Brian Pescador

 

Palm Springs, CA
website blog

Do you happen to find situations of which you can take pictures of or do you go searching for them?

I find no difference in finding situations of which I can take pictures or going and searching for them. I am more interested in the in the between moments, self-expression, and making images. I want to capture the spirit of youth with my camera.

What is Factory 77 about?

Factory 77 is a new project created by my good friend, the photographer Brad Elterman. At the age of 14 he was running around Los Angeles photographing people like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and he made the most iconic photos of Joan Jett and The Runaways.  This space is for all things nostalgic from music to fashion, and everything in between.

Would you like to own/curate an art gallery sometime?

For now, I am not too interested in the formal and traditional ways one looks at my images such as in a gallery.  I would much rather hold a 9-5 job and shoot photos for myself on the weekends.  Right now, I would be more interested in seeing my images in books and on merchandise such as t-shirts and skateboards.

When people ask what you "do" what do you say? What do you think about that standardized question anyways?

I stopped telling people that I am a photographer, because when they ask me “what I do?” I would get really uncomfortable saying that, because many times they would say, “Oh so you do weddings right?” because they know someone who needs one. Shooting weddings is not a bad thing, but this is something that I would prefer not to do. I am more interested in showing my life through my images and how I view the world.

I do not feel comfortable with that standardized question, because I tend to see how people generalize photography based on their own interpretation and not how I value it.

What do you pay attention to the most when shooting?

When I am shooting, I pay attention to a certain kind of a feeling. It’s really an addictive feeling or a high. I cannot really explain this. Henri Cartier-Bresson called it “The Decisive Moment”.

I am interested in pure emotion from whatever it is that I am shooting. The moment has to be real when I capture an image. I am looking for the right moment.  This moment culminates when, I feel that I can no longer breathe and I know that I have made a connection with my subject.  I am actually looking for a reflection or self-realization of the mood which I too am feeling at that moment. In a way I am just making self-portraits of my own state of mind without my having to be in my own photos.

Is there an event/place/person that has inspired you very much when you started to engage in photography?

Yes, all three have inspired me: events, places and people.

The events which have inspired me were:  When I first fell in love, my first mental institution experience, my living in Joshua Tree with my friends for a summer, camping in King’s Canyon and doing mushrooms with all my friends in a grassy meadow. Concerning places: The place where I was truly inspired was at my friend’s home. It was in Paul Jasmin’s Apartment, where I learned what photo is really all about. And about people: many friends, artists, and musicians have inspired me.

Matt or glossy?

Glossy.

Do you like to read art magazines in print or rather online?

In print.

What is the best advice you ever were given about taking pictures?

Create your world or fantasy with your camera and show the world your own world through your work.

What comes to your mind when I say the name Bill Cunningham?

Jedi Master.

Portray how you feel in your photographs. Take a look at his work!

Hannes Lippert

Berlin, Germany

flickr website

A lot of your pictures were taken out and about at different locations in Germany as opposed to showing places abroad. What do you like most about traveling within the country?

I love traveling to foreign countries - especially in East Europe. But I think that the country I live in is already quite big, and I haven’t had the chance or time to explore it entirely. So I am trying to gather as many impressions as possible by visiting different places in Germany – doesn’t matter if they can be considered ‘nice’ or not. A lot of my friends are spread all over the country right now, and there is always a reason to visit them and their surroundings.

And among all the places you've visited lately, which one would you say has inspired you the most?

Last weekend we went to the Baltic Sea. I love the sea in the cold season with the rough climate. Days before our departure I am always very excited. I try to imagine the pictures I would like to take in my head. But when we arrive at our destinations, I most of the times feel like I could photograph everything...

The most inspiring place for me until now was the Sudan, because I felt there was such a different way of life there. Unfortunately I had not yet started taking pictures regularly back then.

Would you say that pursuing photography educates the eye in recognizing little things along the way in everyday life? Or is this rather a premise to become a photographer?

Well, I can only answer for myself, but since I have been taking photographs, I have become more ‘goal-oriented’ when looking at the things around me. But I would not say that that’s a premise to be a photographer, no. I like to view the works of other photographers a lot, and I think that browsing through others’ pictures is what inspires me in terms of how I approach photography.

Do you print out pictures for yourself as well? Or for friends?

Oh yes. When I like a picture I have taken, I often print it out in a bigger format and put it up in our apartment. I love analogue photography and I also love paper. Sometimes I give some of my pictures away. Last year I had the idea of collecting the – in my opinion - best photographs that I had taken over the year in a small book. This is a collection that I put together for primarily myself.

In your opinion, do things like Instagram devalue photographs, or simply change the way they are being presented, used, perceived...? Why do you prefer film?

I'm not sure, really. I am a friend of analogue photography because of the "click and clack" noises and because I love the aesthetic look of images on film. One can achieve very nice results with Instagram or Hipstermatic, of course. But I think it’s only easy to get wonderful pictures with these (filter-) apps as long as you have a ‘good eye’. When I think about me preferring film and not using digital photography now, I wonder if I try to protect myself against this flood of pictures that seems to be everywhere right now.

Are there any insider tips you would give photographers visiting the city you live in?

There are lot of lost places in and around Berlin which might be interesting for people who engage in photography. For example, one can visit the Heilstätten Beelitz, the Teufelsberg, various old railway facilities or factories. I love the parks in the mornings and evenings, so maybe the Tiergarten and the Volkspark Prenzlauer Berg are worth a visit as well.

Are you interested in conceptual photography?

I like the work of Tim Walker, which, in my opinion, is conceptual photography. Sometimes I also start small projects in which I prepend a thought-out plan. I want to work like this more often in the future. Still, I try to collect my memories in an aesthetic way at the same time, so I will always be taking more spontaneous photographs as well.

And is there a project you're working on currently?

Take pictures for my ‘Book of 2012’, I would say.

Do you ever catch yourself making fun of tourists making pictures with their, for instance, iPads and tablets?

Taking pictures with iPads looks very funny in fact, but maybe it's just another way of collecting personal memories.

Would you ever like to work in the film industry?

No, not really. Maybe I would try to take some short films with an 8mm camcorder just for fun.

The book of travels, and memories. Take a look at his work!

milkwithtea magazine

A magazine by milkwithtea? 

Some of you might remember that plan, which was supposed to result in a zine this past summer... but didn't. Not yet at least. Let me blame it all on the fancy little detail - or prejudice? - that delays seem to be very en vogue in the publishing business. This is no excuse, of course. 

But that zine really is just waiting to be published. At the same time, I would love to use this extra time that this process will take, to include more artists into the very first photo zine by milkwithtea. 

Are you interested? Then send in 1-3 pictures to milkwithteathirdyear@gmail.com along with your contact details. 

Looking forward to your submissions!





ps. Those who have submitted and to whom I have replied already, you will be included in the zine, of course. In case I did not get back to you I will do that soon.

Holly Kerchner

Montana - Florida

website blog flickr

In the description of your work "Free Life" you write that it is about living life "victoriously". What do you mean by this?

Living life victoriously means finding what you're looking for. It doesn't refer to satisfaction exactly, but the knowledge that you're making progress - that you're a step closer. In my case it means getting a glimpse of true freedom, which is the simplest term I can use to describe what I am seeking in this world. It has a lot to do with courage and adventure, but to me it’s even more than that. For me it's about finding ways to be courageous and adventurous on an otherwise ordinary, daily level.

You chose to shoot most pictures of this series in black/white. Is there a specific reason for this?

When I began shooting this last summer, I was dead-set on concentrating on emotion in my project. Although beauty and creativity are also vital, emotion was my main focus: I wanted it to be something tangible within each photograph. I believe that black and white is the best for this, because it takes away the distraction of hues and saturation. Instead it brings out the play of light on a subject, which has always elicited more of an intuitive reaction, at least in my experience. But just to add, when I say ‘distraction’ I don't mean that in a derogatory way, I am in love with colour! It just wasn’t part of how I laid out my photography projects until now.

You're located in Florida. How does living there inspire you for your photographic work?

That's tough to answer, because I don't shoot in Florida very much. Mountains and wilderness inspire me more than anything, and that makes it quite tough for me to spend the majority of my year here in the South. I'm learning to make the best of my situation. I'm learning that I have to find beauty no matter where I am, even if it takes more work sometimes. I do love the salt marshes and marine wildlife here, and I hope to explore around a lot more to get a taste of that. I also love the Southern culture, and that is definitely one thing that inspires my work, even if I haven't sufficiently captured it yet.

Do you intend to pursue or are you currently enrolled in courses related to photography or visual arts in college as well?

I would love to take classes in photography, especially because I have never had the opportunity to work in a darkroom, which is my absolute dream. However, I am still at a point where I am too chained by practicality to sign up for them, but I hope to wriggle free a little bit in the future and to delve into at least one or two classes, because I expect that to be an incredible experience.

What do you cherish most about shooting in nature?

The thing I love most about the outdoors is watching other people enjoy it. I love capturing others' experiences in nature because the art of appreciation is one of those liberating aspects that I mean when I talk about freedom. I like to shoot self-portraits in nature because that's where I feel most at home, and I like to see that reflected in a solid image that will remind and comfort me when I'm stuck in the city.

What are you working on currently?

I just bought a Mamiya 645 1000S and I am working on breaking it in! I am psyched to try out medium format, but I am a little intimidated because I am not sure where I want to go with it. Besides that I am mustering up the courage to ask my barely-familiar classmates and neighbours to let me photograph them, and I am focusing on developing the self-discipline to shoot as much during the school year as I did this summer. My work will definitely be different in this extremely different environment.

What or who has been inspiring you most lately?

Over the summer I found this book, Photo Trouvée (put out by Phaidon), at a library bookstore, and became completely mesmerized by it. The book features anonymous amateur 35mm film, which is absolutely my favourite breed of photograph. That's definitely a constant inspiration. Besides that I'm inspired to be around so many artists and talented young people now that I am at college, it's very encouraging. Of course I am always finding artists on tumblr and flickr who blow me away, the most recent name that comes to mind is Lisa Smit: her work is beautiful.

Why did you choose to concentrate on analogue photography?

To me, there is nothing in the world that can match the beauty of analogue photography; just the feel of it, the textures, grain and colours. I think that film photographs are more authentic than any art form I've ever encountered. Even the light leaks feel honest, even though, unlike many people, they usually bother me. Besides the images themselves, the process of shooting analogue is a thrill like no other. Film photography provides an opportunity to enjoy two dimensions of photography: shooting and seeing. When you shoot a photograph without seeing it instantaneously, it gives your imagination more room, to see it in your head first and foremost. And that mental image is, at least to me in a lot of ways, just as important as the real thing.

Do you have any set aims or guidelines for your work?

Consistency. Shooting often and more creatively, but staying focused on using my photographs to communicate, not just to please the eye. I should probably set loftier goals than that, but right now I am just trying to get back into shooting regularly. Also, collaborating is something I would like to try!

Summer's over, what do you think will you miss most?

Oh, man, there is nothing I won't miss about summer: traveling, meeting people, spending hours wandering around on my bike or in the woods. I had so much time to think and write and photograph. But it was pretty lonely! The month I spent on the Port Orchard peninsula near Seattle, WA, my parents were the only people that I knew in the whole area. It was a really good opportunity to work on self-portraits, and I produced a lot of work I am really proud of, but it was pretty sad after it got dark every night and I would sit on my couch eating corn chips and watching Frasier for hours in a practically empty house... And of course, the other half of my summer I returned to my home in Montana, where there are endless bonfires, folk music jammin', hiking, and just living the dream. I can't wait to go back!

Allow me to say that sometimes, it's not about our collected achievements, but about what we're setting out to do. Take a look at her work!