Issue 3 preview

INSPIRING NEXT GENERATION PHOTOGRAPHERS

ISSUE 3

Photo by MICHAEL BLANK

issue 3

avantphoto

APRIL 2016 Cover Photo: Natasha Wilson

T he m aga z ine f or m o d ern photographers

As a photographer you create images that inspire the world.

With each click, you refine your vison. With each photo, your story unfolds.

Celebrate your creative brillance and remember why you started.

-AvantPhoto Team

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS

EMILY QUACH

ISAAC ZOLLER

NASTIA CLOUTIER

BRYANT PHETHMANH

ANNA DEMARCO

RUBY JAMES

KAYLEIGH JUNE

LANE LANG

NATASHA WILSON

MATTIA DE BENEDICTIS

LYDA MCIVER

Photo by LANE LANG

MICHAEL BLANK

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E M I LY Q UAC H www.helloemy.com

Emily STARTED OFF AS A MODEL AND IS NOW a vintage and film style, independent photographer. She enjoys creating natural & sunkissed photographs as well as experimenting with colors.

Natural light is Emily’s best friend.

Snapshot Experience 7 years Genre Fashion ; PORTRAIT; LIFESTYLE Gear CANON 5D Mark II Favorite Lens Canon 50mm 1.2L

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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS

EMILY QUACH

Please share a little bit about yourself as a photographer.

As a photographer this is my creative outlet. Outside of this creative work I work full time in a hospital now currently working towards getting into optometry school. As a part time photographer, the reason why I never decided to pursue this as a full time occupation is because of the business aspect. Treating photography like a job in my situation takes away from the creative process. Therefore, I accept minimal projects depending on the theme and the creative individuals.

I hope that this continues to be a lifelong part time passion for many years to come. Everyday there are possibilities to new inspirations.

Do you have a favorite photography quote?

My own words, “capture a fragment of time for beautiful lasting memories.”

How exactly would you put your photographic style into words?

I would definitely consider my style a dreamy, modern, vintage look. The reason I call it modern is because although I use film aspects and overexposed lighting, there is a modern aesthetic to it. The styling is usually not like past time vintage, but a more simplistic, intimate look. It’s difficult to explain because like any photographer starting, we are on a search to discover our style and ourselves. I feel as though this has stuck with me because of the vibrant colors and bright sunkissed looks. All of these contribute to an uplifting, relaxed, and raw mood that is rather therapeutic in my opinion.

It must have taken a long time to establish your style. Could you share how you developed it?

Developing this strange mixture of styles did take quite some time, but since I get a lot of my editing and lighting inspiration from film photography, that was where I began. I started off with a Nikon FM2 and some expired Kodak Portra film and went off shooting wide open in the city. Film tends to come out rather soft and vibrant and occasionally overexposed. I grew more fond of the results so I invested in an actual polaroid camera and started with film reproduced by the impossible project. The results were spectacular.

Accidental light leaks became one of my favorites and portraits not in focus came out dreamy. I was on the road to discovering something I loved so much.

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When you first started, what camera did you shoot with and what are you using today?

My very first camera was the Nikon D500. I started off with a YouTube channel attempting to review beauty products, so the reversible screen was to my advantage at the time. However, it was a crop body.

I started with a simple 35mm 1.8G lens. I stuck with fashion and beauty blogging for quite some time which required a ton of self-portraits and what not, but eventually I wanted to remain behind the camera and I switched over to the Nikon D700 and strayed away from videos. Full frame was the best decision I have ever made. A bit pricy, but worth it.

However, eventually I am not sure how, but I ended up switching over to the Canon 5D2 which does have less focus points than the D700, but did the job. I was invested with my 50mm L prime and was set for portrait photography.

WHAT’S IN EMILY’S CAMERA BAG

CANON 5D MARK II

CLOTH

canon 50mm 1.2l

PRISM

REFLECTORs

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I S AA C ZOLLER www.isaaczoller.com

ISAAC ZOLLER IS A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN PHOTOGRAPHER WHO LOVES EVERY ASPECT OF PHOTOGRAPHY. FROM TRAVEL AND SURF TO PORTRAIT AND FASHION, HIS FILM STYLE BRINGS A NOSTALGIC QUALITY TO EACH IMAGE.

Snapshot Experience 12 + years Genre fashion; portrait; travel Gear CANON 5D MARK III, FUJI INSTAX FILM, CANON 50MM 1.4, CANON 300MM Favorite Lens CANON 50MM 1.4

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ISAAC ZOLLER

featured photographers

“A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.”

Please give us an intro to Issac the photographer.

I grew up in Laguna Beach. Specifically south Laguna. From a young age I would love going down to the beach and spend time shooting my friends, having fun surfing, skim boarding, and just hanging out. I went to UCSB and graduated with a degree in Film Studies. Throughout the time I spent in Santa Barbara, I was always shooting landscapes and surfing as I was always on the coast searching for waves. I would end up actually surprising myself with the shots I would come back with on my rolls of film. That area is an extremely photogenic part of California. I enjoy the sort of photos that don’t look too forced or set up. I try to show that in my work as much as possible.

How has social media played a role in your photography?

I think 99% of photographers have used social media to their advantage. It’s almost an underground community and a way for people to keep in touch as well as express themselves to a degree. There are ups and downs to having a computer in your pocket and it’s scary to think what’s going to happen to the next generation because of it. I do enjoy being able to look at any artists’ work in the history of time with a few taps of my finger. We are living in the future at this point, just replicating the past with our own twist. Everything has been done, so the way I see it is the only way to be different is to be true to yourself.

What was the most difficult part about being a photographer for you?

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featured photographers

NA S T I A CLOUTIER www.nastiacloutierignatiev.com

NASTIA IS BASED IN MONTREAL. HER PASSION IN PHOTOGRAPHY STARTED AT a ripe age of 15. SHE BEGAN PROFESSIONALY JUST A YEAR AGO and ALREADY ESTABLISHED A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE IN HER PICTURES.

Snapshot Experience 1 year Genre fashion; portraiture Gear Nikon D610, Nikkor 85mm 1.4, Nikkor 50mm 1.8, Nikkor 20mm 2.8 Favorite Lens Nikon 105 mm 2.8

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featured photographers

NASTIA CLOUTIER

Any places you’d love to travel to to take pictures?

Anywhere! I just want to travel. I don’t care about the destination. I think that any place in the world can bring something new to my photography.

What makes a picture memorable?

I think that memorable photograph are the ones that are timeless. The ones where the model are not wearing clothes you can identify to a certain time or environment they’re in. A photograph you can relate to whatever is your age, your time period, or your culture.

What are some mistakes to avoid when starting out?

If you want to get notice don’t try to imitate someone else’s style. Make your own. It takes times to really know what you like, but once you do, it will all make sense to you and you will stand out. When I started I made the mistake of trying to imitate another photographer I admire and I learned very fast that it was not a good idea.

People considered me as the ‘’cheap’’ version of the photographer I was admiring.

“I don’t care about the destination.

I think that any place in the world can bring something new to my photography.”

Please share some tips with working with models.

Make the model feel conformable, be a friend not just the person behind the camera. Get to know them and let them learn about you. To capture the natural and beautiful expressions I ask them to do everyday habits like putting their hair behind their ears, biting their nails. I also like to capture them when they are not paying attention.

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B R YANT PH E TH M ANH www.instagram.com/bryantphethmanh

BRAYNT IS A DJ AND PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CURRENTLY RESIDES IN LOUISIANA. HE’s a portrait photographer who likes to keep his shoots as natural as possible and describes his style as soft, evoking, and emotive.

Snapshot Experience 4 years Genre portrait; LIFESTYLE Gear CANON 60D, olympus om-1 Favorite Lenses CANON 85MM LII, Contax zeiss 80mm f2, pentax smc 105 f2.4

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“What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything..”

ANNA DEMARCO www.annademarcophotography.com

ANNA STARTED OUT AS A PAINTER AND ILLUSTRATOR. SHE DABBLED IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR REFERENCE IMAGES FOR HER ARTWORK AND EVENTUALLY EXPANDED INTO CREATIVE PORTRAITURE 3 YEARS AGO. SHE’S EXPERIMENTED WITH MANY DIFFERENT STYLES AND IS NOW BECOMING MORE REFINED AS AN ARTIST.

Snapshot

Tell us a little bit about yourself as a photographer.

Photography is the only thing I love. It brings me to complete mindfulness. I am completely present when I create art with my camera and have no room for other thoughts. I typically am a very anxious person.

I have a lot of nerves surrounding socializing which stems from a combination of things: I am 100% an introvert and I was bullied really badly in school. I am heavily on the spectrum for autism. One way that this manifests is that I think visually rather than verbally.

Photographs allow me to express my thoughts my way and people are able to interpret them, rather than me always trying to express my thoughts verbally in a way that is relatable to others.

Experience 3 years Genre PORTRAITURE Gear Canon 6D, 50MM 1.2, 24-105MM, REFLECTOR Favorite Lens CANON 50MM 1.2

Favorite photography quote?

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever. It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.

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What are some tips you would give to yourself if you were to start photography all over again?

Know the limits of your equipment and work within those bounds to create the best you can with the tools available to you. I know this is your own journey and you like to learn from experimentation and practice, but don’t wait until 9 months in to begin watching YouTube tutorials for editing. Start watching them immediately.

Where’s your source of inspiration?

I pull inspiration heavily from my dreams, and stories I loved when I was younger. I like to capture feelings and moods, which I have an abundance of both, which are usually driven by whatever poetry book I am reading at the moment. Right now I am obsessed (again) with Sylvia Plath so all of my images have been… sort of dark. The things people learn about themselves when they are lonely, afraid, or sad inspire me.

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ruby j a mes www.rubyjamesphoto.com

RUBY IS A SEASONED PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER. SHE LOVES DISCOVERING BEAUTY IN WHAT MAY SEEM NORMAL. SHE ENJOYS CAPTURING THE FEMALE ESSENCE IN ANY STATE. HER GOAL IS TO MAKE HER WORK FEEL AS REAL AS POSSIBLE.

Snapshot Experience 7 years Genre portraiture Gear CANON 5D MARK II, 85mm 1.2, Sigma 35mm 1.4, Nikon FM2, Polaroid Land Camera 103 Favorite Lens CANON 85MM 1.2

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RUBY JAMES

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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS

K AY L E I G H JUNE www.kayleighjune.com

KAYLEIGH BEGAN WITH TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY. IN FACT, SHE WASN’T INTERESTED IN FASHION UNTIL YEARS LATER WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THE VERSATILITY AND CREATIVITY FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY HAS to offer.ever since then, IT HAS BEEN HER MAIN FOCUS FORTHE LAST 5 YEARS.

Snapshot Experience 5 years Genre fashion Gear CANON eos 5D MARK II, CANON 85MM 1.2L, CANON 24-70MM 2.8L, CANON 50MM 1.8 Favorite Lens CANON 85MM 1.2L

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featured photographers

lane lang www.lanelang.com

Lane Lang is a photographer duo based in New York City and Beijing. Their works have been featured in Vogue China, Front Page of Vogue Italia PhotoVogue. They have unique approach to portray the women in front of their lenses. It is deeply connected with their sensitive refreshing perspective.

Snapshot Experience 7 years Genre Portraiture; fashion Gear Mamiya RZ67 + 80mm lens Polaroid back Canon 5D III Fuji X-pro1 Favorite Lens Canon 24-70MM

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How long have you guys been doing photography?

We met each other seven years ago. We, both as photographers in learning, shared the same eyes towards the world, the beauty. We started to work together because of the similarity, however, it is the difference between us that collides and inspires. We came up with name Lane Lang, because we shared the same last name.

What’s your photography genre?

We started from portraiture and still life. Now we are focusing mostly on fashion. We both are charged with experimental spirit. We both like to try out different genres, for example landscapes or documentaries.

To us, all the inspiration comes from the urge to capture and store. The fleeting moments using different materials like film and Polaroid, to reflect some enduring emotions. We try to use intense colors to interpret the outfit with a personal understanding.

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featured photographers

NATAHA W I L S ON www.deanastaciaphoto.com

Desert born and raised fashion photographer, Natasha Wilson, has had a mutual passion for art and travel her entire life. Inspired by culture and each location’s color palette, she hopes her unique perspective flows vicariously through her photographs and transports the viewer into a dream-like world.

Snapshot Experience 6 years Genre fashion; FINE ART Gear Canon 5d cANON 50MM Favorite Lens CANON 50mm

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“When people look at my pictures, I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read the line of a poem twice.�

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LY D A m C iV E R www.lydahamphotography.com

Lyda currently specializes in fashion photography, working with different fashion bloggers and boutiques for their content. She also works for Wisewear, a tech company centralized in San Antonio and works as their lifestyle and content photographer.

Snapshot Experience 5 years Genre Fashion ; LIFESTYLE; commercial Gear CANON 5D Mark II, canon 50mm Favorite Lenses Canon 35mm and 50mm

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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS

for Fun What type of music do you listen to when you edit?

I love listening to the XX, Odesza, and Leon Bridges.

What’s your favorite movie?

Just to list a few…

Dan in real life, Ruby Sparks, Kings of Summer, Gone Girl, and Side Effects.

What 5 words describes you best?

Social butterfly, genuine, joyful, sweet, and kind.

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What’s the most valuable thing in your life?

My family and friends.

Are you an introvert or extrovert?

I have come to find out that I am a huge introvert. After surrounding myself with many different people and businesses through my work day, I desperately need a few hours back at home to retreat and recharge before I head out again.

What’s your favorite food?

I love Italian food… fettuccini alfredo and real good sushi!

What’s your Favorite video game?

Mario Party and Crash Bandicoot.

What drives you to do what you do? What motivates you?

I want to create art and have people look at my work and feel inspired by it. I NEVER EVER want money and fame to be the reason for what I do. I feel when it comes to be about that, you lose the essence

of why you started shooting in the first place and the quality of your character and work. I want to always be humble, kind, sweet, and genuine in what I do and not become someone I am not because I am “getting up there.”

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featured photographers

MATTia DE B ENE DIC TIS www.mattiadebenedictis.tumblr.com

Mattia De Benedictis is a 25 year old photographer from Abruzzo, Italy. HE graduated from high school of art-Liceo artistico statale Teramo and Now he studies at ISIA-university of design and communication. AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, HE works with magazineS and blogS.

Snapshot Experience 3 years Genre portrait; fashion; FINE ART Gear NIKON D3200 Favorite Lens NIKKOR 50MM 1.8

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MATTIA DE BENEDICTIS

Aside from photography, what else do you enjoy?

I love having fun nights with my close friends and watching classic films.

What are some of the biggest mistakes beginners make when starting out?

The biggest mistake that a photographer can make is thinking that this picture is now “perfect.”

Why did you start photography?

I started photography because I enjoy visual design in general and I love images and the arts.

“I am a visual man. I watch, watch, watch.

I understand things through my eyes.”

WHAT’S IN MATTIA’S CAMERA BAG

NIKON D3200

NIKKOR 50MM 1.8

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featured photographers

M I C HA E L B L AN K www.MichaelBlankPhotography.com

MICHAEL USES HIS PHOTOGRAPHY TO EMPHASIZE THE POWER OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE BEAUTY OF REALITY. HE EXPLORES THE DEEP CONFIDENCE IN PEOPLE TO PRESENT THE BEST VERSIONS OF HIS MODELS.

Snapshot Experience 5 years Genre Portraiture; lifestyle Gear Canon 5D MARK II Favorite Lens Canon l series 70-200mm

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get the full issue available at www.avantphoto.com

INSPIRING NEXT GENERATION PHOTOGRAPHERS

SAY HELLO:

hello@avantphoto.com

@ avant_photo /avantphoto @avant_photo

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