We Are Alive Magazine September 2012

credits editor-in-chief Keerthana Byreddy

front and back covers Gabrielle Angeline photography

adjacent page Marta Syrko

page four Corinne Perry

page eight Lucia Moretti

all inquires: wearealivemagazine@gmail.com Blog: wearealivemag.tumblr.com facebook: We Are Alive Magazine twitter: @WeAreAliveMag Š We Are Alive Magazine 2012 All Rights Reserved

contents 06 Letter from the Editor 08 Cover Feature: Gabrielle Angeline 22 Feature: Olga Valeska 36 Feature: Corinne Perry 48 Feature: Jannah Velma Noir 56 Photography Series: Scrambling Noon 68 Feature: Lucia Moretti 84 Photography Series: Jessica Nguyen

To the lover, creators, & dreamers: As the summer ends, and the fall starts, many things end, but many things begin. The leaves start to change their colors, gracing us with the richest of yellows, oranges, and reds. A soft chill begins to grace the air, and the night starts to roll in. Not to mention of course school.

Fall is not terrible however. It is a beautiful time of year, full of wonder and change. This issue tries to show off both of those ideas: wonder and change.

I’m certain you will delight in these artists and their beautiful work.

Hope, Love, and Dreams Keerthana

Gabrielle Angeline

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I'm 16, turning 17 in October this

starting point for my photography, because I began to shoot all the time after that.

What do you try to show through ally love playing softball, tennis and your photographs? year. Apart from photography, I reguitar. I frequently hike or go on long walks, and I love writing (letters especially). I'm of Chinese, Irish, Lebanese and Filipino descent, and I currently reside in Hong Kong.

How did you first start out taking photographs?

It's a funny story, actually. I received my first basic DSLR about 2 to 2 1/2 years ago, with a kit lens (18-55mm). Around September of 2010, I broke the kit lens by accident. I wasn't really into photography around then so I didn't think much of it, but my dad got me a cheaper lens (a 50mm f/1.8) at around Christmastime of the same year, warning me not to break that lens too. I decided to try it out and I ended up loving the lens and I loved the way my photos were coming out. That was really the

Rawness of emotion. At first I wasn't entirely sure what people saw in my photographs, but after asking around, a lot of people said there's an expressiveness and a ingenuity with my models. Personally, I love seeing when photographers can express that in their photos, too. I love seeing real emotions instead of just a stony expression. A person's facial expression alone can really tell a story.

Who inspires you? Why? Many people! In terms of photographers, I really love Cat Lane, Julia Trotti, Nirrimi (but who doesn't?), Annie Leibovitz, Akif Hakan Celebi, and Steven Meisel. But aside from them, I am also inspired by Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Art House films.

The photographers each have their

Art House films are probably the

own uniqueness that I have found

one genre of film that I can sit

myself very drawn to. Some are

through no matter what. They al-

young, like Cat and Julia and Nirri-

ways have these wonderful themes

mi, yet they have accomplished so

of young souls who go out into the

much and they have proven that no world and live their lives the way matter what age you begin taking

they want. They don't care who

pictures, you can take beautiful

tries to bring them down, they just

ones and you CAN find success.

do what their hearts tell them and

Others like Leibovitz and Celebi

go where their lives carry them. It's

and Mr. Meisel have accomplished

beautiful to watch and it puts this

so much already in all their years

warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart.

that they have their own styles that are so unique and ultimately their own.

The actresses I mentioned inspire me differently. Women like Meryl Streep and Julie Andrews started out young, and have really made something of themselves while maintaining their poise and values.

That is something I will always respect and look up to: strong women. Meanwhile, Hepburn and Monroe are simply two of history's most stunning and talented women

What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve?

I've had a few of my pictures appear in the newspaper, magazines and on PhotoVogue, and I've been approached numerous times by small companies and student designers who want to collaborate and who love my work. I've already managed to make my photography into a little business, earning small cash to buy my own equipment.

- they had so much wisdom and

I haven't told many people this, but

talent to offer people and they did

it's honestly my biggest dream to

not take it for granted.

become a working photographer

for National Geographic. I know my work right now doesn't really embody what they normally 'do', but I would give so much to travel the world, meet amazing people and take pictures that can really tell stories, and record documentaries for them too.

How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then?

Only for about a year and a half.

And oh yes, my work has definitely progressed since I began taking pictures. I've improved both in my processing and just in coming up with newer, more creative themes and concepts. I've become a lot more bold with the ideas that I try.

For example, now I go out and make the effort to find horses to shoot with, or I go buy supplies and make my own headdresses and other props for my models to wear.

I try to go the extra mile now to make my pictures better and more presentable.

How has being a photographer im-

pacted your life and/or personality?

A few years back, I wasn't satisfied with my life at all. I wasn't very happy in school. I wasn't nice to people and some people weren't nice to me. I was very depressed and very angry all the time, and photography proved to be a very healthy outlet for me. I began noticing that with the amount of time and effort I put into it, the less anger and sadness I felt. Photography has, in a sense, saved me from myself, if that makes sense. I found something in my life that makes sense to me for a change, and it makes me feel secure. I take pictures because it brings me the greatest joy knowing that I can create beautiful things, and that is something that nobody can EVER take away from me.

What is your favorite music/ movie/book? Why? I like a lot of underground music that people have seldom heard of.

Of course I love some of the more

well-known stuff too; bands like Stars and Death Cab for Cutie. I have recently submersed myself in a lot of music with lyrics that I can connect with on a personal level. My absolute favorite song though is probably a tie between Your Ex-Lover is Dead by Stars, and HoppĂ­polla by Sigur Ros. Both are quite different both in mood, lyrics and even language, but they both are so beautiful to listen to.

What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related?

Perhaps writing a book, or learning how to ballroom dance like a professional. That would be wonderful.

Any other random things about yourself?

I can put my leg behind my head, wanna see? :) //

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I’m 21 years old, I live in France and as a passionate person, I’ve got a lot of hobbies. I like creating costumes, reading, writing, painting, drawing, sculpting, decorating, building huts, playing, dreaming, thinking, climbing trees, being in nature‌ and so many others things!

How did you first start out taking photographs?

I discovered photography three or four years ago. But at first I was not interested in it that much. I had never imagined or dreamed of being a photographer. The technical aspect bothered me and it seemed that one could not be as creative as in drawing, painting or sculpting. I did not see the interest of transcribe this reality that did not satisfy me in image. And then one day I realized, belatedly, that I could invent my own set scenes, shoot my own pictures. So it has only been a year since I really started photography.

What do you try to show through your photographs?

that all these things are true. Finally, there is some form of exorcism in some pictures: everything that torments me, my thoughts, my existential questions, I pour them into the photos, like an outlet.

Who inspires you? Why? There are no real people in particular and even fewer photographers who inspire me. It's pretty selfish but I try to stay as close to myself as possible, to go further in my own world. But of course I am nourished by everything I've read or seen since I was little. I had an education both strict and whimsical. My parents have given me the desire to excel, to create by myself, to be innovative. At home there was no television, and everything was very “traditional�. So I spent my childhood immersed in my imagination, novels and art books.

Artists who have marked me are painters, poets, writers, musicians, philosophers, heroes from fairy tales and legends, historical figures, Gods ...

Actually, I do not really want to show something, nor to convey a message. I need to do all these things without really knowing why.

But there has always been in my head a whole universe, and I feel the need to keep it alive. With the photograph, including the selfportrait, I feel I can immortalize moments of dreams, I can really What have you already achieved travel in my world and I can believe

as a photographer and what more

would you like to achieve?

For now, it does not seem to me that I have accomplished much, and that's just what makes me want to continue. There are so many dreams in me that I feel a lifetime would not be enough to achieve them. And I have so many projects every day ... It would take too long to explain!

complete solitude.

How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality?

I think that I have not changed more than that. I've always been a very creative person, and I try my hand at everything. Also I do not consider myself especially as a photographer. What I like to do is

How long have you been shooting, create worlds, moods, images ... and how do you think your work But photography allows me to be has changed since then?

So it's been one year since I do photography regularly and it became a profession. What has radically changed is that now I improvise a lot less and I make photographs often depending on the final result. And finally, I somehow regret my beginnings: I invented stories, I was playing all alone ...

Taking pictures was finally an excuse, what was the most important was to dream. Now photography is my profession and I am more exposed: my photos are viewed by others, my face, my dreams ... Being a very secretive person, it feels like a form of intrusion into my own world. And I miss this time of real dreams and

more comfortable in this reality, living the dream fully, which I

could not do with other forms of art.//

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself ?

I’m twenty two years of age. Other than photography, my hobbies are reading, as my photography is often influenced by literature.

How did you first start out taking photographs?

their self-portraiture work, such as the painter Frida Kahlo and the photographer Francesca Woodman.

What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve?

What do you try to show through your photographs?

I feel that I’m right at the beginning of my photographic journey and still have so much more to hopefully achieve. So far, I have developed a style of photography which I have a strong emotional bond to, and that I hope, is relatively unique to me. My work has started to be exhibited and I hope to continue with this path. Also I have just achieved a 1st Class Honours Degree at University. There is so much more I hope to achieve I feel there is so much more for me to learn.

I aim to portray to the viewer how I’m feeling at that exact moment in which the image was created.

How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then?

I first started taking photographs as part of a College course. At the start, I would take a range of subjects and had little idea of the direction my work was heading.

Then about two years ago, I started taking self-portraits and using entirely analogue methods of producing my work and that’s how it all started really.

Who inspires you? Why?

I have been taking photographs for I a few years now, but feel that two am inspired by strong women, years ago my work really changed, who portray their emotions through when I turned the camera on my-

self. For the first three years of my photography study at College and University, I used digital, as this was what everyone else was doing. Then one day, I fell in love with film and decided that that was the direction for me.

How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality?

I think that photography is my life and it impacts it a lot, as I portray my emotions through my work.

What is your favorite music/movie/book?

Why? My favourite book is The Yellow Wallpaper

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, which tells the story of a woman’s decent into madness, despite the fact that it’s not so much of a happy story that fills the reader with joy. It is so beautifully written and really inspires my photography.

What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related?

Other than photography, I hope to one day become a mother. //

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.)?

This is Jan, everyone calls me Jannah Velma Noir, but my real name is actually Janet Fung. I am an 19year-old photographer based in Hong Kong who is mainly doing in Portrait, fashion and street style photography. I am not a photography student. But currently studying Bilingual(Chinese and English) and Literature.

How did you first start out taking photographs?

I picked photography as my personal interest since 16 when my parents brought the family camera.

Ever we have any events or functions for our family, I’ll be the one who is going to caption every beautiful moment. Inspired by Lara Jade, I start doing fashion portrait photography last year.

What do you try to show through your photographs?

Photography is a way for me to reduce my pressure from life. So I express different feelings/

thoughts from my work: sad, happy, angry, etc. I hope people could see the natural beauty and feel the peace of this world through my works

Who inspires you? Why? A lot! Everyone and everything could inspire me in life!

What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve?

I am glad that I have started to put my works online, letting more people to see my works. This little action brings me to meet more cool people in this industry. Nothing is more fun than meeting people with similar interests.

How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then?

For Portriat photography, I have already started almost a year. I think I am puting more and more emotions/ meanings into the photography and make it more meaningful.

How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality?

I am the kind of person that not good to express myself. As I have mentioned, Photography is a way for me to reduce my pressure from life. So I express different feelings/ thoughts by photography.

Also, fahsion photography is a team work, I have learned to communicate with people and get along with them well.

What is your favorite music/ movie/book? Why? Proud and Prejudice. It is romantically showing what is human-being, full of imagination.

What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related?

Language.

Any other random things about yourself?

I am easy-going, cheerful and random person! If you meet me in the

future, please lemme know more about you! //

Photography by Jannah Velma Noir Model: Vincent & Tasha & Julia Make Up Artist: Rikki Chanyeeki Hair Stylist: Vincent Hin Long Stylist: April Wong & Wingman Yeung

Lucia Moretti

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

The reason I started taking pictures is because I wanted to take the kind of images that lets the viewers be

My name is Lucia. I am a 25 year

inspired and caught up in this par-

old photographer from Switzerland. allel world called photography. I I studied cultural anthropology at

feel so good when I see amazing

the University of Zurich and re-

images; I don’t think about doing

ceived my Bachelor degree, but felt anything else and I only have posiin love with photography mean-

tive emotions. This is why I love it,

while; therefore I haven’t done the

and what I want to share [with eve-

Master degree and carried on this

ryone].

way [with photography].

How did you first start out with photography?

What kind of feelings do you try to show through your photographs?

All kind of positive feelings. I try to

About 4 years ago, more or less. I

show all the beautiful things we

always used to shoot moments with have in our world. my little point-and-shoot camera, to preserve memories. But I consid-

Who inspires you? Why?

ered photography as an artistic tool only later, at 21. My passion started I guess Nirrimi and Tim Walker. by seeing amazing pictures taken

Both have introduced emotions in

by great artists from all around the to the fashion world. I love Tim world on deviantart. It took me 2

Walker’s fairy tales, and Nirrimi’s

years to join this amazing website

lovely world.

I’m also inspired by

and share my own pictures. I never other photographers from devifelt good enough and I was too shy.

antart, flickr, blogspot and face(Continued on page 72)

book and course by my own emo-

a picture is unchanged. I always

tions.

feel thrilled.

What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve?

How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or your personality?

The best things are when I get

Well, first of all, it changed my way

messages from people I don’t

of seeing the world. Since I first

know that say they love my pic-

discovered photography it is like

tures and ask for suggestions. I

I’m constantly looking through a

hope it will never stop; I love help-

camera. Each time I’m around I

ing other people and sharing what

see places where I can shoot, I see

I know. Photographers should col-

interesting light, beautiful models,

laborate.

and so on. Everything, everyplace

Besides that, I worked

this year with Camille Bloch

inspires me with new images. At

(Ragusa) a Swiss famous choco-

the beginning was a different way

late company, I’m testing with two

of seeing, now it is just part of me,

model agencies in Zurich, and I got looking at the world in this way. few publications. I hope I will be

Secondly it helped me a lot in

able to be a fulltime photographer

connecting with other people. I

one day.

was solitary and shy, now I always am, but not more that much.

How long have you been shooting and how do your think your work has changed since then?

What are your favorite music, movies , books? Why?

I’ve been shooting for four years

It usually changes with the time.

now. I thing my work has changed

My favorite song is “Where I Love”

quite a lot technically speaking.

by Nadine Carina; favorite book,

But the feeling I have while taking

(Continued on page 74)

The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende; and favorite movies are all of Disney’s. They have all given me happiness.

What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related?

That’s interesting! And I haven’t thought about something different than photography. I’m not sure.

Any other random things about yourself?

I love cats. :)

Gia An (Jessica) N

Nguyen