LOST FREEDOM August 2014 by Lost Freedom

LOST FREEDOM vol. 2, issue x,| august 2014

dear readers, Originally I had two whole pages of deep contemplation about the meaning of life, of home, of youth, but in all honesty, this magazine isn’t about that, it’s about the photos and art in it. It’s taken me several months to finally get to this issue, and I’ve been scared to release it because it marks a change in Lost Freedom. In a few weeks, Natalie and I are both off to college, and we’ve decided we don’t have the time to regularly create issues. After a lot of thought, I’ve decided that I want to head in a new direction with this magazine. Instead of releasing an issue every other month as I had been doing, Lost Freedom will continue primarily as a blog, with interviews posted and updated on a weekly basis. There will be a collection twice a year of a selected few, with more in depth and personal interviews of those chosen. To be perfectly honest, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to continue this magazine, but I sure hope you will continue to read and get inspired by what I do manage to put together. For now, this is the last issue of Lost Freedom, and I apologize that it’s so late, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. It’s been a great three years working as editor in chief of Lost Freedom, and as I look back through previous issues, I’m left inspired by all the talented artists we’ve featured, knowing that there’s so many more left to be discovered. To anyone reading this - never stop creating, the world can never have too much art.

your editor in chief,

Angela Wu

STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF LAYOUT DESIGNER

Angela WU

CO-EDITOR

Natalie CHYI

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Marissa ALDEN Izzie AUSTIN Jackson GRANT Elliot HUNT Isabella KERSTENS Sebastian SANTA-MARIA

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 8TRACKS http://8tracks.com/lostfreedom INSTAGRAM @Lostfreedommagazine EMAIL lostfreedommag@hotmail.com WEBSITE http://lostfreedommagazine.com/

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Interview with the Editors Little Wanderer by Izzie Austin Margaret DUROW Dina DUBROVSKAYA Brittney PANDA Transcendence by Jackson Grant Arina VITAL Milan KROULIK Heart of Lace by Marissa Alden Adi DEKEL Karen JULES Mountain Sound by Isabella Kerstens Michael YAN Cassoday HARDER Lone Wolf by Sebastian Santa-Maria Tomislav MARCIJUS Lana KORNER Shadowlands by Elliot Hunt Magnus JORGENSEN

Cover Photograph Jackson Grant

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meet the editors:

angela wu

18 YEARS //

HTTP://WWW.ANGELAJWU.COM/

favorites:

book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind place: any rooftop color: black or teal band: The Arctic Monkeys/The 1975 quote: “Here we are trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why.”

Who are you, and why did you start Lost Freedom? Hi I’m Angela! Lost Freedom was simply a little project of mine - I wanted to create a source of inspiration for the huge web of photographers in the world. I started the first issue by contacting a few of my close friends on Flickr, asking if I could feature their work, and it just took off from there! I really love photography and design, so this magazine allowed me to do both.

In what ways do you think Lost Freedom has changed since it was created? I think this magazine has definitely grown a lot throughout these 20 issues. When I first started it, I had to actively seek out photographers to feature, emailing them and asking them if it was okay if I included their photos in the magazine. Now, however, we get dozens of emails everyday, and it’s always so difficult to choose who to feature. The layout has also developed tremendously, and each issue includes many more talented artists than the magazine did 3 years ago. Fundamentally, however, we still have the same aim - to create a collection of artwork that can serve as an inspiration for other young artists, and I hope this never changes.

How did you first begin taking photos? What role does photography play in your life? My father has always been a huge photography enthusiast, and I guess his passion rubbed off on me. I remember in my childhood photos I would always have a camera around my neck, but I started taking pictures seriously 5 years ago, when I first joined Flickr and started taking self portraits. Photography was a huge part of my life when I first started. I remember somedays on the bus ride home I would see the sun hit the trees a certain way and as soon as I got home, I would grab my camera and tripod and try to find that perfect lighting for a photo. Taking self portraits helped me get my mind off other things, and I loved trying to find isolated new locations to take new photos. I also loved taking my camera with my wherever I went, and I’d often bring it with me when I hung out with friends just so I could document my life. In the past few years, however, I’ve taken less and less pictures and I lack the motivation to create the artistic self portraits I used to love. Recently, I’ve been taking a lot more film photos because I love the anticipation of waiting for a roll to come back, and the photos always seem more real to me. Photography has also allowed me to get to know some really cool people that I otherwise wouldn’t have! I met Natalie coincidentally a few years ago, and we’ve remained good friends through working on Lost Freedom together and talking about photography. As editor, I’ve interviewed so many interesting and talented artists, and I’m always so inspired by other people’s work.

Do you have any other projects, photography or otherwise, planned for the future? Yes! Right now I’m actually working on a small clothing and accessories business that I started called Static Sound Apparel. Since I really like designing, I’ve been designing graphic t’s and selling them, which is a lot of fun for me! I’m also working on an ongoing photographic series about the idea of home and how certain environments can affect my own mood, and I hope to form a coherent series with that in the near future!

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // meet the editors: angela wu

august 2014

meet the editors:

natalie chyi

18 YEARS // HONG

KONG

HTTP://WWW.NATALIECHYI.COM/

favorites:

book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom movie: Touch of the Light (逆光飛翔) or Spirited Away place: soft beds and pretty beaches! color: green band: EXO/Shinhee quote: “Is beauty important? Maybe, sometimes, it’s boring. Maybe what’s more important is the “the interesting.” Everything that’s interesting eventually seems beautiful.” - Susan Sontag

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you become a part of Lost Freedom? What is your role as editor? Hello! My name is Natalie Chyi, I am 18 and grew up in Hong Kong. After Angela asked if I wanted to help her with an online magazine she was starting up I became a part of LF, haha. As editor I help look through submissions and pick content, look over and edit the final product after Angela’s done creating (layout and content), update the Facebook page, and manage the LF website.

How would you say Lost Freedom has changed throughout the years? I think the essence of LF hasn’t changed much, but our outreach and online presence has really grown. We started off featuring mostly artists we were friends with or are familiar with, and promoted on our own flickrs. But we ourselves are discovering new artists through the magazine now, with a presence on Facebook as well as our own website.

Your work has been featured many times in Lost Freedom as well, how would you say your photography has developed and changed since you first began? I would say that the subjects I photograph is the biggest change. I would say that my work now is more commercial and fashion, which focuses on a subject’s face. In the past, it was almost the opposite - I enjoyed shooting faceless portraits, and was more focused on the setting or arrangement of objects around the subject. My change in equipment (upgrade to a 5d, and using a variety of film cameras) is also another thing that I think has impacted my work, as well as how familiar I am now with cameras as opposed to when I first began.

>> >> >>

Do you think sharing your photography online, on Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. has has a role on both the development of your work and your own personal life? Definitely. Flickr influenced my earliest works and helped me experiment in style and editing and figure out what I enjoy doing. Knowing that other young photographers all over the world look at my work and give me feedback really gave me confidence and let me grow and improve. Facebook has helped me reach people around me and meet other local artists to collaborate with, giving me the opportunity to meet so many interesting people.

Do you plan on continuing taking photos in your future? Yes!

Do you have any other projects, photography or otherwise, planned for the future? Nothing much, I’m thinking of doing some fun short films or videos, but nothing really set in stone. I’m always up for collaborations with interesting people too, so hopefully that’s in the future!

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

little wanderer

PHOTOGRAPHER: Izzie Austin // www.izzieaustin.com // www.facebook.com/izzieaustinphotography MODEL: Coco Landini // unsigned

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // little wanderer

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // little wanderer

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Margaret Durow 24 YEARS // Wisconsin , UNITED STATES : / / m a r g a r e t d u r o w . c o m h t t p

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // margaret durow

Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from? I’m 24 years old from Madison, Wisconsin. Do you prefer shooting digital or film? Why? Both, I love my film camera because the photos look the way a memory feels, but digital lets me take more photos more easily. Do you typically edit your photos? Why or why not? Yes, I usually at least edit the tones a bit because I want them to match the way it felt to me. Is there a certain mood or tone you try to convey in your work? How would you describe it? I try to convey the way I feel, the feeling of the light, usually something dreamy and nostalgic. Tell us a bit about the favorite photo you’ve taken. The one of me in the cottage at Door County, reading a book with my cat Zebedee in the window. My family has rented the same cottage for a week in the summer, along the shore of Lake Michigan for many years. How important do you think light is to your work? What’s your ideal lighting situation? Lighting is almost everything. Capturing the light correctly is capturing the way it feels to me. I love the feeling of warm light in the afternoon, flooding a room through the window. How do you stay inspired? Going outside

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // margaret durow

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // margaret durow

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Dina

Dubrovskaya 24 YEARS // R U S S I A http://teensportraits.tumblr.com/

teens portraits At thirteen I was absolutely happy. Everything was changing for me then and yet, as I look back, nothing really happened. Yes, I grew a few centimeters taller and we started to learn physics at school, but nothing more. Nevertheless, only then I felt so acutely that I knew everything in the world and was world’s most important part. Somehow, day by day this feeling disappeared and as I turned 14 I didn’t feel blessed anymore. I have almost no photographs taken during this special year. How I wish that somebody stopped a 13-year-old me, made me look into the camera and asked me what I was thinking about at that particular moment. That’s what I am doing within my project. I am trying to create a catalog of faces that will change so soon, a list of thoughts that will be so surprising for their owners in just a couple of years. Looking at these girls I remember how it felt then. Some of them are thirteen like I was, some of them are older. They are different and yet there’s something that makes them look alike. They are all sisters of 13-year-old me.

Katya, 12

august 2014

Lera, 12

Anya, 14

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // dina dubrovskaya

Vika, 13

Alexandra, 12

Lada, 14

august 2014

Anya, 13

Arina, 14

august 2014

Brittney Panda

// NEW JERSEY h t t p : / / b r i t t n e y p a n d a . c o m Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from? Hi! I’m Brittney, I live in New Jersey and my age is a mystery. When did you first begin taking photos? Around 2011 I believe. How has your interest for photography changed since then? I’ve become wildly passionate about it. What used to be just a hobby with friends became my life. You seem to take a lot of photos in abandoned buildings - how do you go about finding locations to shoot at? Yes! They are my favorite. I find them by driving around, hearing about them from friends, or looking around the internet.

“

Just keep shooting til your fingers go numb.

Have you ever been caught during a shoot? Yes! So many times. Most recently by the police, and the time before that by a homeless squatter living in the house I was shooting in. it’s either really embarrassing or it gets me in trouble. Never a good experience! Would you say there’s a theme or message you try to portray through your photos? If so, what would it be? No, not really all of them as a whole. Sometimes there is one within a series that I have in mind, but it’s always more interesting to see how people interpret them on their own. Do you prefer taking self portraits over portraits of others? Why or why not? Self portraits are always my favorite because I have complete control over the whole image and I can be alone during the entire process. I can also spend as much time as I need to perfect everything without feeling any pressure. But taking pictures of other people also has it’s advantages. I can get more photos out of the shoot and it’s definitely a lot less running back and forth. How do you manage to stay inspired? I think it would be hard to keep myself from being inspired. There’s always a new dress, location, pose, or even the weather that makes me feel the need to drop everything I’m doing and go shoot. What advice would you give other photographers who are just starting out? Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t get discouraged when something doesn’t come out the way you expected. Just keep shooting til your fingers go numb.

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

transcendence

PHOTOGRAPHER/STYLIST: Jackson Grant // http://jjacksongrantt.com MODEL: Jo Giles and FRM STYLIST: Kate Fisher // MUA: Ayrlie Lane

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // transcendence

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Arina Vital 24 YEARS h t t p : / / w w w .

Introduce yourself. What else do you enjoy apart from photography? Hello, my name is Arina Vital, I’m 24 and I live in Salvador, Brazil. I enjoy taking walks around, deserted shorelines and windy days. I’m also an architecture student. Do you primarily shoot with digital or film? Do you prefer one over the other? I’ve only started shooting film a few months ago... and found out it suits me better than digital. ‘There’s something romantic about film’s unexpected nature that thrills me. The funny part is that, at first, I thought “I’m only using film when I’m really sure of what I’m doing and will keep digital for experimentation”. Now I think film is more prone to experimentation than digital. It actually forces you into experimentation with each roll.

Salvador,

a r i n a v i t a l

BRAZIL . c o m

Your photos seem to have a really dreamy feel to them - was this intentional? Is there a certain idea or concept you aim to portray? Well, I ask myself the same sometimes, but I still don’t know. Yes, there are some feelings I like to portray, but I’m not pursuing any concept right now. Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? Why? I like shooting anyone I can trust and feel confortable around. And I tend to think that every photo carries a bit of myself in it. Who or what inspires you? Other photographers, beautiful natural light... cloudy and rainy days have an special effect over me.

“

I tend to think that every photo carries a bit of myself in it.

“

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

august 2014

Milan Kroulík

28 YEARS // Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC http://www.flickr.com/skritek

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // milan kroulĂk

Introduce yourself. Tell us a bit about your interests apart from photography. I have been living in Prague for a couple of years. I study religious sciences, which I greatly enjoy. Also, I am a cinephile and I try to read as much high literature and philosophy as possible. Like many of my friends, I enjoy drinking beers and pretending to be an intellectual. I wanted to be a drifter, I felt I had to be. Now I try to abandon any desires.

What role does photography play in your life? Photography for me is important, because through it I train myself to look more carefully at what surrounds me. It also enables me to take a step back and reflect. As a creative outlet it helps me overcome some of my doubts about my ability of creating meaning. When and why did you first begin taking pictures? I used to have a small semi-automatic Minolta while growing up. I am pretty sure that none of these photos have survived. Or perhaps I just want to be sure. I took up my dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SLR about three years ago and have never regretted it since. Why do you prefer shooting film over digital? Film has this ephemeral texture, which glossy digital lacks. Different films render moods differently, I like exploring that. The main advantage however is that the limited number of photos on a film and the delayed knowledge of the results forces a stronger engagement with the world than the theoretically unlimited retakes one has with digital.

How important do you think light is in your work? Describe your ideal lighting situation. Light is the most important factor for me whenever I decide something is worth the effort. The way objects emerge differently due to minute shifts in the way light falls on them fascinates me endlessly. I do not have an ideal situation per se. I am not one to create a scene in front of the camera and then shoot it. Do you prefer taking portraits or landscapes? Why? When I do photography I tend to consider the relation between objects in a frame, and not the objects in themselves. Therefore I cannot say that I have a clear preference for either landscape or portrait. My adoration of the contemplative tradition in cinema admittedly does shift my interest toward long shots. Why do you create? Seeing some tangible output come out of this transient life gives me brief moments of peace. Sometimes.

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Seeing some tangible output come out of this transient life gives me brief moments of peace. Sometimes.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // milan kroulík

august 2014

heart of lace

PHOTOGRAPHER/STYLIST: Marissa Alden ASSISTANT: Darcy Alden // MODEL: Emma Sim

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // heart of lace

august 2014

18 YEARS // ISRAEL https://www.flickr.com/adidekel/

Adi Dekel

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

august 2014

Introduce yourself. Who are you? I’m Adi, a 18 year old from Israel, exploring and discovering the universe and myself. When and why did you first begin taking photos? I always liked to take pictures, but it used to be for capturing people places and moments. In the age of 13 I got my first dslr and I started to take pictures of everything I find pretty, from views to flowers to people and situations on the street but only in the last couple of years I discovered the art of create and express through photography, from just taking pictures I started to create pictures, and I just loved it. I’ve noticed that the use of flowers is prevalent in a lot of your photos. Is this intentional? If so, why? At first I didn’t even notice it until one day I entered my flickr stream and suddenly I was like “gee I really use flowers a lot” but I loved it, I think flowers are full of beauty and it just became my thing, I don’t think that a lot of people notice my constant use of flowers in my work because and it’s not really intentionally but flowers are in every single way my favorite prop to use, I feel like they add magic and beauty to everything. Do you always plan your shoots beforehand? If so, do you think this is helpful? When I just started almost all I did was self portraiture, so most of my shoots weren’t planned, I took most shoots in my house or my surrounding and they were just creation of the moment. Later on I started to change my way of doing things, I wanted to do different things and so first I created myself a picture in my mind of what I want the final picture to be and I after I knew what I want and need I started planning and shooting. I do think it’s helpful to plan beforehand, if it’s suits you, I think it helps to focus on what you really need and not “waste” time and photos to try to reach something you don’t know what it is, but it’s important to keep on being open minded and spontaneous. Do you prefer taking self portraits or portraits of others? Why? If you’d ask me a year ago I would tell you self portraiture, even though it was never very easy for me, mentally and physically, it was something that really helped me with my journey through life, with accepting myself. “Exposing” myself through the camera was a part of my blooming in times I really needed to. But honestly today I’m not feeling comfortable doing it anymore and taking pictures of others let me create a lot more then I could ever with myself, due my very high self criticism, criticizing myself as a photographer and as a model just got to a point where it’s way too much for me. Today I’m completely in love with taking other people pictures, it brought me back my passion to create and I can’t wait to gain more and more experiences. Who or what are your greatest inspirations? My biggest inspiration is everything, from specific photographers, to all artists, to the way the light is shining and the color of this flower i’ve seen yesterday. Inspiration comes from everything, anytime any day, I just keep my eyes and mind open to observe it. Do you have any photo series or ideas planned for the future? I do actually! I have some pictures in my mind I can’t wait to create and shoot already, meanwhile I keep recreating, changing and adding things to them. I’m also starting to get into and discover the world of fashion photography and so I have pretty much lots of photography future plans but the biggest one is to keep on growing, learning and improving each and every day.

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Karen Jules

18 YEARS // BELGIUM h t t p :// w w w . fac e b o o k . c o m / k a r e n j p h oto g r a p h y

We featured Karen Jules in our very first issue of Lost Freedom 3 whole years ago. It’s incredible to see how much her work has grown through these years, and we asked her a few questions about how social media and the face of photography has changed as well through this time. Tell us a little bit about yourself, how did you first get interested in photography? Hi, I’m Karen. I’m currently eighteen years old and living in Belgium. My life is defined by an abundance of books, a dream to see the whole world and a strong urge to document my life, both in photography and in writing. (Though one is a bit more personal than the other.) I discovered photography when I found out about the macro button on my little point and shoot and fell in love with capturing and creating when I found Flickr and the community behind it. That’s what really did it for me. My work was in its very first stages and was nowhere near good, but I made amazing friends on Flickr that were better than me but still took the time to help me out with my photos. They constantly pushed me to get better and to never be satisfied with what you create.

How do you think photo sharing sites (ie Flickr, Tumblr, Facebook, etc.) have changed in the past few years? I think this is something that has undergone a great change in the past few years, but it’s something that is presently still changing. When I first got into photography, the community was mostly active on Flickr. It was a quite closed environment and there was a lot of room for new photographers. In the past few years, photography has moved to Facebook, at least in my opinion. While Flickr was a place where photographers showed their work to each other, Facebook is really an open platform where non-photographers also get involved. I definitely don’t see this as a bad thing, I think it’s wonderful. But of course I think that every photographer sometimes longs to his or her carefree, low-pressure days on Flickr. Though I definitely see the benefits of Facebook (the fan pages, in particular). As for Tumblr, I have very mixed feelings about it. Though it’s a platform that allows photographers to reach a very broad audience, it also makes tracking your work significantly harder. Credits are easily removed, which is obviously not beneficial for the photographers themselves. Though I feel as if the credit/recognition issue is a side effect of posting your work online. I definitely don’t support it, but I do recognize that the internet is a difficult place to regulate and that when someone posts something, no matter what art form, online, they enter into an unwritten contract with the internet that there will always be a risk that their work is stolen and copied online without their consent.

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // karen jules I’ve noticed that many Flickr photographers have since given up on photography or have been taking less and less pictures. How have you managed to stay inspired to keep creating? Sometimes I wonder if I’m the right person to ask. Because I surely still photograph, but in the past years, photography has been taking up less and less of my actual free time. This is the case because, of course, I have less free time than I used to when I was fifteen. But I think it’s also because the kind of photography that a lot of Flickr photographers fell in love with was the kind of photography that involved them going to the forest and doing crazy things there, like climbing in trees or doing countless hairflips until you get one that’s just right. And growing up, it’s just something that becomes less selfevident or natural. Doing these (slightly) crazy things might still be fun, but they simply aren’t the most logical thing to do anymore. And as you can see, a lot of Flickr photographers from a few years ago are still shooting, and some of them still venture into woods to create the most incredible photographs. But others are still photographing, but they’ve focused on fashion photography or even use more studio lighting. Some Flickr photographers simply didn’t replace that exploring and photographing with another kind of photography when they grew out/tired of their original kind of photography. Personally, my photography changed a lot, and in the past few years, I’ve just been looking for my favourite kind of photography. A lot of people get lost in this search, but if you ever get out of it, you find what type of photography (or what type of art in general) keeps you inspired without giving it much thought. It’s about finding something that doesn’t need encouragement, but what encourages you.

“

I remember specif ic days on which I took pictures in my grandfather’s garden or climbing trees or exploring forests to get that one picture.

Do you think your work has changed a lot since we first featured you in Lost Freedom almost 3 years ago? How so? I definitely think my work has changed. Essentially because I’ve changed too. Creative processes change over time, I think that’s inevitable. Three years ago, I was more focused on pleasing others, but also on creating, endlessly. I wanted to take more photos and do more and get better. Of course, I still want to photograph and continuously improve, but I’ve calmed down a little bit. I still get that irresistible urge to pick up my camera and photograph, but that’s mostly when I’m in an extraordinary location. While travelling, for example. Three years ago, I felt this urge almost every day. Photography was a more present factor in my life, though, through all the years, it hasn’t become less important to me. I just found a balance between living my life and wanting to capture it. Do you have any photography experiences that are particularly memorable? The experiences are endless. I remember the little moments, especially. I remember specific days on which I took pictures in my grandfather’s garden or climbing trees or exploring forests to get that one picture. I just realized that a lot of my very vivid memories contain water. Lying in the sea in Dubai, surrounded by tall buildings, or trying not to freeze in a waterfall in the Alps. Maybe that’s because I’ve always found working with water very challenging. So when I succeed, it stays with me more presently. What role does photography have in your life? Do you think you’ll continue it in the coming years? Photography used to be my way of expressing my feelings, a way to let everything out. But as I’ve grown older, I relied on photography just to capture life. To document my adventures, the people I love and the places I’ve been. It’s less about capturing emotions and more about remembering my life. At least, that’s the travel photography part. As for my other kind of photography, which I guess is a mix between fine art and fashion photography, it’s more important for me to convey emotions through my images, because that, for me, is the essence of that part of my work.

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // karen jules

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

mountain sound PHOTOGRAPHER/STYLIST: Isabella Kerstens

ASSISTANT: Gab Portocarrero // MODELS: Elyse, Rachael, Janae

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Michael Yan

22 YEARS // UNITED STATES h t t p :// w w w . ca rg o c o l l e c t i v e . c o m / m ic h a e lya n

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // michael yan

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What are some things you do in your free time apart from photography? I’m probably either reading a book, maybe playing a game, or catching up on TV shows. It’s not a very exciting answer, is it? I consider myself pretty introverted and handle things, like my free time, a bit differently I suppose. I like hanging out with friends, but once in a while I enjoy just staying at home and doing whatever I feel like by myself to relax. I love reading blogs as well, particularly fashion blogs. I like reading how other people experience fashion and how it influences their lives. Do you primarily shoot with digital or film? Do you prefer one over the other? That’s a tough decision! All of my earlier photos are actually film. When I first started taking pictures, I didn’t understand how digital cameras worked, so I started taking pictures using my dad’s old film camera. I already knew how to use a film camera, so it was easier for me to work with right from the start. While I did gain experience, film proved to be too expensive to be a viable option for me. I’m not sure if I can say I prefer one over the other as both are great mediums for photography. Financially, I do enjoy digital more

than film because it’s so much cheaper than developing each roll. I’ve also grown too accustomed to being able view my photos instantly and have feedback on the spot. On the other hand, I still love film because it’s what I used when I first started taking pictures and what I grew up on until DSLR cameras were invented. Film has a special nostalgic quality to it that you can’t reproduce digitally. Also, that feeling I got when I opened an envelope of freshly developed photos was always so exciting. I guess I’ve just become used to the instant gratification of digital. I’ve noticed you’ve traveled to quite a few places - tell us a bit about your travels, what country did you like the most? Yes, I love traveling! Fortunately, my parents loved traveling as well, so I was able to visit many places when I was younger. Some of the major cities I’ve visited were Barcelona, Bruges, Quebec, Paris, Lyon, New York, and a few other smaller places during my travels in Europe. I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to visit so many places. My favorite country that I have visited so far would have to be France. I actually studied abroad in France last winter too, which is where a lot of my photos came from. My study abroad experience there actually helped motivate and inspire me to pursue my photography even further. I had been taking pictures on and off for a few years, but I still didn’t have any sense of direction or style with my pictures. It really wasn’t until I lived in France during my study abroad that I was truly able to pick up my camera and shoot what I wanted with confidence. I think much of it had to do with the fact that I knew I was only staying there temporarily, so I constantly felt the need that I had to document and keep hold of these moments now, or I might not have the chance ever again. So everyday I would just pick up my camera and take a picture of

something, anything around me that caught my eye. It was tiring at times, but I gained the experience that I needed. Sure I could visit these places again someday if I wanted to, but traveling is expensive! Why not take the opportunity when you have it right there in front of you? If you could visit any city, where would it be and why? Los Angeles. I’ve done a lot of traveling abroad and I feel like I would want to do some domestic travels now. Many people tend to think that Europe is the only place that people want to travel to, and they forget that we have some great places right here in America too. Los Angeles has always been my number one place to visit in the U.S. I don’t know what it is about that city that I want to visit so badly. I think part of it is because I have this romanticized vision of Los Angeles. When I was younger, I always pictured Los Angeles as this glamorous Hollywood city, and California as this relaxed, sunny state by the beach, just like in the movies. Of course I know it’s probably not really like that, as we tend to project what we want on places we’ve never visited before. Still, I would love to visit Los Angeles and take a trip down to Venice Beach to see the Pacific Ocean with my own eyes someday. How often do you take pictures? Not as often as I should! Although I love capturing moments with my camera, I only do it when the mood really strikes me. If I have a certain idea in my head for a shot, I’ll go out and shoot some pictures. Other times, I feel spontaneous and bring my camera with me if I’m going out. If I don’t feel particularly motivated or inspired, I wait until I am. It might not sound very practical, but for me it’s better than trying to take pictures uninspired and ending up not happy with any of the shots. So basically, the short

answer would be that I just take pictures whenever I feel like it! Tell us a bit about one of your favorite experiences, photography related or otherwise. When we got an apartment in Manhattan eight years ago. I’m originally from New Jersey and my parents worked in New York, so we’d go back and forth between states often. I went to New York whenever I had the chance because my town was really small and pretty boring. I was fortunate that the city was only about an hour or so away, so getting there was never a problem. Still, my visits were limited to just day trips, so it was great being able to stay in the city longer than just a few hours a day during the weekends and the summer. Why do you think it’s important to document your memories with photos? You can never revisit the past, but you can save that memory in a photo forever. Taking pictures helps preserve these moments in your life and allows you to share them with no words required. I know someday I’ll look back and really appreciate the fact that I documented these moments in my life in pictures.

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // michael yan

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // michael yan

august 2014

20 YEARS // Kansas, UNITED STATES https :// www . flickr . com / photos / cassodayann /

Cassoday Harder

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

august 2014

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What are some things you do in your free time apart from photography? I’m Cassoday, I’m twenty and I’m from Wichita, Kansas. How and when did you first start taking photos seriously? How did social media websites such as Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. contribute to the development of your work? I’ve been intrigued with cameras and photographs since my childhood. My mother took photos as a hobby while I was growing up, so I’ve always been exposed to cameras and the way they work. I think there was a moment in my early teens when I thought, “okay, I love this, this is what I want to do, and I want to become better at it.” I would come home from school and shoot until the light was gone. And I’ve been in love ever since. As far as social media websites go, Flickr was a big part of getting my name out there and gathering inspiration. The fact that you can tag and add your photos to groups for more people to see is extremely useful for new photographers. Flickr is amazing in that aspect; the fact that people all over the world can see your photos with ease. Tumblr and Instagram have been great outlets for me, as well, although I started using both relatively recently. Do you think photo sharing sites have changed throughout the past few years? If so, how? They have, definitely. Flickr has become more obsolete year by year in a lot of ways, so a lot of photographers have stopped using it as frequently. I think Tumblr has become more popular for photographers. For me, Tumblr is the easiest to use, so it’s my preferred outlet. I really enjoy social media, it’s extremely useful for what I do, and it’s changing all the time. What role does photography play in your life? Do you think you take photos are frequently as you used to? It is everything, photography is all. It’s always been there for me and I can’t really imagine

myself without it, it’s shaped me in a lot of ways. It honestly just makes me more and more aware of everything all the time, I’m extremely proud of what I do. I fell out of taking photos daily for a while in high school, which I regret quite a bit. But I’m photographing almost daily again; I think it’s important for me to photograph a lot of boring, mundane details of my life as well as the important ones. How do you think you would’ve described your photography in terms of style and aesthetic when you shot the cover for Lost Freedom’s first issue? How would you describe it now? I think my style is relatively similar, I just think I’ve grown as a person and a photographer, and it shows. Do you primarily shoot digital or film? Do you prefer one over the other? Always film, almost always. Film is my love. The aesthetic of it is so different and nostalgic; it’s very difficult to replicate. It’s very personal, I think, it looks so much more real and honest. There are obvious pros and cons to using both, but over the years film has always weighed out for me. What advice would you give other photographers who are just starting out? Take pictures of whatever you want, don’t worry too much about the rules or your equipment, and don’t get too down on yourself. Ultimately, the best advice is to shoot every day, it’s the only way to get better!

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // cassoday harder

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // cassoday harder

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

lone wolf PHOTOGRAPHER: Sebastian Santa-Maria (www.ssmphoto.co.uk)

STYLIST: Rosario Rodriguez MUA/HAIR: Shamirah Sairally (www.shamirahsairally.com) MODEL: Mimi Labouchere (Oxygen Models, London)

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // lone wolf

august 2014

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

Tomislav Marcijus 23 YEARS // C ROAT I A h t t p :// ca rg o c o l l e c t i v e . c o m / to m i s l av m a rc i j u s Introduce yourself. How old are you and where are you from? My name is Tomislav Marcijus, I am 23 years old. I’m a freelance photographer. I live in Croatia in a small village near Osijek called Darda. How and when did you first begin taking pictures? Four years ago I started doing photography, in the beginning I wanted to make my pictures look different and they have something that will attract people to look at and that pleases them. Exploring the internet, I found lomography and I decided to afford some old lomo camera and start with that. The first such camera was my Smena 8M and so it all began, although over the years, my style changed. I’m currently using Zenith 11 for photography. How do you think photography has an impact on your life? A picture speaks a thousand words. It is a human memory, and for me, certain human condition. For me, photography affected as one positive thing that makes me happier and it is something that does not disappoint. It has helped me to I express different and sometimes depict different things. Therefore, I can better see interesting things that before maybe I was not paying attention. Why do you prefer using film or digital? I prefer film because, analogous to the photographs can get a better atmosphere without filters and effects. Analog photos show the space who breathes behind the things that are in focus and makes the image richer. With analogue

photography can be more experimenting in relation to digital photography. If you could photograph anyone, who would it be and why? Timothy Svensson Zachrisson, better known as Lykke Li. I’d like to photograph a lot of people and I believe that we all want it and those who are engaged in professional and amateur photography. I currently choose Lykke Li because of her music videos in which I see a lot of emotions and feelings that transmitted by to your work through words and performance. This is what I wrote, can best be seen in her new music videos “I Never Learn” and an unplugged version, the song “Gunshot”. How do you stay inspired? A person needs to have something in life you will love no matter what and you will never leave. Everything good that happens to you is to be transferred to something that you like. Everything bad that happens, you need to suppress and dismiss with something what you like. For me it is a photography. For her, there is always the inspiration because I love her, and on her, I can convey whatever I want because, she will be a representation of something, respectively,show the state in which I am currently. My work shows me, and always be something that I will be able to devote whatever the situation was. If you love something, inspiration will not leave, but will from day to day will more and more grow!

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // tomislav marcijus

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Lana Körner

18 YEARS // G E R M A N Y http://flickr.com/photos/lanaisabella For those who have been following Lost Freedom since the very beginning, you’ll remember that we featured Lana’s work in our very first issue, almost three years ago. Since then, both the magazine and Lana’s photography have changed and developed, and we did a short interview with her about such changes.

Introduce yourself. Who are you? I’m a 18 year old girl from Germany and just graduated. Apart from photography I love reading, traveling, cooking, working out and watching tv series. How do you think photo sharing sites (ie Flickr, Tumblr, Facebook, etc.) have changed in the past few years? Has this had an impact on your work in any way? I think that it has become a lot more easier for non-professionals and amateurs to start a business with photography by raising the attention of thousands. Sometimes all you need is just one good shot and it will flood all over the social networks. Which is in my opinion a great thing. Especially Instagram but also Flickr and Tumblr had an big impact on my work. They made it possible for people all over the world to find my photography and to share them and so the number of people recognizing my work is steadily growing, which makes me super happy. But one shouldn’t forget that it has also become a lot easier for people to steal your work and claim it as their own. However the greatest feature of these networks is that I found and find a lot of new amazing photographers through them and get inspired every day. I’ve noticed that many Flickr photographers have since given up on photography or have been taking less and less pictures. How have you managed to stay inspired to keep creating? That’s true. I have to admit that I’m struggling myself sometimes with continually shooting. But the social networks, nature and of course traveling are an huge inspiration.

Do you think your work has changed a lot since we first featured you in Lost Freedom almost 3 years ago? How so? I might have gotten slightly better with editing my images in just a few clicks and I started with portraying others and not just myself. I even shot a wedding which I’m especially proud of. What role does photography have in your life? Do you think you’ll continue it in the coming years? I sure will. Photography is still my tower of strength in rough times and also my source of inspiration in life. If you could give any advice to those who are just getting started with photography, what would it be? Have fun and try to find your own style. Copying someone else’s work won’t make you happy.

LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // lana korner

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE //

shadowlands

PHOTOGRAPHER: Elliot Hunt // MODEL: Caitlin Sclater

DESIGNER: Holly&Ivy by Holly Walters // MAKE UP: Steph Tee Makeup // JEWELERY: Ruusk CLOTHING CREDITS: Holly&Ivy Cut out Coat Holly&Ivy Navy Cropped Jacket Holly&Ivy Blue Insert Racer Top Holly&Ivy Angular Linen Skirt STYLING EXTRAS: Manning Cartell â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Loaded With Music Pants Manning Cartell Metallic Bra Manning Cartell Boots Kookai Heels

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // shadowlands

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LOST FREEDOM MAGAZINE // shadowlands

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Magnus Jorgensen 17 YEARS // C A N A D A h t t p s : / / w w w . f l ic k r . c o m / t h e _ l a s t _ m ag n u s / Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you? My name is Magnus Jorgensen, and I’m a 17 year old amateur photographer from Canada, currently living in England. I love going to places I’ve never been before, and my camera is basically an extension of my body. How did you first begin photography? How has your work changed since then? My parents were the adventurous type, and some of my earliest memories are of my mother’s passion for photography as we travelled the globe, and thanks to her, my childhood is fully documented in dozens of photo albums. I recieved my first DSLR (a Canon Rebel XS) for my 12th birthday, and inherited my mother’s, previously my grandfather’s, Pentax ME Super about one year ago. So began my hobby, which turned into my love for photography. At first, I was in awe of surreal photography, but as a grew up a bit, I drifted away from all that, and started just taking photos of life as I lived it. Recently, I’ve focused almost entirely on 35mm photography and Polaroids. What’s in your camera bag? My backpack doubles as my camera bag when needed, and inside you’ll find my trusty Pentax ME Super with my nifty 50mm f/1.4, my most used lens. This varies by occasion, but I may have my zoom lens, or my wide

angle 28mm f/2.8. You can never have enough 35mm film, so I’ll have 2 or 3 rolls, maybe some disposables. I try to travel light. Why do you prefer shooting film over digital? It’s difficult to explain why I prefer film over digital photography; I suppose it’s the sincerity of it all. You have to work a bit harder to get the photos you want, you can’t just delete them afterwards. There’s something so satisfying about holding the developed photos in your hands, and honestly, I like being ‘that guy with the film camera.’ Would you say your photos are more candid or staged? My photos are definitely more candid. If I see something that I want to remember, then I’ll take a photo of it. A few of my friends take art and photography in school (I don’t), so I will often tag along on their shoots, and take photos of the whole process. I bring my camera everywhere with me, so I’ll never miss an opportunity. Do you prefer taking portraits or landscapes? Why? I prefer taking portraits, but that’s not to say I don’t like landscapes, but I honestly find photographs of people more intriguing. I try to find beauty in everything around me, whether that be of people or places or something entirely different. How do you stay inspired? Ever since my passion for photography started, I began to see everything as an opportunity for a photo. I would be walking down the street or staring out of a window I’d stared out of thousands of times before, but I began to see things differently. I’d think about the composition, the framing, and soon enough, I was forced to keep my camera close at all time just so that it could keep up with my brain. Song lyrics give me inspiration, the work of the other artists, the desire to look at a photo of yours and feel pride. I take photos because I want to preserve the moments in time that I wish I could live in forever.

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