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.

Jackie Luo

Jackie Luo is an inertly talented photographer from Houston, Texas. Her focus on composition and clever combinations of location and models makes her work severely conspicuous in a world of static fashion photographers. Her versatile ability to mould with every shoot makes her an inspiration for many. Here is a link to her flickr and her website.
Here are some pictures taken by her and an interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 
I'm a fifteen-year-old girl living in Texas, and I love all kinds of things, from fashion to philosophy to eighties movies to mathematics. I want to travel across the world and go to places like New Zealand, Brazil, and Norway. I have a million dreams that I want to fulfill, and hopefully, someday I will.

When did you start photographing? 
I started photographing seriously maybe eight months ago.

What got you interested?
I've always loved photography. Fashion has always been my thing, and photography is tied so closely with it. Beyond that, I just think that pictures can be so beautiful and expressive. They say so much. Being able to create something is incredibly important to me.

What does your camera equipment consist of? And what film do you prefer using?
I use a Canon Rebel 450D as my digital camera and both a Canon Rebel K2 and Minolta STsi for film. I love experimenting with different types of film, but I usually use Kodak or Fujifilm.

Who are your photography idols?
So many people inspire me! Tim Walker, Camilla Akrans, Nirrimi Hakanson, Sally Mann, Richard Avedon, Mariah Jelena, Antonella Arismendi, Andreas Ohlund, Sandra Freij, and Wai Lin Tse are just a few.

What music do you listen to? 
I listen to a variety of music, I guess. Some of my favorite artists are Michael Jackson, M83, Band of Horses, Crystal Castles, Fleet Foxes, The Presets, Fever Ray, Bee Gees, Florence + the Machine, Best Coast, and Vashti Bunyan. I'm also obsessed with dubstep.
 
What are your favorite artists/ authors? 
Recently, I've mostly been reading philosophy- Baudrillard, Nietzsche, Foucault, Zizek, etc.. But other authors that I love are Jeffrey Eugenides, George Orwell, Sylvia Plath, Robert Pirsig, John Green, and John Steinbeck. As for artists, I love Salvador Dali's work, as well as those of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Antoni Gaudi.

One odd thing you love. 
I really love poking cheeks. Like, babies' cheeks.

If there was one person dead or alive you could shoot, who would it be? and why? 
Oh, I have no idea! Abbey Lee Kershaw, Gemma Ward, or Frida Gustavsson, I think. They're so gorgeous, and their beauty has this depth and versatility.

What is the soundtrack to your life?
I don't think I have a soundtrack to my life, but if I had to choose a song for it, maybe "Long Haul" by Voxtrot or "Here Before" by Vashti Bunyan.

What time of the day do you prefer shooting?
I usually like shooting at sunset or sunrise because the colors are so much lovelier and more subdued at that time. In Texas, the sun is generally harsh during the day, and I like to wait for the light to be gentler when I shoot.

Your favorite thing to shoot. 
My favorite thing to shoot is people. Each person expresses him- or herself so differently through a camera lens- it's wonderful to be able to capture stories and emotions and images.

Who/ what would you say is your biggest inspiration?
You could say that I'm inspired by youth, freedom, and innovation. People who inspire me to no end include Mark Zuckerberg and Sofia Coppola, two brilliant young people who never fail to amaze me with their creations.

What would you love to do with the rest of your life?
I'd love to spend the rest of my life building my legacy, something I can leave behind that people will remember.

One thing you're saving up for. 
One thing that I'm saving up for is a new camera! I'd love to shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II, although I don't think I'm quite up for it yet.
 
If you could choose one place in the world to live, where would it be?
If I could choose anywhere in the world to live, I'd be in New York City. It's such a cliche, I know, but there's nothing like the energy and life in that city. Otherwise, I'd love to be in London, Melbourne, Shanghai, or some secluded, wooded area of Europe where I could write and take pictures and learn, learn, learn.