GWALTNEY Ciel SRI Shirin MARSHALL Agata MYGA Sara IACONA Circus, by Danny LAND Steven XUE Alexandra COHEN Bianca VERMEHREN Staff Picks
cover photography by Claire Alice YOUNG
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honey in the sun
PHOTOGRAPHER: Claire @ Claire Alice Young Photography MODEL: Jo Giles, FRM Model Management // MUA: Ali Wood Creative Direction and Styling: Kate @ Kate Fisher Fashion Stylist All featured garments courtesy of Venus Flytrap, Geelong.
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Evan Walsh
17 YEARS // Pennsylvania, UNITED STATES h t t p : / / www . f l i c k r . c o m / b e _ l u m i n e s c e n t /
When did you first begin taking photos? How has your work changed since then?
I started taking photos as a simply recreational hobby, composing cheesy point-andshoot pictures of my friends giggling while under the pretense that I was following the rule of thirds. Eventually, though, I started becoming interested in composing, so I got an Olympus E-520 in August 2010. Since I got my 60D (in January 2012), my work has exploded with color, and I use contrast a lot more sophisticatedly. Even more, I’ve definitely expanded (no pun intended) my breadth of work, moving out of “conceptual” and digging into dark fine art, and themes related to death and fantasy, but not necessarily based on story or characters, rather just emotions and magical moments.
Is there a certain mood that you try to achieve in your work?
I think if I had to choose a word to describe the mood of my work, it would be “cathartic”. As much as I overuse that word (seriously, I use it in everyday conversations even if it doesn’t apply…), I think it fits my work best. The mood of my work can be cathartic in two ways. Firstly, my work often digs into the idea of the subject finding harmony with nature or oneself by means of an extreme location or event (for example, the sparkler/smoke photograph, the “desert” (actually, it’s the Great Plains of Montana) photograph, and the pond photograph). And secondly, my work can characterize a release from distress to achieve peace and harmony (the LA underground silhouette photo, or the smoke-breathing photo “Howl”). I think this catharsis is especially evident in my use of the color blue--for some reason, I’ve always associated calm with the color blue.
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I am inspired by the resilience of people, like the way their eyes glow when they laugh and the way they have the same glow when they cry.
Who or what inspires you?
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I am inspired by the resilience of people, like the way their eyes glow when they laugh and the way they have the same glow when they cry, but each time their eyes just fall in different directions. I think human life is like that, we’re all just feeling different intensities of emotions and that is the inevitable thing that ties us together. My inspiration for my work comes through here, for my art is my freedom, and the longer I am away from it the more strungup I feel, and our common humanity propels me to find that freedom. In another sense, my inspiration for my life comes from my best friends, whether I’ve met them at school or through photography. Being able to grow and blossom with other people and feel safe with other people, safe enough for us to push each other--this is essential to me. I am so inspired by the way these people cause and push me to fall in love with my life again and again every day, whether I’m with them on a farm in Indiana, at my school in Philadelphia, or in the rolling hills of LA.
How important do you think location is to your work?
Generally (at least if we’re speaking in terms of my favorite pieces) location is everything. Sometimes the location may be grand, like a mountain in southern California, or it may be minor, like a dark parking lot where I light a couple sparklers. Either way, the location I employ in my work elicits a certain mood from the viewer, and without the correct location, I could certainly not create what I deem my style or my normal means of shooting and communicating with my work. This is true especially since my photos are often defined by the subject’s integration with an event or part of the landscape.
How would you describe “luminescence”? How do you use this in your work?
It’s so funny to me that the theme is “luminescence”--my flickr url is “be luminescent”. There is a parallel between my work and my life--light is what drives me. Whether it be the light inside of a person’s heart and soul or the light that outlines them through the one A.M fog, light is essential. Luminescence means that, as an artist, the work I create, in a metaphorical sense, is constantly a beacon of hope and good thought and can invoke thoughts in others. But in a literal sense, luminescence is using light in my work to its fullest potential: light should be overflowing yet contained, strong yet refined, colorful and saturated yet subdued when necessary. My photographs use bold light, the kind that gets in your face and makes you say “wow!”. That’s my philosophy in life, too--just like a cathartic photograph, we should all be luminescent, which means being unafraid and open with sharing our light with others.
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Jessica May 19 YEARS // h t t p : / / je s s i m
Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
I am a young photographer from the city of Brisbane. Almost reaching my nineteenth year of existence, I have thrown myself into a wild passion for photography. Formally, I grew up in Sydney and then moved to the Sunshine Coast with my family. I then decided to move back to a buzzing city to study natural medicine, and now, an endless city wanderer, my focus is my photographic work.
a y
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA m . t u m b l r . c o m /
How did you get interested in photography?
It all began when I was fourteen. I received my very first camera from my parents, just a little Olympus point and shoot and it hardly left my hands. I entered a competition in school with a picture I captured with that camera, and took second place. I was thrilled! Mum and Dad saw my developing passion, so they surprised me with a camera I had dreamed of for months on end. I don’t exactly know how the interest initially came about, it was just something that slowly flourished through my teen years.
Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
In my work, I try to achieve a more natural, artistic style. I like to capture moments that aren’t of people posing uncomfortably, like studio photography; its more of a candid style, outdoors amongst the beauty of nature, exposing the persons true authentic self.
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What’s your favorite photograph you’ve taken and why?
It’s such a hard thing to decide, but one of my favourite photographs that I’ve taken would be this one (shown above). To me, it represents such a wondrous sense of freedom.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
There are so many incredible photographers that inspire me around the world. If I named them all, it would fill the rest of the article! I’m influenced entirely by the people surrounding me, everyday life and my inner wanderlust.
What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos?
My interpretation of luminescence is not in the physical form of actual light, but more the thought of what I feel it means as a desire to be free. Freedom to me, is like the relief of light shying the darkness away. Like moths to a flame, the luminescence of freedom is an attraction, a tantalising spontaneity. I project that through my photos, by shooting in the free space of natures essence.
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Like moths to a flame, the luminescence of freedom is an attraction, a tantalising spontaneity
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Lucent Lullaby
photography: Stephanie TAN HTTP://STEFANIE-TAN.BLOGSPOT.NL/ // models: Britt and Ilse Veldhuizen // hair: Lydia Smith // make up: Stefanie Tan // assistant (lighting): Lukas Armstrong
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22 YEARS // Indiana, UNITED STATES h t t p : / / www . f l i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s / s p i d e r t h a n
Ethan Coverstone
Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
My name is Ethan Coverstone, and I am a Master of Architecture student at the University of Southern California that has been (seriously) taking photos since November of 2011. I was born in Pierceton, Indiana, and I am 22 years old.
Why do you take pictures?
I started taking photos as a way to “de-stress” and deal with the rigors of college life. From that experience, I have found a love and appreciate for creating art. At this point, I take photos as a way to share stories; sometimes they are the stories of other people’s lives, and sometimes they are stories about characters that came right out of my own imagination.
Is there a certain mood that you try to achieve in your work?
I can’t say that there is any one certain “mood” that I try to achieve with my work. Every photo and every story is different, but I am always trying to create a connection to the viewer so that they can get a glimpse of the character that I crafted.
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What is your favorite photograph taken by someone else, why?
It’s really hard to pin down JUST ONE photograph that I could say is my favorite, but I have always been in love with Rosie Hardy’s work. She was the first artist I really knew about on Flickr, and I remember being so enamored by her work and the way she crafted each image.
How important do you think location is to your work?
Location is extremely important in my work, especially because I am often capturing places that mean something to me from my childhood. I spend a lot of time photographing places on my parents’ farm and creating stories around these locations. As an architecture student, I am also really interested in the idea of place and how spaces can drastically affect our thoughts and emotions, so I try to convey the understanding of each location in my photos.
How would you describe “luminescence”? How do you use this in your work?
When I think of “luminescence,” I think of an internal, emanating light that comes from a single point. I can see that in my work when I try my best to capture the way that I see and understand people. Anyone can take a snapshot on a camera, but I really try to show a clear view to the character or the person that I am shooting. I always want my portraiture to be an expression of that person and to be a clear view into what that person is feeling or thinking or doing.
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Mehmet Aytekin 28 YEARS // h t t p : / / www . m e h m e t a y
I S TA N B U L .com/
t e k i n
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How did you get interested in photography? How do you think your work has changed since then? Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
I’m 28. September 13 1985. Born and living in Istanbul.
I started to take photographs after I lost my friend. I went to holiday to be alone and think about life more. In there I just started to take beautiful landscapes photographs. And now I take portraits mostly but still in those beautiful places. And of course I was not good at photoshopping but now I can edit my photographs colours and shades like I want to. But I still dont like to do manipulation on my photographs.
Is there a certain mood that you try to achieve in your work?
I love to be simple a lot. Minimal places on background, simple model if I take a portrait of someone. love to use pastel colours and shades. I love to create calm but impressive photographs at the same time. I just dont like fiction photographs. I usually take photos spontaneously and of course those have a story on their own.
What is your favorite photograph taken by someone else, why?
There are so many amazing photographs around but these days I’m a big fan of a girl (photographer) named Nirrimi Joy Firebrance from Australia. I have so many favorites of her. Because she just take photographs of herself her family and around people of them.. Their times together in so many beautiful peaceful places. She just has a life that I wish to have for myself and she photographs that! Thats all actually. You can check her photographs here; http://www.theroadishome.com
How important do you think location is to your work?
Location is not important in my opinion.You can take photographs everywhere; in your small room, a big forrest, under the sea, top of a mountain. I’m just trying to go places which have a beautiful landscape or somewhere that people never go into but thats just my choice.
How would you describe “luminescence”? How do you use this in your photos? A naturally occurring state of warm, glowing light. I usually take analog photographs.
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Amamak Photography // Quebec, CANADA http://amamakphoto.tumblr.com/
Tell us a bit about yourselves. How old are you and where are you from?
Hello! We’re Aviva and Michelle; we’re 20 and 21 respectively and we’re from Montreal, Quebec. We both spend most of our time either glued to a computer, planning some future shoot or, occasionally, leaving the nest to venture into the great outdoors and take us some fine photos. We’re both avid adventurers and consequently get a bit overly excited at the sight of a beautiful landscape or a disappearing sunset – despite our mainly hermit dispositions, we have a soft spot for nature and magic (especially when the two mix!). Aviva poses, Michelle takes the photographs – together we manage to expend tons of money, time and often self-dignity in the name of having fun and making art. But, you know, in a totally awesome way.
How did you get interested in photography?
Michelle: I won a photography competition in 8th grade and I suppose it boosted my confidence. It also got me taking a ton of pictures and forced me to pay attention to my surroundings in ways I hadn’t previously considered. Since then I’ve procured a small army of cameras and tricked Aviva into being my permanent model/editor/friend – so things are going pretty well. Aviva: Nearly my entire family has had some kind of photography obsession throughout my life (two of them even studied it in school!) I really only developed my own interest in it when I was about fourteen and my dad got me hooked on Flickr. I had my own (really awkward) 365 project attempt and really it was just all bad - but a couple years after that some of Michelle’s interest in portraiture kind of rubbed off on me and we’ve been doing that ever since!
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Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
Michelle: Nothing too specific! I don’t think our style has a lot of ‘trying’ – it’s more just doing whatever comes naturally, which almost always involves shooting intimate portraits in pretty natural settings with lots of sunlight. We don’t necessarily set out with a specific vision but mainly allow our surroundings/location to guide the tone of the shoot. Aviva: I think what Michelle is trying to say is we’re pretty lax about planning our photos, but we definitely know what we like and end up with a consistent enough look one way or another!
What is your favorite photograph you’ve taken, and why?
Michelle: That is a really great and really tough question! I think “That Look,” (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ artzyviv/8024414914/) which we took in Stowe, Vermont, two autumns ago, wins the ‘favourite’ prize. It’s very rare that you can remember exactly what you were thinking while taking a photo at the time when you get that same photo back from the lab – this one, though, I remember perfectly. And it came out exactly as I had hoped – intimate and magical.
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We’re both avid adventurers and consequently get a bit overly excited at the sight of a beautiful landscape or a disappearing sunset – despite our mainly hermit dispositions, we have a soft spot for nature and magic.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
Seeing as we spend a good chunk of our lives staring at photographs online, we are constantly being exposed to new sources of inspiration and coming up with new and creative ways of challenging ourselves artistically. Suffice it to say there are a lot of talented folks who’re also doing what we do, a little differently or better, and it’s pretty cool that we can all keeps tabs on one another thanks to this handy thing called the internet. Other than that, give us some good sunlight and pretty nature and we’re good to go!
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What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos? Since we don’t really take any pictures without sunlight, we’re choosing to subvert the original definition – to glow or light up without the presence of sun or heat – in favour of photos where there’s sun, sure, but more than that it looks like the subject is glowing from within. That’s something we especially appreciate in all of our photographs.
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Norman Gabriel
luminescence a summertime playlist - http://8tracks.com/lostfreedom
1. Towers
BON IVER
2. New Slang
THE SHINS
3. Give Me Love
ED SHEERAN
4. Californication
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
5. A Lack of Color
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
6. Chocolate
THE 1975
7. Cut To Black
LEMAITRE
8. Junk of the Heart (Happy) 9. Changing
THE KOOKS
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
10. Punching in a Dream
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
11. American Daydream
ELECTRIC GUEST
12. Sun 13. Scar Tissue
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
14. Pompeii
BASTILLE
15. Continuum
LEMAITRE
16. Midnight City
M83
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Anita Filipponi 28 YEARS // Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA h t t p : / / a n i ta f i l i p p o n i . t u m b l r . c o m /
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Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
I am a 28 year old Argentinean graphic designer and audiovisual producer. I was born in La Plata, Buenos Aires. My passion for design led me to explore artistic grounds until I discovered photography and video. I am currently working on a music project called “Proyecto Covertura” in which bands are recorded playing live at a certain place, as a homage to space and sound. The project is divided into chapters which can be accessed online, vimeo.com/ proyectocovertura
Is there a certain mood that you try to achieve in your work?
Yes, passivity and naturalness are two moods I want my pictures to reflect. I try to show how energies and moments are connected. Of course it changes if my image is about nature or music, but the idea of naturalness is always present.
Why do you take pictures?
Because I need to communicate what I feel and I talk through my photos. I usually need to stop time and register a specific moment because I want to make sure that I will not forget certain things, or how beautiful something was. Nostalgia turned me into a collector of pictures of my surroundings.
One of Vivian Maier’s. There are two kids roller skating and an adult walks next to a puddle of water on which the shadows of them and a tree are reflected. In the reflection of the water you can see a beam of sunlight which gives an incredible warmth to the photo. I love her photos and her point of view, she never showed her photographic work while alive, so there are not commercial photos, and that translates into a certain innocence.
How important do you think location is to your work?
I work with forms, colors and composition so I care a lot about location. I try to have the place defined before I shoot, but if i don’t have any ideas I ride my bike and go out to find new settings. Outdoor spaces like lakes or just flowery parks as well as old buildings, attract me and bring inspiration to my work.
How would you describe “luminescence”? How do you use this in your work?
Luminescence is the magic behind the photos, I think it’s one of the most important things in a picture. Most of my photos are taken outdoors, so light and the mood it transmits are key to my work. I prefer the colour temperature of the sunrise or sunset and I love when the sun appears as part of the picture as I see some kind of magic which I can play with. I really love natural light, although you cannot control it, it is more pure. No need to use batteries, it is free and natural.
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chasing dreams
photography: Lisa-Marie KASPAR // model: Alexandra Nowak
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Stephen Gwaltney 20 YEARS // Virginia, UNITED STATES h t t p : / / www . f l i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s / g wa lt n e y s /
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Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from? How did you get interested in photography?
My name is Stephen Gwaltney. I am a 20-year-old Fine Art Photographer from Northern Virginia. I became interested in photography after my good friend Nicholas Scarpinato showed me photos he had taken. He followed up with some work by Brooke Shaden. I was originally a painter because of the realistic and surrealistic qualities you could achieve. However, after experiencing fine art photography I became interested.
Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
I don’t know if you would call it a style or not, but like to reach a dreamlike place with my work; my work is all based off dreams I have. I love the notion of making dreams come true. It’s like discovering a new world. So I guess I would say my surrealism with a little influence of fashion photography.
What is your favorite photograph you’ve taken, why?
It’s difficult to choose a favorite photograph that I have taken. I have such a strong tie to each photograph. Each represents a special dream or piece of imagination that I feel a tie to. If I had to choose though, I’d have to go with “Orphan Bird”. That picture represents a transition in my life.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
My biggest inspirations people-wise are Nicholas Scarpinato, Kyle Thomas, and Brooke Shaden. They are the people who got me started. My biggest inspiration while I work on my photos is music. When I listen to a song and let myself drift away I have these uplifting dreams. Each one is like the greatest movie that only I have ever seen. I am hoping to one-day work with cinematography so that I make short films for other people to live in dreams.
What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos?
I would interpret ‘luminescence’ as light coming from something other than heat; radiance, splendor. Light can be anything from a mood or metaphor to an object or just literal light. But when I say the word luminescence, I think ‘atmosphere’. It sets a mood. This is how luminescence is shown in my photographs.
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Ciel Sri 15
YEARS // Bangkok, THAILAND h t t p :// www . fac e b o o k . c o m / t h e c k s p h oto g r a p h y
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Tell us a little about yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
Ciel, 15 years young, born and currently residing in Bangkok, Thailand! I spent a couple years growing up in the suburbs of the US, but since then I’ve been living in the same house, and attending the same school for 11 years. I spend the majority of my time taking photos, talking about taking photos, daydreaming about the future, and eating. I have a group of lovely friends that support me and my work.
When did you first begin taking photos? How has your work changed since then?
I first ‘officially’ began photography in May of 2011, which is when I had my first photoshoot, but my interest for photography first started in 5th grade. Surprisingly, unlike writing, sewing, or making houses out of cardboard boxes, I never got bored of photography, and I never stopped. Since 2011, the quality of my work has definitely improved- I’ve learnt that in order to have a successful shoot, you should go in prepared and have a sense of what you’re trying to capture. The style of my work has also changed, and is still changing. I’m still trying to find ‘my’ style, which is why all my photos vary in style (it’s a mess). There is a lot of inspiration around me, which helps compose my work. Every song, face, location, and word I’ve read has somehow been reflected in my photos. Every now and then I’ll dabble around conceptual photography, but I gear more towards fashion and portraiture photography.
How important do you think fashion is to your work?
More recently, I’ve been focusing on fashion to convey a certain mood or concept. I rely a lot on fashion to structure my shoots. Usually, I’ll use a certain item or style of clothing to plan my shoot around, and it is displayed as an art form in my photos. I think this is a lot more different from fashion shoots from brand companies, because they’re trying to sell their clotheswhile the clothes, accessories, looks, become apart of my overall composition.
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Photos are a lot like movies. You could probably name a few that you like, but there is not a single one you can put above the rest because they’re all different genres.
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What is your favorite photograph that you’ve taken?
Photos are a lot like movies. You could probably name a few that you like, but there is not a single one you can put above the rest because they’re all different genres. But if I had to choose, it would probably before one of the recent photos where I had a digital double exposure of my little sister on the street because of the editing.
Where do you see yourself, regarding photography, in 5 years?
I think I still may be in the same place. But if I get lucky, seeing myself do professional commissions, working with models, and getting more work published would be amazing. I’d love to have some exposure to the various media industries more, and maybe it’ll happen.
How would you describe “luminescence”? How do you use this in your work?
A radiation of light, particularly from a collective source (although this isn’t a dictionary definition, it’s what comes to mind). I like to play a lot with lighting, especially because I can create really cool silhouettes by utilizing negative space, and thus highlighting certain aspects.
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Shirin Marshall 25
h t t
YEARS // p : / / www . s
Perth,
h i r i n m a r s
AUSTRALIA h a l l . c o m /
Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from? How did you get interested in photography?
What is your favorite photograph you’ve taken, why?
How did you get interested in photography?
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
I’m 25 years old and a Fine Art/Editorial Photographer based in Perth, Western Australia. I am currently working as a freelance photographer and exhibiting artist whilst completing my Postgraduate studies in Photomedia.
As a child I remember always being fascinated with my father’s old cameras. I would take hundreds of photos of my family and friends, creating my own stories and home movies. Before turning 9 a new chapter of my life began, when I was diagnosed with cancer. While this period of my life was a difficult one, it was also one of happy memories, sincere love and spiritual growth. Creating images and short films became a wonderful form of distraction, reflection and escapism for me between treatments, which developed into a much deeper interest during my study of Visual Arts and Education at university.
Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
I’m not sure if it’s a conscious decision or more of a natural inclination when creating my own work, and it will depend upon the type of photograph I am taking. My Fine Art work tends to be soft, wintery and subdued while my Photojournalism/ Documentary photographs are bold, sharp and held tightly within the frame. I generally love soft, dreamlike, soulful imagery and images that emanate a reflective and brooding sense of mystery.
Hmm I don’t know that I have one. I have a lot of favourite photographs, but not many that are my own!
Reflections of the wondrous and sublime beauties of our Creator that surround us. I am particularly inspired by my love for the Baha’i Writings, which finds expression in the visual and thematic content of my work. I also find myself inspired by music, dusk, the night sky, nature and photos of snow.
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Agata Myga 20
YEARS
//
Gdynia,
POLAND
h t t p :// www . f l i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s / m y g a a g ata /
Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from?
My name’s Agata and I’m an 20-year-old girl living in Gdynia, Poland. I love traveling, music festivals, parties with my friends and of course take pictures with my plastic camera!
What role does fashion play in your work?Is there a certain style you try to achieve?
I don’t blindy follow fashion, I love people who have that “something” and have a nonchalant style that describes their personality, and don’t look like mannequins from h&m or zara - those are the kind of people I photograph. In my photos I try achieve this, and show the character/ mood. Clothing is rather a secondary matter...
Who or what are your biggest inspirations? London - is perhaps the most inspiring place where I have been! Generally traveling and meeting new people affect my imagination.
What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos?
In my photographs I show a very slack interpretation of this word. For me, “luminescence” means catching the light and playing with it. (Light is everywhere and illuminates girls.)
“ “ Luminescence means catching the light and playing with it.
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Sara Iacona 17
YEARS // Rome, ITALY h t t p s :// www . f l i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s / s a r a - i ac o na /
Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from? How did you get interested in photography? Hello! My name is Sara. I come from Rome, Italy, and this summer I will be turning 18!
How did you get interested in photography?
Photography has been part of my life since childhood. I remember that I loved to lie down on the bed and watch the endless photos that I snapped of my parents or those when they were young. I was fascinated to see how a simple photo could make a memory of something eternal, which was trapped there forever! It opened a new world for me but 2 years ago, when I received my first reflex, I started to see things in a different way. Photography became my outlet, it manages to pull out all the emotions and feelings that I do not know how to externalize with words or gestures. It also helped in the difficult moments of my life.
Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
No, I do not follow any particular style. Any photo shot has its own style, its own history and its own personal meaning. They all have their own style!
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What is your favorite photograph you’ve taken, why?
My favorite photo I took is perhaps this (shown above). It has a great meaning for me, after a sad moment for the first time I voiced my feelings with this picture and I felt “liberated” by the feelings I hid inside me!
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
My happiness is my greatest inspiration. The happier I am, the more I want to shoot. In sad moments however, that desire fades more and more until I take, sometimes even weeks off from photography.
What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos?
Everything that belongs to the genre of the word “luminescence” is something wonderful. The light is present in everyone’s life. It can be understood as illuminating a place or like the light in our hearts, that we see in people’s eyes. Representing everything with photography transforms everything into something even more magical. A simple smile brings out the light of a person, his happiness, his goodness. And at the same time the light per se is crucial for photos and often creates surreal effects and spectacular at certain times of the day!
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PHOTOGRAPHER: Danny Land (dannylandphoto.com) CLOTHING: Rhiannon Dawn Reynolds
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Steven Xue 17
YEARS
//
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ZEALAND
http://cargocollective.com/stevenxue
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Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from? How did you get interested in photography?
I’m 17 years old from New Zealand currently living in Chicago. I shoot portraits and still life, on 35mm, medium format and polaroid film. I like to capture moments that really speaks to me in some way, but also because I’m a very graphic person, I often have the desire to just go out and make beautiful imagery.
How did you get interested in photography?
I think I have always been appreciative of of photography, but it wasn’t until about two years ago that I really got hooked. I started taking photos with my iPhone of things around me that really interested me. Very soon, the iPhone wasn’t enough for me and that’s when I got more serious with photography.
Is there a certain style that you try to achieve in your work?
No matter what I shoot, I always seek to create and capture a specific mood, atmosphere, or emotion. I think this is very important because it’s these components that gives a photo its soul. Additionally I often like to give my subjects a serene, soft look.
What is your favorite photograph you’ve taken, why?
I like to think that my favorite work is always going to be the next I do, I’m constantly developing as an individual, as an photographer, and as an artist. So never settle!’
Who or what are your biggest inspirations?
People at the Framed Network, they produce such good shows on photography, always so inspiring.
What is your interpretation of the word “luminescence” and how do you think this is shown in your photos?
There are a few photos that resembles somewhat of the literal meaning of “luminescence” but the rest takes on an emotional interpretation, that hopes that are created from bitterness and hardship.
Who would you most like to photograph? Beautiful people with beautiful stories.
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Alexandra Cohen 23 YEARS // Paris, FRANCE http :// www . flickr . com / alexandracohenphotography
Tell us a bit about yourself. How old are you and where are you from? How did you get interested in photography?
My name is Alexandra Cohen, I’m a 23 years old fine art, fashion and self-portrait photographer from Paris, France. I left Paris 4 years ago to embark on a journey around the world and that landed in Australia. I have always loved photography and what
it evokes but when I started traveling, it really fell into place. I took photos with a plastic Holga camera and couldn’t stop documenting the life and the beauty that surrounded me. I decided to expand my skills and I am currently studying a diploma of photography in Perth, Western Australia.
How would you describe your style? Is there a certain mood you strive to portray in your photos?
My style is really feminine, ethereal, and the mood strive for in my photos is romanticism with a zest of nostalgia and poetry as my photo are really colourful and shoot outdoor in natural locations such a forest, rose garden etc.
Who or what inspires you?
Everything inspire me, nature, walking past pretty flowery houses in my neighbourhood, traveling to new places, getting lost in a new city, a song, a movie, a painting.. I try to gain inspiration from everything that the world has to give.
How do you think fashion plays a role in your photography?
I have always loved fashion as I pretty much grew up in it, with Paris being a capital of fashion. I want my photos to have a aesthetic sense of fashion, I always style my model and I recently did a short course in fashion styling to learn more about it. I love the fact that I’m both the photographer and also the stylist on my shoot, because it allows you to learn a lot about what works or doesn’t. Clothes inspires me and I find unique piece of clothes around the world when I travel.
How would you define “luminescence” and how do you think this can be used in photos?
Luminescence can be interpreted in so many ways. I think I and experienced it not long ago from a trip I was in Cambodia and went to swim in the ocean in the middle of the night, everything was pitch black but as soon as you start moving your body in the ocean, thousand of luminescence plankton came to life due to the excitation of movement. It was just incredible to see thousands little light in the ocean, and I felt like I was in wonderland. As I am a natural light shooter I’m always looking for the most pure beautiful light that I can find, my photos are luminescent in the way that they have this natural glow of light around them.
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Bianca Vermehren 16 YEARS // h t t p : / / 5 0 0 p x . c o m / B
i a n c a
V
GERMANY
e r m e h r e n
1. Sheridan Alex // 2. Julie Winter //3. Emmanuel Rosario // 4. Calogero Cammalleri // 5. Ben Minor
STAFF PICKS
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Top: Tess Janssen // Bottom: Lydia Greenaway
Interested In Submitting? THEME OF THE NEXT ISSUE:
WANDERLUST To submit please send an email to submit@ lostfreedommagazine.com with the following: 1. Name/age/location and a link to your work (flickr, blog, portfolio, etc.) 2. At least 3 (low-res) pieces of artwork that exemplify the theme wanderlust. (For writers - please send 2 pieces of writing) 3. A short answer of your description of wanderlust, and what it means to you.
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