| December 9, 2013 |
SPOTLIGHT FOR INSPIRATION JIMMY MCROBERTS Our Weekly [fa] Photography Spotlight for Inspiration is all about talent, inspiration, success, camaraderie and collaboration. Artistic success and appreciation is built upon networks of like-minded people and our team of artists here will inspire you for days.
If you have not taken the time to peruse our membership list, I think you will be shocked to see who you are rubbing elbows with. Some of the most amazing up and coming artists in the industry and they are all a part of this team! Each week we sit down with one of them and find out about them, what they are doing, what keeps them motivated and pull from them inspiration for us all. We will be covering artists at every level and every style. There is no requirement for this spotlight except a passion for your craft. Read on‌ network, be inspired and shoot your dreams!
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Jimmy McRoberts
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Spring 2016
Fine Art Photographer
This week’s Spotlight for Inspiration is all about overcoming hurdles. Hurtles you would think would be a hindrance. This artist pushed forward and didn’t look back because it’s really all about looking deeper. Read on… You might just view your hurtles differently after this inspiration… Caroline: You were one of the first artists I got to know when I joined the [fa] Photography Team. I have seen you grow and become very decisive in your method of creating your fine art images. Tell me how you first got into photography? Where did your journey start? Jimmy: I first started in back in 2008 with a
small photo shoot for one of my best friends to give her some photos of herself. I moved to Chicago that summer and started school. Being taught by some of the industries greatest really got me motivated to learn and hone my craft Caroline: Did you go to school and study Photography? 2
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Jimmy: Yes, I have an Associates Degree in Photography Caroline: You mention you learned from some of the industries greatest? Was that though your schooling or an internship? Who was it and how did that come about? Jimmy: The school I was taught at in Chicago hired professionals from the area that taught us. My two favorite and memorable photographers were Peter Bosy and Tim Arroyo. Both taught me a lot in terms of photography, digital editing, and being an artist. Caroline: When did you delve into the fine art side of photography? Were you introduced to that in school as well? Jimmy: School touched on it some, but nothing like I have been when I started to shoot around July of this year. I wanted to do something
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different using light and motion. I started to capture images that had deep dark shadows with bright highlights. After being informed about the Fine Art Photography group I moved in and started watching people post and getting inspired. I admit that I am not that good in the terms of composite work like some of the others in the group but I have been learning from them what makes a fine art image and turning that into work with Glamour and Nude photography. Caroline: Is what you shoot mostly? Glamour? Where does a majority of your business come from? Jimmy: First I started out shooting fashion and editorial work. The Fashion industry is really hard to break into and then you also have a lot of things you have to do the same. With my Beauty, Glamour, and Nude work I really get to do it my way. I am not stuck in shooting something a certain way, even if I have been told you can't shoot glamour with lighting ratios. To me it is about branding yourself and your work. My business comes from different varieties. Models needing updated portfolios, wife's wanting photos for their husbands, and also some women just wanting to feel beautiful in their images. Also some of my business comes from displaying,
selling, and creating Fine Art Prints. Caroline: You have had a great year in fine art haven't you? Did I understand you got your first gallery showing? How did that come about? That is probably the number one question we get in our [fa] team. How do you get into galleries! Jimmy: Since I started people have told me that this is me, they can see me in the work and feel the attachment to the work. In September I had an art show at a local gallery in my town. I actually talked to the director their and gave them a submission and they took it and approved it, even if the work is a little controversial for my small community. I do have a gallery that is currently looking at my Cyclothymic Series and I will know if I get in to it on December 18th. The biggest thing I can say is search for galleries that are doing call to
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artist. You may have to pay a small fee to get into the show or to be considered, but this is to weed out artist who aren't serious about getting their work noticed. They also use the money to promote you and help get people interested in seeing your work.
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demonized just because people aren't educated to know the difference in Fine Art Nudes and Adult related Nudes. People get up in arms about seeing a bare breast or exposed private region but are they going to censor the statue of
Caroline: A lot of your images include the nude human form. You mentioned a controversy. Tell me your perspective on nudity in fine art? Do you believe nudity stifles your audience and limits how many people relate to your fine art work? Jimmy: To me the human form is something that should be celebrated not shunned. Socially people see skin, and they think of sex. Social issues are something people need to stop picking and choosing because sadly it is becoming more and more common for a man to show his body, but a woman does it and they are called a dozen different things. Nudity in fine art is great because their is a big difference between a fine art nude, and an adult related photo. The human body should be celebrated and not
David in books or in photos? Caroline: That is an interesting point. Nudity has been in fine art for centuries yet it is still Taboo. Do you believe your subject matter has limited your audience? Jimmy: I don't, because honestly everyday you see yourself nude, and some day you will see someone else. I believe that people who choose not to view my work based on the sole reason of the nudity is someone who doesn't appreciate Fine Art. Taboo only in certain countries and certain areas.
Caroline: My all time favorite body of work from you is your Cyclothymic Series. It is so well thought out and executed. Tell me what IS Cyclothymic? Explain the title of the series. Jimmy: Cyclothymic is a mood disorder that is a subset to Bipolar Disorder or Manic Depressive Disorder. The basics of it is that a person who is effected by this disorder goes through periodic mood swings of mania (highs) and depression (lows). This can be back and forth and at times they can be stable in the middle. The series is to show people who believe mental health is fake because you can't see the symptoms. The posing, the fabric, and the post processing all play very unique roles because they show something that people go through on the inside. Socially people don't accept people who might tell them they have a mood disorder, more Bipolar the depression because they think you are crazy or psychotic. A lot of people don't realize that some of the brightest minds in the world have been living with a mood disorder. To name a few, Beethoven, Kurt Cobain, and my favorite artist Edgar Allen Poe. Caroline: Is Cyclothymic something you have dealt with first hand? What first inspired you to do the series? 4
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Jimmy: Yes, I have personally been dealing with the disorder since I was 19. Art is something that helps with the stress and bad days. I was inspired to do the series one to make an impact and to show people first hand what people have been going through with the disorder. I also did the series to raise awareness, for people not to be afraid to admit that they have it and that they can overcome it Caroline: I think it is amazing you are using your fine art photography voice to bring awareness to something that is so hard to see, yet is so very real. When will your series be released to the public? Jimmy: I have released the series on my website. www.jmstudiosimaging.com It is under my Fine Art Series. I also have prints available now for it. Currently waiting to here back about a gallery showing the series. Caroline: You stated everything in that composition has a purpose. Explain in detail the meaning in these images. What is significant about the red lace fabric and the post processing? How does that contribute to the story you are telling? Jimmy: The color red means a lot of things, negatively it means fearful, angry,
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passion. Laying it over the models shows them being locked inside the human body metaphorically. The all black negative space for emptiness. The post processing of the scratches and other marks meaning the hurt and scars that people carry with them. Caroline: You have overcome some big hurtles to do your fine art photography. Do you believe your personal hurtles have been blessing in your work? Or a curse? Jimmy: Blessing big time. I use life, things around me to keep me motivated and that drive to make art that people will love and be touched by. I have been told numerous times recently that my work is powerful and conveys a great message. Those are the people I want to touch, I want to show my work to because they will see it for what it is. Caroline: There are a lot of artists and photographers who are going to read this and be so inspired by you. If you had to give them one thing, you wish you knew when you first started out, that would made things easier what would that be? Jimmy: Fear, don't let fear control you. Be yourself, and do what you love to do. It me 5 years to really learn that. Another thing is don't let naysayers, haters, and people who talk negativity control what you do. This is something that took a few stern talks from people for me
to get. Even if the speak negativity about you, or your work. You have them talking which will create buzz. Caroline: I think that is powerful good advice. I hate that we are out of time. I have one more topic that I would like your input on before we wrap up. This is a topic I have seen a lot of our fine art team members struggling with. How much of a role does Photoshop and post production play in your fine art? A lot of team members who join the group are quickly discouraged because there is so much artistic use of Photoshop in post production as opposed to in-camera and they get the impression the only way to do fine art photography is to go that direction. What advice do you have for them? Jimmy: Honestly a lot of my work is done in camera with lighting and props. I have a hard time with composites but have found that using certain things that I know and can do, I can create beautiful pieces of artwork without needing the extra time spent in Photoshop. My best advice would be to plan, practice, and focus. You will get there, some are just faster then others. Caroline: Do you think it is an essential skill to learn or can you hold your own as a fine art photographer these days without it? Jimmy: I think Photoshop is something every photographer should learn to use Caroline: Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today! I look forward to seeing more of your work!
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[fa] Photography Spotlight for Inspiration: Jimmy McRoberts
December 9, 2013
A Gift of inspiration for you… With each F.A.P Spotlight look for a link to a tutorial, texture, preset, tip or stock image! Jimmy’s gift of inspiration is this wonderful texture. It can be downloaded in the stock folder in the [fa] Photography Facebook Album! Thank you Jimmy!
Jimmy’s 411… Website: www.jmstudiosimaging.com Blog: jimmymcroberts.wordpress.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jmstudiosimaging