INTERVIEW WITH JOEL ROBISON

Joel is an amazing and very kind person who you will love  once you get to know him and his work!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I’m a 29 year old conceptual photographer based out of Cranbrook, British Columbia Canada. I like to create stories and visuals in my work that lead the viewer to create a story in their mind. My background is in education and I recently started pursuing photography full-time and I’ve been travelling for the last 4 months as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, as the lead photographer. I’m also part of a workshop teaching team that travels across the United States, teaching workshops based around conceptual photography and editing..

That must have been so exciting to be a lead photographer for FIFA. So when and why did you start photographing?I’ve always been a visual person and I’ve always  been the type of person to express myself through art. As a kid I was always drawing and creating with pencils and crayons but when I was a teenager those things slowly fell away from me. After I finished college I started realizing that I didn’t have a creative outlet so I started exploring different mediums like sculpture and painting but nothing really fit. I came across flickr.com and I really liked the portraits and fine art that was being created and it inspired me to buy my first dslr and try my own ideas in photography. I’ve been pursuing photography since then, about 5 years ago.

As a creative person, what’s something you know you do differently than other photographers?

I think for me, one of the elements that I try to infuse into my work is a theme of positivity or positive thinking. I truly believe that positive thinking and genuine peacefulness can change your life and I think that I try to add that into my work through whimsy, through stories and through the visuals in my work.

It shows Joel. Your photos always leave positive thoughts. Can you show us a picture which has a lot of meaning to you and tell us why?

That one for me has a lot of personal meaning. For me it’s a visual of breaking free from depression. As a teenager and early in my 20’s I was quite depressed and had a very hard time see goodness or colour in the world. Everything felt very dark and very unhappy. This last year I’ve been working hard internally on my mindset and my outlook on life and trying to let go of anything that might be holding me down. This was a visual of breaking free from the dark thoughts and letting the good thoughts lift me up.

The photo describes your story well. I wonder if you can tell us a funny photography related story since positivity is so important in your life?

Haha, I have lots of those! I tend to shoot in a nice open field area near my house and it’s not uncommon for people to walk through my photoshoots. There have been a few times where people have stood and watched me shoot or ask if they can help me, even though I try to explain that I don’t need any help. There have been a few wild animals that have stomped through my setups, a moose and black bear within a few weeks of each other.

Oh my that must be scary, what did you do when the wild animals were there?

(Laughs) Well it's not too scary. I've always lived near nature and spend a lot of time running, hiking and mountain biking in the mountains so I've a lot of close encounters with all sorts of animals. I usually just make a lot of noise and make sure I always know where they're going so they don't sneak up on me!

Haha you impress me! The moment I will take a roadtrip through america I will ask you for advice.  So I noticed you make a lot of tiny Joel's in your pictures. Where did you get the inspiration?I started taking these photos when I was taking photos of a toy Wall-E figure that I had and I started thinking of ideas I could use for those photos, when I thought that if I could come up with stories for a toy, maybe I could make myself the same size and have a brand new perspective. After a few photos I realized that I really liked the viewpoint of someone really small and the new world’s and ideas that you could create with this new perspective. Suddenly objects have new purposes and functions and it’s fun!

I really love these shots Joel.Could you give people who want to give this a try advice about making tiny selfs?

I’d suggest they visit my tutorial on joelrobison.com where I give a step by step breakdown of shooting and editing these types of photos :)

Thank you so much. Whats the number one advice you can give aspiring photographers?

My advice would be to shoot photos of everything. Constantly take photos and you’ll gradulally fall into the theme or style that fits you. Don’t be afraid of new ideas, of new editing styles or new methods, it’s all part of the process and it’s how to set yourself apart!

A random question for you: What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

I think the world can be a very isolating place, people live in little bubbles and quite often they don't often think too much about their neighbor or their fellow person and I think that's sad. We can all take a few minutes out of our day to do one small thing to help someone, it can be as simple as saying hello to someone, holding a door open, or just letting people know how much they mean to you. I think if I could change one thing it would be for people to have more compassion for one another, kindness goes a long way!

Thank you Joel! You are amazing. Keep up the good work.

An interview between Alicia and Joel

Find more about Joel onFACEBOOK.

INTERVIEW WITH PAIGE BARALIJA 

What do you love about photography?
What I love about photography is that it allows me to enter a world that only exists in my head. I don’t have to explain things or justify myself – I think I love that the most about it. I can capture laughs, feelings and moments and keep them with me forever, look back, evoke emotions and get inspired by photographs over and over again. I also love that it enables me to meet people from all over the world. I am actually hosting a photographer friend from Malasya this Christmas and I’m planning on visiting one of my closest friends and favourite photographer in Moscow this spring. I could not imagine a life without my camera anymore. People, colours, places, feelings … photography never fails to inspire me. 

Perfect explanation. I wonder, which picture evokes the most emotion for you?

This photo is of my uncle’s daughter Rita. My uncle Bihi passed away in 2011 and along with him, my heart did too. He was everyone’s favourite person. I never told anyone about this because I figured it would break too many hearts but I want to share it with you today. When I took this picture of Rita she said “This one is for dad so he can see how much I’ve grown in two years, so no sad face, no sad face”. I love how she was trying to hide her sadness with her little smile but her ‘eyes’ reveal the pain and how much she misses him.  Everytime I look at this photo my heart stings painfully.

Woah Paige, I really see the pain in her eyes. But what a beautiful story. I love how she wants to be strong and happy in the picture.
Would you break the law to take a picture? 
I think I would but only if I could morally accept it and if I would be able to help someone with it. If it was just for my own pleasure, I don’t think I would go this far. But it also depends on the punishment too. I mean, if there was something interesting/beautiful I could only photograph by stepping on the place that I wasn’t allowed on and the punishment fees would be about 20€ then I would definitely take the photo and pay the fees. 

Okay. So which photographer do you really admire?
One of my favourite photographers has got to be my friend Taya Iv. Her photos and words have helped me develop personally and as an artist. She is so young and yet such a wise soul – definitely someone I admire a lot (and whom I promised to shoot my wedding). Another russian photographer who owns my heart would have to be Anastasia Volkova. She was the one helping me find my style in photography. I am in love with everything she creates. It’s one of my dreams to meet her, actually. Moving to London, there is Ella Ruth whom I admire so much. She is a wonderful photographer and a beautiful model too. Her photos are so simple and yet so rich of beauty and inspiration. I can’t wait to visit her and create some beautiful photographs with her. I also have to mention Kitty Gallannaugh whom I love to bits. Her photographs are like paradise to me. There are many more photographers that I admire, I don’t think I can name all of them here but thank you to each and everyone for inspiring me every single day of my life.

You are very sweet. Do you mind telling us one thing Taya taught you?
Well, Taya is seven years younger than myself yet we connect so incredibly much. She is such a true, loyal soul and very mature for her 16 years. She’s been through so much in her life already and still manages to keep a smile on her face and motivate other people in her darkest times. She taught me how to be strong. To never lose hope and always believe in oneself. She also taught me that you can photograph dirt and make it look all “deep” haha. I really love and respect her a lot!

(laughs) yeah she does that :) What inspires you? 
I tend to find inspiration in almost everything actually. Wise, beautiful people inspire me – my mom is the best example to name here. The beauty of nature still overwhelms me every moment of my life. I study English and American literature therefore I come across many great poets and writers everyday so they do influence my life a lot as well. Other photographers definitely are a huge inspiration just as the books I read or the songs I listen to. 

Oh I love people who get inspired by books and songs. What is your favourite book and song?
I have so many favourite books but my super favourites are the ones I’ve read at least twice so that would have to be “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Alchimist by Paolo Coelo or Great Expectations by Charles Dickens which I just finished a few days ago and Orlando by Virginia Woolf – ahhh,too many to name. (It’s actually one of my biggest fears not to be able to read ALL the books!) Some of my favourite songs are Fix you by Coldplay, Song bird by Eva Cassidy and probably all songs (and lyrics) by Florence and the Machine. These are songs I can listen to fifty times in a row and still feel… feelings over and over again.  

Wonderful Choices Paige. On another note, If you could have lunch with 6 people dead or alive who would it be?
Easiest question ever. Chandler Bing, Monica Gellar, Ross Gellar, Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay and Joey Tribbiani.

(laughs) nice choice. And why do you choose them?
Friends is my childhood-series. I grew up with those people. (Uh-huh) They never, seriously NEVER fail to make me laugh- even in dark times they made my tummy hurt from laughing, they’re actually really my friends. And even though I know all episodes by heart, I still laugh at every joke they make. When I’m sad I photograph. When I’m done photographing I watch friends. I still secretly hope there’s gonna be a film (fingers crossed). 

What do you wish for 2014?

I hope 2014 will be peaceful and just as inspiring as 2013 has been. Being able to travel to many places and visit my photographer friends is one of my main goals for 2014. There are a few projects that I am going to work on, so I hope those will go well. I also hope that I can maintain my good grades so I can keep my achievement scholarship and focus on my studies and my photography more. 

A conversation between Paige and Alicia. 
Find more about Paige on FACEBOOK.

Inspiration