An Interview with Evan Batky
We recently spoke with Evan Batky, 19-year-old photographer from Colorado, USA, who currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland. He tells us about his inspirations and why photography is so important to him.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why photography is important to you. What was it that first got you interested in photography?
My name is Evan Batky, I'm 19 years old and I lived in CO for 18 years. For the last 2 months I've been living in Geneva, Switzerland. Photography is important to me because it combines all the things I really value. It allows me to connect and make amazing friends. I've made so many friends who either also take photos or model. It's an amazing community that stretches all around the globe. Second photography takes me on amazing adventures. I'm always looking for a new mountain to climb, or lake to swim in. The photography then comes in to capture all the memories. Behind every photo there is a story, and whenever I look at one of my photos I always remember everything about the moment I took the photo. I first began interested in photography along with a group of my friends around 3-4 years ago. We would all go out and take photos in the mountains. It was just for fun, and to make memories.
"I've made so many friends who either also take photos or model. It's an amazing community that stretches all around the globe."
Who or what are your main sources of inspiration?
For inspiration I have to start with Kent Johns (@kent_johns), and Michael Graef (@mikeygraef). They were the first professional photographers I ever met, and their work back then, and now, constantly inspires me. Besides that I don't really have a specific source of inspiration. I try to look at as many different social media platforms as I can to get inspired. Recently I've been spending a lot of time of Pinterest and Behance.
Click here to read the full interview with Evan Batky in Issue 06 of DEZINE
An Interview with Angela Mariano
We recently spoke with 19-year-old up and coming model Angela Mariano. She told us her unique story of how she went from taking care of turtles in Costa Rica to appearing on the cover of DEZINE and all the bits in between and beyond!
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into modelling?
So I’m from Upstate New York and I always knew that I wanted to model. I’ve always been into art and fashion my entire life. My parents were both accountants and had desk jobs and were very much like ‘Oh you need to go to college and get a real job’ and that never really interested me ever from day one, I always knew that’s never been what I wanted.
After High School I kinda had a freak out and really didn’t want to go to school so I, I wanted to help people so I volunteered in Costa Rica. I was working with kids and teaching them English, helping them with homework and things like that. Then I also was volunteering with sea turtles (laughs) taking data and also working with monkeys a little bit. Yeah, it’s so random!
When I came back, I really liked Costa Rica and the weather so I applied to the University of Hawaii, got in and was all set to go. And then, had kind of another freak out like “I don’t wanna go to school, I don’t wanna do this I really really wanna be in New York City – I wanna try modelling” and I like moved here with no plan I didn’t know anyone, I was by myself. I’d just turned 19. From there I just kinda met a bunch of photographers and small brands through Instagram and that’s how I got started.
"I was by myself. I’d just turned 19. From there I just kinda met a bunch of photographers and small brands through instagram."
I suppose that’s like the American Dream isn’t it? To just go away and try something?
Yeah, literally when I moved all my friends were like so concerned ‘Is Ange OK?’ “Ange is gonna be homeless’ but it’s working out! I never had a plan B. I don’t believe in those - plan A needs to work out. I want to earn my success, I don’t want anyone to just hand it to me.
Is it something you’re doing full time?
Yeah, currently full time. I’ve been struggling with money a little bit because I didn’t realise ‘oh groceries and laundry and the subway’ that’s a big expense! I mean I knew it was going to be expensive, especially being in the city, it’s like you breathe and they take ten dollars right there. Everything is so much money, everything. I go to the grocery store and I see like three cantaloupes for two dollars, “OK I guess I’m having cantaloupe!”
My boyfriend always is like aggravated with it a little bit, my parents – not to say that they’re not supportive – because I’m not in college or anything they’re kind of like “figure it out on your own”. Which in a way I kind of like because I’ve always been an independent person.
But when I’m struggling with money a little bit it’s kind of frustrating for them to be like “Well, figure it out!” But then I got a cheque from a really big job and I had like $2,000 in my account and I’m like “Whoa, I’m ballin’ I could go to Mexico right now, I’ve never had this much money” It works out, and now that I’m being signed I’ll have consistent work all the time, which is nice.
Read the full interview with Angela Mariano in Issue 04 of DEZINE
An Interview with Julia Trotti
We hear from Sydney-based fashion photographer, Julia Trotti, as she tells us all about her career.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got into photography?
I’m Julia Trotti, a fashion photographer based in Sydney, Australia. My work consists of fashion campaigns, lookbooks, editorials, portrait work as well as travel photography. I have been creative for as long as I can remember. At first I dabbled in creating work out of traditional mediums, then moved on to creating photo manipulations in Photoshop with stock images I found on the Internet. I truly loved editing and retouching, and slowly wanted to start taking more control over the images I created. That’s when I picked up a camera to start shooting and fell in love with the art of photography. I started photographing more and manipulating in Photoshop less until photography became my full time profession.
“Go out and shoot! You can read about photography, spend time organising and planning but the best practice and the fastest way to learn is to get out there and start doing.”
Who or what are your main sources of inspiration?
While I love awing at the beautiful work Tim Walker creates (one of my favourite photographers who inspired me to get into photography), I tend to find my inspiration in other places. I am inspired by locations - more often than not I will come across somewhere beautiful that will spark ideas for an editorial. I am also inspired by emotions, colours, lighting and new faces.
Click here to read the full interview with Julia Trotti in Issue 03 of DEZINE
An Interview with Zechariah Lee
We chat with Zechariah Lee, 20 year-old New York based photographer and co-founder of Nubko, an online community that connects creatives.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got into photography?
My name is Zechariah Lee. I’m a 20 year-old college student currently living in New York. Right now, I’m studying economics and a few months ago, I launched my company, Nubko, with a couple of my friends. I started photography close to a year ago. I started in March of 2016 but didn’t really start taking it seriously until about May. I’ve always been fascinated with photography and I remember I got a camera for my birthday in my junior year at high school but never shot with it because I was too lazy to learn how to actually use the camera. My camera would just sit there and collect dust then my friend invited me to come out with him to shoot the stars on a super clear night. We went out and he taught me about ISO, shutter speed, and aperture and it was game over after that. I worked a part time job over the summer and I had a lot of time to myself so I decided to use that time to meet new people and shoot and focus on photography.
Shoot everyday and try new things. I think people are afraid of failing, which makes sense and I’m totally afraid of it too
Who or what are your main sources of inspiration?
My main sources of inspiration have changed a lot over time. I get inspired by my friends that go on crazy adventures to the PNW, Europe, and Southeast Asia but I also get inspired by magazines like Vogue and Nylon. Specific people that inspire me on the daily are @zacharyleung, @elliottsdunning, @ryyster, @johnsonluii, @samuelelkins, and @lavacava. Honestly, though, I get inspiration from a ton of people but those are ones I constantly look up to.
Read the full interview with Zechariah Lee in DEZINE Issue 02
An Interview with Kara Clifford
We interviewed self-proclaimed feminist and graphic designer Kara Clifford from Huddersfield, UK.
Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you study?
I have just finished 6 years of studying graphic design. I first found my love for design and in particular editorial design whilst studying an Extended Diploma in art and design at Leeds College of Art. Afterwards I did a BA (hons) degree at The University of Huddersfield, where I was then offered a scholarship to complete a Masters degree in graphic design. I have been interested in design all my life, without really noticing. When I was younger, I used to rip pages or elements that I liked out of magazines and stick them all over my wall. I get my inspirations from everything around me, and I believe that working alongside people from different courses such as fashion and textiles students on my MA degree has definitely made me a stronger designer.
“I had noticed a rise in people talking about feminism on social media. I wanted answers for why women or men felt that they couldn't admit to being a feminist, when the dictionary definition is 'equality of the sexes.'”
What came first, your interest in feminism or design?
Definitely design. Up until last year I didn't even call myself a feminist. I was pretty ignorant to it, which I have found that a large majority of people are. There is a pretty awful stereotype of what a feminist is. Some people instantly hear the word 'feminism' and think of mad women running around burning bras and hating men. I remember even on my MA degree I had male tutors asking me 'Oh you're doing your project on feminism, are you a feminist then?' and me being hesitant on saying yes. This was literally because I didn't want people to think that I fit into that false stereotype of what a feminist is.