LOST FREEDOM October 2012

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LOST FREEDOM vol. 2, issue i | october 2012


photograph by radu lungu


STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF LAYOUT DESIGNER

Angela WU

CO-EDITORS

Natalie CHYI Shae WU

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Savannah DARAS Paulina METZSCHER Sarah RATNER Ailera STONE

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 EMAIL lostfreedommag@hotmail.com


CONTENT ONCE I AWOKE OONA ROBIN LAIA FLYNN PLACIDITY (A PLAYLIST) JOANNA WHITING ALISON TITUS SARAH SCHUG TREE WHISPERS* REBECCA MAHONEY INGRID WANG LILLY KUEHN AMETHYST TAYA IV MARGARITA RENTIS SILVIA SANI MIKA PHOTO SUBURBAN REBEL MAKAYLA ROGERS ALANA STEINBERG

008 014 020 026 028 032 040 046 052 058 064 070 076 082 092 094 100 106 112

*COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY PAULINA METZSCHER



photograph by ABBY BILLINGTON


photograph by DANIELA BROWN

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Once, I Awoke Photography: Ailera Stone

h t t p :// w w w . a i l e r a s t o n e . c o m /

Model: Ruta Zeromskaite


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Oona Robin 17 || B E L G I U M years http://www.flickr.com/photos/oonavdl/



LOST FREEDOM: How and why did you first start photography? How do you think your work has changed since then? OONA ROBIN: Photography is something I strangely rolled into. Before this I used to write a lot, but at some point I got stuck and I hated everything I tried to get down on the paper. So I searched for another medium, something in which I could be equally creative and imaginative. When I look back at those first works it’s hard not to laugh because I don’t think other people would get the message, I don’t think I got it either. It was just something else in which I could grow, in which I’m still growing. I think my work has changed a lot in that way, it has much more meaning now and I feel more capable to portray very personal things. With photography I never felt stuck; it gives the mind so much space. Everything is possible in this world.

With photography, I never felt stuck; it gives the mind so much space.

LF: Why do you prefer taking self portraits? Self portraits are way easier to do (meaning that you can create what’s in your mind and not telling someone else how you want it) and in some way very confronting, especially about most inner feelings. When I started with self portraits it gave me things to think about, it still does but now I have the feeling I know myself a lot better and it’s just a way to give my emotions a place in peace. It has also to do with the growing process, since past six months I feel a very strong fascination for other people and their ways to get their emotions out. It’s an experiment for now, but I think it will be something much more meaningful to me and hopefully to others. LF: I’ve noticed that most of your photos are black and white. Is there a reason you prefer black and white photography over color? Not really, I make the picture that’s in my mind and most of the times it’s in black and white. Besides that I do feel that black and white gives a certain atmosphere to the images, the mysterious and darker sides. On the other hand there are lots of amazing photographers who can manage this atmosphere with color, something I truly admire. It probably has to do with your own style or preferences.


LF: How has photography impacted your daily life? It has changed everything for me; I never thought I would get in this artistic world. It still feels unreal sometimes. It changed my way of looking at daily life, but also my future. To get to that future, my daily life is constantly occupied with photography. When I can’t make a photo I probably wrote a concept or two, or I scrolled trough some old works to get something new out of it. I’m always looking for new inspiration, new images or other fascinating people. It definitely changed my way of looking at a day and my perspectives on everyday life. LF: Who or what inspires you on a daily basis? People who are very passionate about their artistic ways, who live for their art inspire me constantly. Just everything around me can fascinate me; emotions, people in general, nature etc.

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LAIA FLYNN

15 years || SPAIN h t t p : / / w w w . f l i c k r . c o m / p h o t o s / 2 0 t h a u g u s t /

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LOST FREEDOM: When and why did you first get interested in photography? LAIA FLYNN: I started taking pictures when I was thirteen, using my mom’s camera, but I really got interested in photography last year. My parents gave me my current camera for my 14th birthday. I think photography brings me happiness and the chance to forget about bad things in life. LF: Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? I do prefer taking portraits of others, because it’s like seeing what my eyes have seen. And moreover I’m not able to pose, focus and frame at the same time, it’s too difficult for me. LF: How would you describe your style? I don’t really know if I have an own style. I think that I have change my way to shoot during this year; at first I used to take lots of pictures of cold moments backs, but I have lost the fear of doing portraits. But anyway my way of shooting changes according to my mood. LF: How does photography impact your daily life? Photography is always in my mind, and since I got into photography I have the fear of forgetting things, so I’m taking pictures all the time, even when my camera is not with me I take photos with my phone. I do it unwittingly... LF: Who or what inspires you? Everything inspires me; music inspires me, as light, nature, films and my friends do. I think the world is full of secret beauty, you just have to contemplate it and let your imagination run wild.

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placidity

an autumn playlist and something to be remembered the cinematic orchstra to build a home angus & julia stone santa monica dream james vincent mcmorrow we don’t eat the avett brothers down with the shine the tallest man on earth the wild hunt death cab for cutie your heart is an empty room edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros mayla the postal service recycled air bright eyes first day of my life stars walls arcade fire wasted hours honey child the father acceptance so contagious the xx angels grouplove lovely cup the national racing like a pro bright eyes haile selassie two door cinema club sleep alone passion pit constant conversations

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JOANNA WHITING 16 years ||

Florida

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joanna_whiting/

LOST FREEDOM: How has photography had an impact on your life? JOANNA WHITING: Photography has definitely made me “see” a lot more. I’ve always been the observant quiet type, but now that I’ve gotten into photography I’ve spent more time looking, feeling, and thinking. With my type of photography, I really have to dig deep into my own personal feelings and experiences to capture a picture that evokes that same emotion. LF: Is there a certain mood or style that you try to achieve in your photos? If so, why? I suppose the feelings that we so often overlook; the soft, simple ones that can have a huge impact on our life. For example, the feeling of numbness, where we feel that we’ve become so apathetic to ourselves and everyone around us that we kind of shut down for a period of time. I enjoy creating these moods because I feel they’re truthful, and that they make the photographer and the viewers have the same, universal emotion. People are so often caught up in pride, lust, and anger, and kind of avoid the feelings that make them vulnerable to the world.

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LF: Do you prefer self portraits or portraits of others? Self-portraits, for sure. It may be because I’ve never really had experience with real models, but it’s always easier to feel something yourself, rather than trying to tell someone something that you can’t exactly explain, only feel. LF: Who or what inspires you? I guess everything inspires me, everything can have an impact on us. Music, movies, books; but not the superficial kind, the ones that really make you think about yourself and how you can change. And of course, one of my biggest inspirations is the outside world, especially when it’s separated from the materialistic, plastic, busy world that we so often consume our lives with.


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Alison Titus 18 years ||

NEW JERSEY

http://www.alison.titus.bz/


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LOST FREEDOM: When did you first begin taking photos? How has your work changed since then? ALISON TITUS: I first began taking photos seriously in 2009, when I got my first DSLR. My work back then was much less sophisticated - I still used Picasa to edit my photos, and I wasn’t as skilled at creating interesting subjects. Essentially, I think my work has retained a lot of the same characteristics. My style is still very clean and natural, but I’ve become much more adept at post-processing through Photoshop and I’ve gained more of an eye for capturing interesting photos. LF: Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? Why? I can’t say I prefer one over the other; there are things I like about both of them. It’s refreshing to shoot other people because it’s so much easier to be controlling everything from behind the lens, but when I’m shooting self portraits it’s easier to get exactly the picture that’s in my mind.

when i’m shooting self portraits it’s easier to get exactly the picture that’s in my mind. _


LF: If there was one place that you could photograph, where would it be? I’d love to go somewhere like Scotland or England with gorgeous countryside...that’s something I definitely don’t have here in New Jersey! LF: Do you prefer using digital or film? Why? Ultimately, I think I prefer using digital...film is often a hit-or-miss for me, and I like having more control over how a shoot turns out by being able to check my images as I shoot and process them afterwards. I do love film too though!



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photograph by EVAN BOOTH


photograph by EMILY WHITE

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sarah schug 19

years

|| GERMANY

http://www.facebook. com/HrzschlgPhotography

LOST FREEDOM: When did you first start photography? How has your work changed since then? SARAH SCHUG: I’ve started with photography 3 years ago under the influence of my father. He gave me his former Canon 20D and showed me everything worth knowing. First I just photographed everything which came in my vision field and tried out. With starting my blog I put my personal level higher and thought more about “what” I’m shooting. My sister often pleasured modeling before my lens and that’s how I started “People Photography”. Since 10 months I’ve began to shoot more people in my neighborhood and reflected positive feedback which put my personal level even higher. I’m glad that I’ve the chance to photograph so many beautiful and interesting people. LF: How would you describe your style? At the moment i’m mostly photographing in the Portrait area but I’d like to extend my horizon. Myself I cannot recognize a certain style direction in my “Portrait Photography”. I try to catch all the ideas I have in my head and visual it.


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LF: Why do you enjoy photography? I gave my photography the pretitle “Hrzschlg” which means (with vocal additions) “heartbeat”. My ambition is to let the hearts of them beating higher, which are posing before my lens and watch the results afterwards, of them who saw my pictures and find them beautiful and get a necessity to have own pics like this and of them who can reflect own thoughts, memories and visions in my photography. With photography I have a constant feeling of happiness and that’s what I want to share with the people around me. LF: Who or what inspire you? I’m absolutely affected by the environment, the beautiful colours and many photography plattforms. But the main inspiration comes from my head and the heads of the models.




tree whispers PHOTOGRAPHY: Paulina Metzscher || Model: Leonie M端ller


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REBECCA MAHONEY 15 || G e o r g i a years http://www.flickr.com/photos/from_my_d40/


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LOST FREEDOM: How would you describe your work, concerning your style and mood? REBECCA MAHONEY: I don’t necessarily have a certain style, I just tend to create things I think are beautiful. I like to make pictures with dark, rich colors, lots of contrast, movement, emotion. I absolutely love abandoned and old places, with lots of textures and memories and ghosts, because of the emotion I’m able to portray through that kind of location. A lot of my style comes from combining emotion and beauty, which, I think, fit together very well. LF: Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? It’s hard to say. It’s so much easier working with a model- in fact, the most successful shoot I’ve ever had was in an abandoned school with a model. However, selfportraits are very different. If I’m taking pictures of myself, I’ll always know exactly how to pose and exactly what I want the picture to end up looking like, which is almost impossible to achieve photographing someone else. So I guess my answer is, I really have no preference! Self portraits and model shoots both always have the potential to be beautiful. LF: Do you normal plan out your shoot beforehand? If so, how well do you think you are able to portray your original idea? I almost never plan out an idea before I shoot it! I usually just take my camera and tripod and maybe a pretty dress or skirt to a location and see what happens. I do, however, have at least three or four huge concepts I have planned out in my head that I’ve always wanted to have the chance to shoot, and whenever the opportunity arises, I’ll try to create them. LF: Who or what inspires your work? So much of my inspiration comes from the world around us. I see something pretty and want to find a way to portray it in an image; to capture its beauty forever. As far as people who inspire me, there’s a definite group of photographers who have always inspired me. Karrah Kobus, Kiara Rose, Sarah Ann Loreth, Alex Stoddard, Rosie Hardy, and SO many more amazingly talented people fuel my desire to keep improving and growing. LF: Where do you see yourself, regarding photography, in 5 years? I wish I could say for sure that I knew what my future in photography held. All I know is that I want to stay with photography, because it’s my only passion. I don’t know what I would do without it. Ideally, I’d like to keep photography as a full-time career, maybe as a fine art/fashion photographer. No matter what happens, though, I know I’ll always have photography in my life.




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INGRID WANG 17 years ||

AUSTRALIA

http://flickr.com/photos/ingrid-emelia

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LILLY KUEHN 15 || GERMANY years http://www.flickr.com/photos/lillysophie/


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LOST FREEDOM: How and why did you first discover photography? LILLY KUEHN: When I turned eight years old my parents presented me my first small digital camera. I have taken many photos on holiday trips, at the pony farm and in our garden. Since I got pocket money I always saved half in my piggy bank, because Mamas friend said I will have a wish to meet when I am older. With twelve I bought my first own SLR camera. LF: Is there a certain style you try to achieve in your photos? I always try to capture a certain mood in a picture. Mostly this picture reflects my mood on that day. LF: Do you prefer using digital or film? Why? I prefer film. It’s the surprise that I like the most when I look at my photos for the first time. It’s not real to have only perfect photos. I like the wiggly and overexposed ones because they have a story to tell.

ITS NOT REAL TO HAVE ONLY PERFECT PHOTOS

LF: Who or what inspires you? Some evenings I sit on my bed for hours and click through many pages of admirable artists. Sometimes I’m inspired by a long drive through foggy and lonely streets in the early morning. There are so many daily things which are so much beautiful. We just need to open our eyes. Photography change how we look at something.

LF: Where do you think you’ll be, regarding photography, in 5 years? It is difficult to say where I am in 5 years, because I do not even know where I am now. I think I’m going to travel the world and take pictures of beautiful places and people.

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Amethyst Photography: Savannah Daras

Model: Jessica Kim

| Dress: Target | Location: Maine



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Taya IV

15 years ||

RUSSIA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56919100@N05/


LOST FREEDOM: When did you first begin taking photos and how has your work changed since then? TAYA IV: I started my work as a 12 year old who wanted to look pretty in typical mobile phone photographs. I would spend ages outside trying to make something decent with a 2 mega-pixel camera. 3 years later I’m shooting with a Canon 60D, and I think my work has dramatically changed since the start. I have started photographing people rather than items and objects although I do touch that aspect once in a while. I have learned to be more open to the world and more understanding, as well as experience different styles of photography which is challenging and fun at the same time! LF: What do you try to express through your portraits? I try to express people’s emotions through my photographs. I want the viewer to be inspired to create more work too, because that is a wonderful way to live; inspiring others and yourself. In addition, I really want people to look at a photograph of a person I made, and see meaningful stories behind the eyes of the person who was photographed. I want them to like the person, I want them to imagine what it would be like to be in their skin. Summarizing it all, I just want them to feel the photograph and everything in it.

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LF: How do you think location affects the quality of a picture? Beautiful locations are always a plus in my opinion. Take Nikoline, (aka nikolinelr on Flickr), she is surrounded by the most amazing natural locations I have ever seen. Her work shines as she explains her stories without words. Therefore, location will make a photograph stand out and the more beautiful the location, the more beautiful the photograph, especially if you spice it up and add your own style to it, just as Nikoline does. On the other hand, some people are not surrounded by such natural places and therefore have to make the best out of the simple things. I have noticed the most beautiful simplicity in photographers such as Rachael Hyde and Paulina (aka somewhereontheedge on Flickr). Yes, maybe they do have beautiful locations to shoot in, but they are capable of capturing a simple location’s simplicity. Concerning quality, I will just go ahead and say that it depends on the photographer. If they can make something simple beautiful, then any location will produce the best quality and photograph. LF: Who or what inspires you? Nature inspires me more than anything. I like walking along the beach, looking at different locations and imagining what my photographs would look like if I was to shoot there. My house inspires me also; there’s always something different. A little patterned light there, a stray cat here, or even a leaf that is unique in its own way. All make me shiver inside and inspiration seeps in whenever I find those simple places or things. Now as for people, I will just go ahead and mention three of my favourite photographers, in no order whatsoever: Bailey Elizabeth, Annette Pehrsson, and Seanen Middleton. These people inspire me more than anything. I look forward to every single photograph they create and that is a special trait to have in a photographer. They are all so unique, I love them! I would also like to add that music inspires me a lot. I don’t often come across something that makes me want to sit and write for hours on end, but rarely that precious song arrives somewhere on the Internet and all I can do is praise heavens that I can have an opportunity to listen to something so magnificent. LF: If you could photograph one person, who would it be and why? Mila Kunis, because she is stunning in every way and has such a bright personality. She is my favourite actress too.


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Margarita Rentis

17 years || GREECE http://www.margimadness.com/

LOST FREEDOM: How does photography impact your life? MARGARITA RENTIS: Photography is a beautiful way of helping people with a bad memory (like me) solidify memories and keep them in a digital or physical form forever. I’ve been taking photos for as long as I can remember, but ever since I started taking it seriously in 2009, photography has really changed the way I see the world around me. It was as if my eyes opened for the first time: everything was photogenic in some way or another, and if I didn’t take a photo of something that really caught my eye, then it would be a missed opportunity. I always carried a camera with me, whether it was a DSLR or a cellphone, so that I would be able to catch anything passing by at that moment in time. When I fell in love with photography in 2009, I was still living in Athens, Greece. If I had not discovered my passion for capturing moments in every day life, then I strongly believe that my years in Europe would have been taken for granted, like many people my age do. Photography is my favorite form of expression and without it, I would not have learned how absolutely gorgeous everything in life is, as cheesy as that sounds. LF: Do your photos usually have concepts behind them? If so, do you plan everything out beforehand? The majority of portraits I take have concepts. I usually inject an emotion that I want the viewers to feel when they see my photographs. I plan everything out beforehand; first by brainstorming by sketching or writing things down in words, and afterwards visiting various shops to purchase props that might accentuate the emotion I am trying to portray, like dresses or flowers.

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LF: Why do you prefer taking portraits over landscapes or other types of photos? The amount of emotion someone can put in their facial expression and/or their body is truly amazing. However, the reason that I prefer taking portraits, whether it be indoors or outdoors, is because mixing portraiture with the natural landscape is much more expressive than a normal landscape. Combining the natural elements of the outdoors with a model is something I have always tried to do. LF: How do you think photo manipulation plays a role in your photography? Photo manipulation does not play a huge role in my photos mainly because I strive to keep images natural. Combining many frames from the same photoshoot into one photograph, like the Brenizer method, is something I do at times, but generally, I tweak the colors in photoshop and that’s the end of that. LF: Who or what inspires you on a daily basis? Inspiration is everywhere. However, what inspires me to create a photograph are my surroundings. When I drive to school and randomly find a beautiful location, a spark of inspiration runs through my head as I imagine what kind of model I would be shooting with and how she would be posing along with what she would be wearing. When I travel abroad and find the natural beauties of the area, I stop for a few moments and absorb what I am seeing. Then, I either just snap a photo or set up my tripod for a self-portrait. Those are just some examples from everyday life that trigger inspiration in me to grab a camera; being able to freeze the moment in time is inspiring enough to make me continue taking photos. In addition, random bursts of inspiration occur when I see a person with eye-catching facial features. Whether it be a person that I know or an absolute stranger, these moments take me out of my comfort zone and let them know that I would love to take a photo of them. Inspiration is anywhere you seek for it, and in my opinion, it is always a good idea to be inspired and motivated no matter what career you pursue.



photograph by MEGGIE ROYER


photograph by SU VIEN photograph by BRASSICA NAPUS

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Silvia Sani 17 years ||

ITALY

http://www.flickr.com/photos/silviasaniphotos/

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LOST FREEDOM: Why do you photograph? What does it mean to you? SILVIA SANI: I have been taking photos for two years and at the beginning it was just for fun or to remember special moments, but during the last year taking photos has become such an important part of my life. Photography does mean a ton to me. It is the best way to express myself and it represents how I see the world. LF: Do you prefer taking photos of landscape or of people? Definitely people. I like taking photos of landscapes as well but I want to show emotions and I think that people can give you something. People are real, their feelings are fair. LF: Do you photograph as a way of documentation or as a way of expressing emotions? Photography is the best way I know to express my emotions. Each photo has his own story. Each photo hides an emotion I felt which inspired me. Most of my photos are a sort of diary of my life. LF: I’ve noticed that many of your photos are faceless. Is this intentional? If so, why? Yes, it is intentional. Well, actually I’ve never thought about the reason before, but when I ask people to turn around it’s not because I can see them from the back, it is because they can see what there is in front of them. It is like they are watching the whole

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world ahead. Moreover, I have always found fascinating not to see people’s faces in the photos. Something like a secret. You don’t know how they look like, but they can make you feel something anyway. LF: How do you think location impacts a photo? I think the location is one of the most important things in a photo. I’m always looking for new places to shoot in. According to me, it’s easier to feel inspired when you are in a beautiful place. LF: Do you prefer using digital of film? Why? I prefer shooting with my film camera so much more than with my digital one. I’m not the kind of person that works a lot with photoshop to make changes in the photos, I love taking pictures of real things, of life’s moments. Most of my favorite photos I’ve ever seen by other photographers are film. One of my dream is to do an entire photoshoot only with my film camera, even though I still have a lot to learn about how to use it.


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MIKA PHOTO 22 || LATVIA years http://www.mikaphoto.eu/

LOST FREEDOM: How and why did you first discover photography? MIKA: In secondary school, I loved to draw and paint. Although artists inspired me, I wanted to bring my drawings to life. On my 18th birthday, I received my first DSLR as a gift from my parents. I started to experiment and play around with the camera. Once I saw my ideas come to life, I knew photography was for me. I will be forever grateful to them. LF: Is there a certain style you try to express through your work? It all breaks down to my own emotions and how I am feeling. Depending on the muse, I try to express romanticism and give the photos a dream like feel. LF: How do you think location impacts your work? I think the location of my work is not just a background, it is the start of the story I am trying to create. LF: And what about fashion? Fashion inspires me greatly as it keeps reminding me that there are no limits to creativity. LF: If you could photograph one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? I would love to photograph Zhang Jinga (Zemotion). Ever since she uploaded her self portraits on deviant art, I am in love with her work. J LF: What are some things that inspire you? There are many things but music would be the number one. I always listen to Sigur Ros when im doing photos, his music calls out my muse, emotions and memories.

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suburban rebel PHOTOGRAPHY: Sarah Ratner || Model: Zlata Karpiza







Makayla ROGERS

18 years ||

RHODE

ISLAND

http://www.flickr.com/photos/makayla_rogers/


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LOST FREEDOM: When did you first start taking photos? How has your style changed since then? MAKAYLA ROGERS: I first started taking photos a couple of years ago. My style has changed greatly since then. In the beginning I was just trying to figure out how self-portraits worked, now I like my photos to convey a sense of freedom in them. LF: Why do you enjoy shooting self portraits? I enjoy shooting self-portraits because it allows me to escape the real world for a short while and helps me express emotions that I sometimes just can’t say out loud. LF: Which is your favorite photo you’ve ever taken and why? http://www.flickr.com/photos/makayla_rogers/5316994025/in/set72157623412305616/ - 324/365 is my favorite photo I have ever taken because at the time, it was so far out of my comfort zone but I pushed myself take it on anyway. And in the end, it’s probably the shot that I will forever be most proud of.


LF: I noticed that you finished a 365 project last year. How was the project for you and would you recommend it to others?

The 365 project is like going on a roller coaster blindfolded; you don’t know what to expect. For me, it definitely was a roller coaster ride of falling in and out of love with photography. It is extremely hard work but I would recommend it for others because it allows you to grow in ways that you couldn’t imagine.

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Alana Steinberg

16

years

|| FLORIDA

http://www.flickr.com/ photos/alanasteinberg

LOST FREEDOM: How long have you been taking photos? How do you think your style has changed since then? ALANA STEINBERG: I started really caring about photography when I signed up for the photography elective at my sleepaway camp three years ago, but my photos were pretty superficial- I would just take pictures of things I saw like flowers, shadows, and the typical “girl with a DSLR” things. I didn’t really know how to use my camera or edit a photo properly. I started keeping an idea journal of my photos, and that’s when I saw my art begin to develop (no pun intended!). Since then, I feel like my process of taking a photo is so much more deliberate and inspired than when I first started. LF: Why do you photograph? What does it mean to you? Outside of client work, I mostly photograph portraits that have some kind of deeper meaning to them. My art gives me the ability to express myself in ways I haven’t been able to before. I was never a talented singer, dancer, poet, artist before finding photography, but creating my photos has allowed me to be creative while expressing that which I cannot or do not want to put into words.



LF: Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? It really depends on the shot I am looking for. When I’m doing something conceptual, I often find it easier to shoot self portraits because I can be pretty specific about what I wan beacause it can be hard to verbalize what I’m looking for to other people. Otherwise, I much prefer shooting other people. I really do love working with people, and I especially love when we work off of each other, bouncing ideas around. Sometimes the spontaneity of working with others turns out my best work. LF: I’ve noticed that your photos often have a lot of emotion in them, is this something you try to convey? Is so, why? I think the most important thing about my photography is creating the ability to evoke emotion with a single image. I feel that my art is successful only when it makes an impact, and to create that impact, I often have to delve into my own emotions. Some people don’t realize how similar we all are- most of us have the same thoughts or feelings at one point or another, so I find that my work can often be very relatable. Photography also serves as my own form of releasing my thoughts and emotions. I’ve never been good at keeping a journal, so I guess that photography is my own personal diary. It allows me to express myself in ways I can’t put into words while releasing my creative energy at the same time. LF: Who or what inspires you? Like I said before, my emotions and thoughts play a huge role in my inspiration, but I think that the most influential and inspring people to me are my contacts on Flickr. None of them cease to amaze me with incredibly creative, impressive, and beautiful work, and many of my ideas are generated by looking at their images.


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photograph by SERENA LIU

photograph by YULIA KRIVICH


photograph by GLORIA JIMENEZ

photograph by LUCAS OTTONE


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