From A Different Place

Alright, so first things first I want to say sorry for the massive lull in posting and updating here. I (Anahita) just moved to university in New Zealand and have taken my fair share of time to get both internet connection and used to the varied perspective of living so far from anything that is familiar to me. Both of us that run this blog have decided that it is going to be very narrow to post just interviews or post common posts due to the difference in what we are doing and have come up with the massively brilliant (in our opinion) idea that we are going to write a post each to keep both each other up to date and every that reads this space. Hence, a more journal style two sided blog takes form from now on.

Rhea,
Hello, what have have you been pursuing in the last 12 hours since I spoke to you? Just so this post isn't entirely personal and boring for outside readers I'm going to thoroughly describe everything here.
Picture a city with a ever bursting skyline, people forming pockets and shapes through their presence; saturated, thick clouds of smoke and awakening of an economy that promises so much in the future. A place for everyone, for all their differences and everything that binds them into one big community full of vibrant, rich colors for the world to see is how New Delhi showed itself to me. Moving here, though not entirely beautiful or bad proved to be exceedingly different in its ways.
This country full of its Polynesian tradition is conspicuously nothing like what I was comparing it to (England), it is green everywhere. Thick branches gaze at thoughts, light mist clouding everything I have previously known, clothing takes its shape in comfort and largeness on people so carefully sculpted through exercise. Populations diminish quality for quantity, accents as thick as the smog, fish and chips being stable parts of diets and flip-flops becoming jandals. Where am I? It sounds almost alien in all its innocence, its economic youth, their Government seems almost naive in attempting to keep anything slightly controversial out of their reach, their knowing sphere. It's utopian here.

Above are some pictures I took of my friend Jesse who has the most exotic, intense look about her and her boyfriend Kawiti who is an insanely talented opera singer. They have been this in love for almost three years now and everything about them is so powerful and enviable. Together they compliment everything in the world that requires attention and make the most beautiful unity.
Have a look and tell me what you think. I'm hoping to hear from you soon Ree. Love, me. X

Emily Golitzin

Emily Golitzin is a 15 year old photographer from California. She is insanely creative and expressive through her work and voices teenage life through simple clothes and settings yet makes it look like so enviable. Her photographs are a journey of her life- full of character and experience. Here is a link to her flickr, you should definitely check it out. 

When did you start photographing?
I got into photography in sixth grade after receiving a Canon Powershot for my birthday. Then, in eighth grade, I took a photo class and bought an SLR, and after that, there was no turning back.

What got you interested?
I've always loved photos - I used to spend hours looking through my mom's old photo albums and marveling at how much the people in the photos had changed. It's something that's always fascinated me.

What does your camera equipment consist of? And what film do you prefer using?
I shoot with a Canon Rebel XSi for digital and a Canon Rebel 2000 and Canon AE-1 for film. Right now, I'm using up a big box of Fuji 400, but Kodak 400 is definitely my favorite film.

Who are your photography idols?
I wouldn't really consider anyone my "idol", but some of my favorite photographers on Flickr are Jocelyn Catterson, Alison Scarpulla, Olivia Bee, and Jessie Roth.

What music do you listen to?
I listen to all sorts of music. I love alternative and rock as well as some hip hop and pop. Right now, I'm listening to Nicki Minaj, and last night at this time, I was listening to Vivaldi... my music taste is all over the place.

What are your favorite artists/ authors?
My favorite artist is Norman Rockwell. I love the way he portrayed his ideal America, and his later work is also wonderful in a more haunting way. "The Problem We All Live With" is one of my all-time favorite paintings. My favorite author is probably Neil Gaiman, but I'll read just about anything.

One odd thing you love.
Star Trek. At least, that's considered odd among people my age.

If there was one person dead or alive you could shoot, who would it be? and why?
Ohh gosh, I have no idea how to answer this. I'd love to shoot anyone. I really like working with people, but I don't have a lot of models at my disposal, so yeah, I'd be happy to shoot anyone.

What is the soundtrack to your life?
I'll have to go with Summer Girls by LFO. It's one of the most played songs in my iTunes for a reason!

One own favorite picture of yours, and why?
This is one of my favorites, because it represents my personality so well. Plus, the Grand Canyon is one of my favorite places on Earth.

What time of the day do you prefer shooting?
I don't care how cliche it is, I adore golden hour. That said, I also love shooting in early morning fog - the light is unbelievable.

Your favorite thing to shoot.
People, hands down. I love candid shots, I think they speak volumes about the subject's personality.

Who/ what would you say is your biggest inspiration?
I'm inspired most by the sun and the fact that I'm alive. I'm so lucky to be in such a good place in life, and I know that. I try to make the most of everything, and that's where I get my inspiration.

Three things you never leave home without.
Honestly, I can't think of a single thing. I suppose the logical answer would include my phone and my camera, but honestly, I'm perfectly okay leaving those things at home.

What would you love to do with the rest of your life?
I've wanted to be a doctor since seventh grade; that's my biggest goal right now. When I grow up, I'd really love to be able to move around from city to city, or at least travel a lot. We'll see how that works out.

If you could make a million dollars doing one thing, what would it be?
Anything that makes me happy.

One thing you're saving up for.
A trip to New Jersey in the summer to visit some of my friends.

One fictional character you most identify with. And why?
In elementary school, I literally was Hermione Granger. She was pretty much my best friend for a few years. We're both bookish, smart, and bossy, and we both have out-of-control hair.

How does your city affect your art?
I live in a fairly small town, so it's limiting in a way. However, it's surrounded by lovely vast fields and hills, and that's definitely inspiring. I've grown up with a love of nature, and I think that's reflected in some of my photos.

If you could choose one place in the world to live, where would it be?
I visited Italy last fall, and Rome really stuck with me. It's a beautiful, unforgettable city, and I fully plan on living there sometime in the future.

Kesang.

Kesang, our next interviewee, is a 16 year old photographer from Canada. Her pictures strike the right chord with us. They're incredibly personal and emotional. She manages to capture things as they are. She has an unconventional aesthetic sense, which is why we wanted to know more about her art. Considering she's just starting out, her flickr photostream is a revelation. 






















































































Tell us a bit about yourself. 
My name is Kesang and I'm a student at an arts high school in grade 11 in Toronto, Ontario. 




When did you start photographing?  
Sometime in Junior High. I didn't take it seriously until last spring when I started experimenting with my mom's old film camera and even now I'm mostly just having fun. 




What got you interested? 
I would say fashion initially did. I've always been attracted to the glamour of it and the theatrical aspect of clothing and design. I don't shoot it myself, but I really admire fashion photography. 




What does your camera equipment consist of? And what film do you prefer using? 
I mainly use my Nikon EM film SLR. Since I started so recently, I haven't really built up a collection of equipment. I like using 400 asa film just because I take photos pretty candidly and often find myself in a variety of situations - both low and high light. 




Who are your photography idols? 
I love Man Ray. His photos are so dramatic and emotive with an interesting surreal aspect. I also really like William Eggleston. His photos have a great mood and the colours he chooses add to it in such a significant way. 




What music do you listen to?  
I listen to mostly newer music like Washed Out, Beach House, Phoenix, Neon Indian and Arcade Fire, but I also love Beck, Television and Talking Heads. 




What are your favorite artists/ authors?  
I'm much more of a traditional visual artist than a photographer so I really admire a lot of them. I like post impressionist/expressionist/nouveau art like Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jan Toorop. 
I'm not an avid reader, but I'm a big fan of those gushy romantic period novels like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. A Fine Balance, The Kite Runner and Cats Cradle are also favourites. 




One odd thing you love.  
I've been told my love for the scent of laundry detergent is strange.  




What is the soundtrack to your life? 
I think Shocking Pinks self-titled album. I think it's easy to relate to because it has a nostalgic and tired feeling. 




One own favorite picture of yours, and why? 
This is a photo I took of one of my best friends, Derval. I really like it a lot because looking at it reminds me of that night and I can feel myself taking that particular photo over and over again.






 




What time of the day do you prefer shooting? 
I like shooting in the morning or evening, although I haven't often. 




Your favorite thing to shoot.  
I love shooting people - especially close friends. I have fun trying to capture an expression that I want everyone to see, because it's something I see in certain people all the time. 




Who/ what would you say is your biggest inspiration?  
One of my best friends, Tess is a big inspiration. Before I knew her I used to look at her photos, wishing that I had a life like hers. She's a really free, fun person who takes photos that totally capture an experience and she has an enviable following. 




What would you love to do with the rest of your life?
I'd love to become a self-supporting artist. To open a gallery and sell pieces would be a dream come true. 





How does your city affect your art?  
Toronto is a beautiful city, but it's very subtle. You can find little gems in the city that are really unexpected and sweet. 




If you could choose one place in the world to live, where would it be? 
There are hundreds of places I'd like to visit, but Toronto is where I'll stay.

Alexander.

Here is a metaphor to describe our next interviewee, Alexander Alekseenko - his pictures bring to mind the color brown. They have that texture of wood. Like, pine is so different from oak. Yet, they're both wood. Likewise, his pictures are immensely different from one another, but the subtle tones he uses is the common thread that tie all his photographs to him. His flickr is worth a look. Or two.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I'm 22 years old, currently living in post-soviet country of Ukraine. I feel like this current environment has exhausted itself for me, so I look forward to change as soon as possible. 

When did you start photographing? 

I've started doing what I do now back in 2008

What got you interested?

My grand father was a photographer so I guess the environment that I lived in influenced a lot. 

What does your camera equipment consist of? And what film do you prefer using?

Right now I use Ricoh R10 as everyday camera, also Pentax Spotmatic for 35mm and some random soviet 6x6 cameras which I don't use often. I am not picky about film, I am happy to use any kind I have available.

Who are your photography idols?

There aren't any. I enjoy looking at beautiful photographs and being inspired by them.

What music do you listen to? 

It can be some classic rock, dark wave, synth, garage punk. It depends.

What are your favorite artists/ authors? 

Viktor Tsoi, Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, David Bowie

One odd thing you love. 

Some can think its odd, for me everything I do and love is standard.

If there was one person dead or alive you could shoot, who would it be? and why? 

Tricky one, I'd really love to shoot Ian Curtis, there are not many color photos with him.

What is the soundtrack to your life?

Heartbeat

One own favorite picture of yours, and why?

I like all of them, it's hard to highlight just one

What time of the day do you prefer shooting?

It's definitely daytime, I don't enjoy flashes and studio light

Your favorite thing to shoot. 

Anything that catches my attention.

Who/ what would you say is your biggest inspiration?

Random thoughts about different things.

Three things you never leave home without. 

ipod, wallet, camera

What would you love to do with the rest of your life?

Have total control of it.

One thing you're saving up for. 

One way trip far away from here.

How does your city affect your art? 

It does not.

If you could choose one place in the world to live, where would it be? 

I have to try some first. Never been abroad.

Autumnfingers.

Here's a little something about our next interviewee, Natalie: she's a 15 year old photographer, living in Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam, Southeast Asia. She enjoys foggy mornings, laying in bed with hot chocolate and has a thing for staying up late past midnight talking to people she loves. She is possibly one of the most talented 15 year olds we have ever come across. Her flickr photostream is incredible. Her portraits are honest, lovely and full of emotion. Her use of color and texture inspire us. She has the rare talent of telling a story through her camera.  When did you start photographing?  i started photographing when i was about twelve or thirteen. taking film photos was something my dad used to do back when i was just a little kid. i firgured out memories are captured preciously on film the day my dad gave me his old canon ae-1 as a gift. naturally, the more i record my teenage years with film photography, the more i fall in love with it. i don't consider myself as a photographer, just a kid with memories to keep. What does your camera equipment consist of? And what film do you prefer using? i use a canon ae-1 most of the time, with fujifilm superia 200. i'd love to try black and white one day, and i'll do it as soon as i have a chance. Who are your photography idols? i get inspired by various people on Flickr, and i must confess they're all my photographic idols. the way they capture life is what i'd want my photos to look like. i enjoy looking at the photos that make me feel like living it. they tell such stories. What music do you listen to?  i often find myself humming The Beatles, Regina Spektor, She&Him, A Fine Frenzy, Barcelona, Belle&Sebastian, Elliot Smith, Iron&Wine and Kate Nash's songs. i have a huge crush on The Beatles. What are your favorite artists/ authors?  i love Jerome David Salinger, author of 'The Catcher In The Rye' as much as i love Stephen Chbosky of 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower'. One odd thing you love.  i enjoy talking about soccer, especially Liverpool FC with my favorite boy when it's too late and we end up get yelled by our moms. If there was one person dead or alive you could shoot, who would it be? and why?  if there was one person dead or alive i could shoot, it would honestly be Audrey Hepburn. i adore her beauty and talent, and i'd love to try to capture her candidly with my camera. What is the soundtrack to your life? the soundtrack of my life is the song 'In My Life' by The Beatles. One own favorite picture of yours, and why? it's really hard to choose my favorite picture, since i love them all. but i'm really proud of this one. it was a lovely day i'll never forget. What time of the day do you prefer shooting? i like shooting in the morning, especially foggy ones. Your favorite thing to shoot.  my favorite thing to shoot would definitely be my friends. they're an important part of my youth, and the best memories i have are with them. Who/ what would you say is your biggest inspiration? my biggest inspiration is life itself. the simple things that hardly get noticed makes me love photography, for it shows the beauty of life which, people, in this rushy world, don't often acknowledge. Three things you never leave home without.  three things i never leave home without: my cellphone, money and camera. What would you love to do for the rest of your life? i would love to spend the rest of my life living close to the sea with the person who makes me laugh every single day just by grinning at me while playing soccer in the sun. other wise, being a psychologist/astronomer would be nice as well, since i have a thing for psychology and astronomy. it's a little too soon for me to think of the future, i'm just enjoying the time being, that's all. If you could make a million dollars doing one thing, what would it be? if i could make a million dollars doing one thing, it would be humming songs i love without messing up/taking photos of my friends' youthful laughter. One thing you're saving up for.  currently i'm saving up for Polaroid film packs. i'd love to take Polaroids but they don't sell film here where i live. One fictional character you most identify with. And why? i think i most identify with Jerry the mouse from my favorite childhood cartoon. he's quite smart and somehow always lucky enough to have what he wants. How does your city affect your art?  my small town and its beauty makes me want to capture every living moment. sure it's messy sometimes, but the chaos is what makes my little Hanoi special. and i'm proud of it. If you could choose one place in the world to live, where would it be? if i could choose one place in the world to live, it'd be Greece, without any doubts. i love the sea and the mountains, and how the water is crystal clear, with the white houses stand out perfectly in the hot Mediterranean sun.