We Are Alive Magazine (January 2013) by We Are Alive Magazine

we are alive Issue 4 - February 2013

The Wayfarer IV

credits editor-in-chief Keerthana Byreddy

front & back covers Ella Ruth Cowperthwaite (Photographer) Model: Jack Wing Makeup: Sarah Gray Clothing: Inherited Sheffield

adjacent page Ella Ruth Cowperthwaite (Photographer) Rosie Taylor (Model and Styling)

page 4 Laia Xixons

contents pg 06

Rosa Furneaux

Feature

(Photography)

pg 18

Eric Boyd

Feature

(Writing))

pg 24

Celeste Abrahams

Feature

(Photography)

pg 34

Ella Ruth

Feature

(Photography)

pg 42

Ella Ruth

Editorial

Wanderer, Wonderer

pg 58

Jennifer Bruget

Feature

(Photography)

pg 64

Contact the Artists

Rosa Furneaux England// Photographer

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? photographs? My name is Rosa Joy, I’m twenty years old and I come from a small village in rural Norfolk, England. I’m currently studying English Literature at the University of Kent, and next year I will be living in the USA. How did you first start out taking photographs? When I was in high school I suffered from really terrible acne. The best way to protect myself from the camera was to be the one holding it in the first place. As my scars faded my interest grew out of my little point-and-shoot, and I realised making photographs was something I truly loved. How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then?

I will always be a storyteller. Whether it is a fictional tale told in concept work and editorials, or a moment (as Sontag says) ‘stencilled off the real’, straight from the action in front of me, I want to show a narrative. My time spent working on personal projects has helped me understand what is needed in an image for it to be the decisive moment, and now I am beginning to learn how to capture that moment in my documentary work. Who inspires you? Why? Countless photojournalists, whose images burn out of my laptop screen every day. At the moment my favourites are Marcus Bleasdale, James Nachtwey, and Luc Delahaye, who just won the Prix Pictet. I normally follow the credit to their websites and spend too much time looking at their other work instead of preparing for my seminars. (This isn’t a new habit; back in college I used to drive our librarian nuts by tearing out the middle pages in the Guardian newspaper each morning. It always printed the most amazing images on a full-page spread, and I collected them in a scrapbook back home.)

I started taking photography seriously three years ago, when I started a fifty-two weeks project. Making self-portraits each week was a good way to learn how to be in front of a camera again, and safe because I was always in control. The project was a wonderful creative outlet and an escape from the reality of studying for my A Levels, and the emotionally rocky road How has being a photographer impacted that year took me down. your life and/or personality? Over that year my work improved tenfold, I always imagined myself an introvert, hapand afterwards I expanded my portfolio pier at home than outside or embarking and took on my client and portraiture on a big adventure. Since finding a voice work. Before university I spent some through my camera, though, I have defimonths working and travelling around nitely become more outgoing. I spend a southern Africa, and it was there I discovlot of time exploring the countryside and ered a love for documentary photography. shooting on location, and a big part of my After that I was clear about where I wantbusiness as a portrait photographer is ed my work to take me, and now my amtalking to clients and making contacts. bition is to become an international photoPhotography was one of the reasons journalist. What do you try to show through your

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I(chose to work in Africa during my gap year, and it was there I found my passion for photojournalism. I came home with an itch to travel and a new-found career choice, and since then my conviction for my calling has only grown. Photography has helped cultivate in my a wildheartedness that wasn’t there before, and brought out a bravery I didn’t know I had. Recently, shooting for a charity in Tanzania, I found myself in some sticky scrapes. Having a camera in those moments gave me somewhere to pin my courage; a purpose to focus on, in getting the shots, rather than giving in to the fear. It’s a trait I hope will stay with me on assignments to come. What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve? Apart from my personal achievements – completing both my fifty -two weeks project and my summer one hundred – my work has been featured in several magazines, blogs, and local exhibitions. This year I have shot a brand new upcycle clothing line for the Environmental Justice Foundation, and worked for two months on assignment for READ International in rural Tanzania. Muriel Rukeyser said, ‘the world is not made of atoms, but of stories’; my dream is to tell those tales with my camera.

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What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related? I want to travel, and I want to do good for others. I suppose that’s a cheat of an answer, because I want to do it by being a photojournalist. I want to be worthwhile. Photography is something much bigger, much greater than me, and that makes it the perfect medium. What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why? I created my fifty-two weeks to the soundtrack of Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. Between their albums I can still find a song for every moment, no matter where I turn on my iPod. I guess my favourite movie would have to be Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I bunked school only once, and it wasn’t anywhere near as fun. And my favourite book is either This is All by Aidan Chambers, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, or Shakespeare’s collected sonnets. I’ve never finished Chambers’ novel, although I tell myself I’ll read the last two chapters every year. I think I just don’t like endings. Any other random things about yourself? Some words to live by: They said it was a Happiness Plant. She tended it carefully and it grew: she was happy. Later she understood: it was because she was happy that it grew. (Cause and Effect by Edna Eglinton.)

Eric

America//

Boyd

/Writer

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

What do you try to show through your work?

I just turned 24 a bit ago, which was crazy to think about. I remember a girl once read my Jyotish and told me I'd die at an early age. She also said I'd be very successful in life, so maybe I have to wait for that to happen before I clock out from the job, y'know. I don't have many hobbies. I take pictures sometimes and I see a lot of movies. I even did a secret shopper thing for a movie theater once and saw 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' for free. I ended up interviewing the director and the writer of that film. Nice folks.

I have this motto in life, I say that everything is 'funny in a sad way'. I like write about my take on the human condition. I write about how everyone is the same, does the same things, but they never realize it. I like stories about a rich man who mocks a drunk, even though they both have the same basic addiction. Shit like that amuses me. Then I do the six word poems on my Tumblr site. People eat those up. They love 'em. I get kind of sick of doing them every day, but it does keep me fresh, forces me to be concise, which is something that's important for all of my work.

How did you first start writing? I was born in North Carolina, and my family moved up to Pittsburgh when I was about ten years old. When I was fourteen I got to visit some Aunts and Uncles in NC; while staying at one Aunt's house, a friend of mine instant messaged me on AIM--so you know this was a long time ago, ten years now!--and suggested we write a screenplay. I don't remember why he had this idea, but anyway, we did write the screenplay. It was a little comedy piece that Kevin Smith would have sued us over had it ever been made. It was a very bad script, but we loved it. We even posted it to a screenplay website, where it was very successful and had many offers top be produced. Eventually we settled on this then-film student director named Shane Valdez. We never made the movie, but Shane did end up becoming a pretty well-known music video director. He changed the Z in his last name to an S, though. Anyway after that I was hooked on writing. I did screenplays, even had to take legal action a couple times for work getting ripped off. When I went to Iowa for college I had a huge explosion of poetry and prose, but none of it was very good. It wasn't until I went to jail in 2010 that I began to take writing, especially short stories, very seriously. You have all the time in the world to write in a cell; it becomes a very natural thing.

Who inspires you? Why? I don't read much, so there are few authors that really stick out. I do love Hemingway, John Fante, and Bukowski. I've read some Raymond Carver and I liked his work very much. All of those authors do share this concept of the underdog, of lonely people in a strange world. I enjoy that kind story; I like that kind of writing. Past that I mostly watch films, and though no one director or movie inspires me, films do excite me get up and go write. What have you already achieved as a writer and what more would you like to achieve? While I was jail I submitted to the PEN American Center's 2012 Prison Writing Contest. PEN is a huge, international writers organization based in New York City. Anyway I sent some work for the Prison Contest and ended up winning second place for fiction. That was a huge honor; it really validated me as a person, y'know? After that I started working with PEN as a mentor for their Prison program. I wanted to give back, that whole thing. Right now I'm corresponding with a great writer out of an Arizona jail. He's very talented. Soon I'll be traveling to NYC to do a reading for PEN. That's going to be fun.

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Yearning for the Reaperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s touch, regardless.

ericboydblog.tumblr.com

Recently I was nominated for the 2013 Pushcart Prize, which is like the Oscars of writing, somewhat. A story of mine that appeared in a university's lit journal got nominated. I'm pretty excited to see what happens with that.

What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why?

I don't listen to much music. If the radio is on, it's usually on the classical station. I enjoy Aaron Copeland very much. I like Bob DylI'm hoping to get a book out soon. I had a an and the Beach Boys. I'm a huge fan of chapbook called 'Whiskey Sour', and that Django Reinhardt, but that's about it for me. came out in the Fall, but all of the copies My Christmas is whenever Woody Allen puts sold. I'm hoping the publisher will do another out a new movie, and since he releases one edition of that book. But I really want a full every year, it is an annual holiday for me. I short story collection of mine to be released. don't read much, as I said, but right now I'm I'm going to start shopping that around soon, reading 'Donnybrook' by Frank Bill, who is a I think. I've appeared in something like three friend of mine. The book hasn't been released dozen publications--online, in-print, US and yet, but I got a promotional copy. It's pretty UK--so I think it's time to think about doing a good. I won't be surprised if it becomes a book. New York Times best-seller or something. Good, hard writing. How long have you been writing, and how do you think your work has changed since then? What else would you like to achieve? I've been writing for something like ten years, different things. It's like anything else; once you start, you're very bad, and there's no way of getting better but to keep doing it. I read some of my first short stories and get embarrassed, but the only thing to do is remember what you fucked up at first, and then try to not do that later. When you start, you really just write whatever in the hell you want, but after a while you naturally learn to write what you need.

How has being a writer impacted your life and/or personality? I don't have many friends! I'm cooped up at a computer or typewriter all the time. And yes, I do still use a typewriter from time to time. Sometimes I even write stories for the typewriter, which typewritten words are an integral part of the story. So obviously when your mind makes you consider the importance of typed words within the context of a fictional story, you don't get out much. I go to my dayjob, then come back to the apartment and write. That's about it, but I don't mind.

I want to make so much damn money that I don't have to write again. Some real 'fuck you' money. But that probably won't happen, so until then I'll just sit and type.//

Boyd, at reading in NYC

Celeste Abrahams

England//Photographer

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.)? I'm Celeste, I'm 15 and I live in London, England. I love photography, but I also love rock climbing, gymnastics, swimming, cooking and doodling. How did you first start out taking photographs? I've taken photos ever since I was little, but I only started enjoying photography and really loving it when I bought my first DSLR in early 2009, when I realized that there were so many memories that I had which weren't captured, and I didn't want to miss capturing any more. What do you try to show through your photographs? I get little ideas or images in my head, which I then try and show through my photos. It may be an idea inspired by a book I've read or a movie I've seen. I try to show people who are seeing my photos what I was feeling at that time, and what was going through my head. Who inspires you? Why? Nirrimi is my biggest inspiration, not just because her photography is amazing, but because she started off at such a young age and has overcame so many obstacles and has achieved so much in the few short years she has been doing photography. Roni Ahn and Gail Shamon also inspire as photographers because they made photography accessible to be, and showed me that age doesn't matter. What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve? At the moment my biggest achievement was having a photo shown in the Photographic Angle's 200 Faces exhibition, and also being chosen as photographer for two of my school magazines. I would love to one day shoot for magazine such as I-D and LOVE, and there are lists and lists of models who I would love to shoot. How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then? I [have] been shooting since January 2012 and since then so much has changed. I've got a new camera and learned how to use Photoshop which has changed my pictures for the better, I feel they now look more natural and all have a style of editing in common, whereas before I would over-edit my photos. I have learned how to pose models, and how to execute an idea that comes into mind, so my photos have a new sense of clarity. And overall I think I have just

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matured as a photographer and my pictures show that. How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality? Being a photographer has made me view life in a whole different way. The world is now an image waiting till be shot, and I think my personality has changed as well because I feel less of a need to be extroverted and instead I can channel this energy into my photos. What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why? Green Day is my favorite band in the whole world since I heard a cover of one of their songs when I was nine, and I've loved them ever since. At the moment I'm also listening to Summer Music by Advance Base, which is one of the nicest songs I've ever heard. My favorite movie is Stick It, because one of my hobbies is gymnastics and I love the way it's portrayed in that movie. My favorite book is The Secret History, because, although I'm not much of a reader, it is just a truly extraordinary book.

What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related? It's a bit strange but one of my life goals is to own a campervan and drive it round the whole coast of Australia, so I guess that.

Any other random things about yourself? I used to live in Hong Kong, from when I was 9 to when I was 12, and although I'm completely English I feel that in my heart I'm part Australian.//

Ella Ruth Cowperthwaite

England//Photographer

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.)? I'm twenty, quite eccentric and I spend most of my time taking pictures. I love walking in the hills around my city, seeing live music and baking. How did you first start out taking photographs? I first ever took photographs when I was given a little plastic film camera for my fifth birthday. I loved it, but at the time it was just another type of art to me alongside the childhood thrills of drawing and painting. When I was seventeen I bought my first DSLR, started to put together planned shoots and it all just grew from there. What do you try to show through your photographs? Anything and everything. I think the beauty of art is that countless people can fall in love with a piece all for very different reasons. We all see something different and find different points of appeal in every image. I just want my photographs to make people want to look at them, to intrigue people in one way or another. Who inspires you? Why? So many people! I think I'm inspired by other people's ways of thinking rather than specific individuals. I find anyone who creates a world of their own amongst all of the norms of society to be inspiring. What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve? I'd say I've achieved confidence in my work. It wavers and shakes at times but it is there - I create the images I want to see now, rather than what I think other people want to see. When it comes to what I want to achieve I'd love all the usual things like to see my images published worldwide, to see them admired by those whose work I admire, to have my work inspire people... overall though I just want to be happy with the direction my work is going in. How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then? I've been shooting and really pushing my art for the last three years. At first I had no technical knowledge, very few skills in post-production and no experience on how to create the images I had in my mind, but I was very free and open - I just took pictures for the love of it. Somewhere along the road I began to share my work online and got a bit caught up and concerned with what I thought people wanted to see in my images. Now I've built my skills and experience up and I feel a lot happier with just creating the images that speak to me rather than trying to please everyone with them. My work feels much more in tune with what appeals to

me nowadays. How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality? Photography is probably the most time-consuming passion I've ever had, which has affected my life hugely. Other art forms I used to love have taken a backseat in the past few years, which is a shame but it has allowed room for my photography to grow. As for how being a photographer has affected my personality, I think it has made me much more confident. When someone puts them self in front of a camera, they are opening them self-up to be portrayed in just about any way by the photographer and as the photographer you have complete control over the images you create. To go through that whole process and then to hear that people actually like your work is a huge confidence booster! What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why? There are so many! The stand-out answer for me would be Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. I read the series years ago and I'm re-reading it now and noticing so many new things. The author has a way of writing that entertains me for hours! What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related? At the moment, I have this huge goal to own my own home in the near future. I've been living in rented accommodation and I've become so inspired by interior design magazines/blogs that I'm desperate to create a wacky home of my own! Any other random things about yourself? I have a talent for making spag bol. Not to boast...!//Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.)? I'm twenty, quite eccentric and I spend most of my time taking pictures. I love walking in the hills around my city, seeing live music and baking. How did you first start out taking photographs? I first ever took photographs when I was given a little plastic film camera for my fifth birthday. I loved it, but at the time it was just another type of art to me alongside the childhood thrills of drawing and painting. When I was seventeen I bought my first DSLR, started to put together planned shoots and it all just grew from there. What do you try to show through your photographs? Anything and everything. I think the beauty of art is that countless people can fall in love with a piece all for very different reasons. We all see something different and find different points of appeal in every image. I just want my photographs to make people want to look at them, to intrigue people in one way or another. Who inspires you? Why? So many people! I think I'm inspired by other people's ways of thinking rather than specific individuals. I find anyone who creates a world of their own amongst all of the norms of society to be inspiring. What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve? I'd say I've achieved confidence in my work. It wavers and shakes at times but it is there - I create the images I want to see now, rather than what I think other people want to see. When it comes to what I want to achieve I'd love all the usual things like to see my images

published worldwide, to see them admired by those whose work I admire, to have my work inspire people... overall though I just want to be happy with the direction my work is going in. How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then? I've been shooting and really pushing my art for the last three years. At first I had no technical knowledge, very few skills in post-production and no experience on how to create the images I had in my mind, but I was very free and open - I just took pictures for the love of it. Somewhere along the road I began to share my work online and got a bit caught up and concerned with what I thought people wanted to see in my images. Now I've built my skills and experience up and I feel a lot happier with just creating the images that speak to me rather than trying to please everyone with them. My work feels much more in tune with what appeals to me nowadays. How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality? Photography is probably the most time-consuming passion I've ever had, which has affected my life hugely. Other art forms I used to love have taken a backseat in the past few years, which is a shame but it has allowed room for my photography to grow. As for how being a photographer has affected my personality, I think it has made me much more confident. When someone puts them self in front of

a camera, they are opening them self-up to be portrayed in just about any way by the photographer and as the photographer you have complete control over the images you create. To go through that whole process and then to hear that people actually like your work is a huge confidence booster! What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why? There are so many! The stand-out answer for me would be Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. I read the series years ago and I'm re-reading it now and noticing so many new things. The author has a way of writing that entertains me for hours! What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related? At the moment, I have this huge goal to own my own home in the near future. I've been living in rented accommodation and I've become so inspired by interior design magazines/blogs that I'm desperate to create a wacky home of my own! Any other random things about yourself? I have a talent for making spag bol. Not to boast...!//

Wande Wonde Photography: Ella

Ruth Cowperthwaite //Styling: Rosie

erer, erer Taylor // Model: Amy McDougall

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not all those who wander are lostâ&#x20AC;? - J.R.R.. Tolkien

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.â&#x20AC;? - Ernest Hemingway

Jennifer Bruget Photographer // France

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.:? I was born on 4 September in Belfort. Since my childhood I am attracted by the art world, painting, fashion and film. Nature is shy and dreamy; I look and observe the world around me. I'm studying classical, the second high school Courbet Belfort, I choose to study science. I go a year university to study biology but I am very interested in studying in the art, which unfortunately the label of insecurity and a dead end. Still in 2003 I decided to pursue studies at the University of Nanterre in the cinema, I have very fond memories, and I wanted to become a filmmaker.. Today I continue studying art at the Sorbonne in Paris.

How did you first start out taking photographs? I am a photography course in cinema University and there is the revelation. The professor lent me an old Minolta film and when I started to take my pictures in the lab, I found that magical moment. I did want to do it, the photo. Here I caught the virus photo. But it was much later that I realized the creative potential that could give the picture (I had abandoned some time since I had a period where I saw the world with brushes and paint). In 2007, with the arrival of digital technology in my life that I have laid the brushes and I started to make self-portraits. I move all the time, my photos surprise and invite dreams.

What do you try to show through your photographs? I have an idea running through my head, I write, I draw. And when I feel, I let go and I'm starting. I never work more than an hour and I do not do much shooting. Often are the first photos that are good, and which are the most natural for me. I work with emotion, sometimes it works and sometimes it is not a good day ... I think the self portrait is for me a passion, which allows me to reveal my desire intro-

spection revealing the light and shade of my personality.. My desire is to bring the viewer into a world of dreams, and transportation to a brighter elsewhere. I like the idea of creating an emotion in others. I would simply say that I am a maker of dreams. For me, photography allows me to express my vision of the woman getting closer to painting.. This is meditation and I am no longer a simple model. My work expresses women's fragrances, fleeting memories, a hymn to eternal beauty which is real wishes and desires. To provide images that will grow strong impressions of reflection. Who inspires you? Why? Few photographers practicing self-portrait. But I admire for example Kimiko Yoshida and his work on makeup, Elina Brother us and its landscapes, or Cindy Sherman. What have you already achieved as a photographer and what more would you like to achieve? I have exhibited in many places Paris, Lyon, Mulhouse, Belfort, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro.. I was also exposed in 2010 at the biannual international image and photo month at Nancy. When I exhibited at the 22nd International Exhibition on Photo Riedisheim. Two great photographers had been invited Philip Plisson and Uwe Ommer (fashion photographer). I met a lot of people. Who gave me words of encouragement and wonder in my guestbook. I met Uwe Ommer who enjoyed my work. 've been published in numerous magazines as RĂŠponses Photos, Artensionâ&#x20AC;Ś and many webzines. In November 2012, I set out to Belfort, and Paris, from SIEL DE PARIS where a poster I created for the event will be exposed. Other projects that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to do are to explain to New York and make a book cover, one of my dreams.

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How long have you been shooting, and how do you think your work has changed since then? I'm self-portrait from 2007, today I made the more confidence in myself, so my pictures evolve. I also think I've grown and evolved with the joys and sorrows that anyone can have in life. It made me think and feel is what is important in life. How has being a photographer impacted your life and/or personality? The picture has changed me, I have more confidence and that gave me an opening to the other as I'm quite shy, now I go through life with my self-portraits. What is your favorite music/movie/book? Why? My artistic influences are music when I'm working a photo I bathe in music. I listen to pop like Coldplay, Keane,The Servant, Florence + The Machine, Keren Ann, Feist, Bjรถrk ... or the French scene, Charlie, Renan Luce, Carmen Maria Vega, Emilie Simon. My favorite book is the twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and all the book of Musso. I like the dark side of the characters. Otherwise the cinema I love the work of Wong Kar Wai for saturated colors and dark. What else would you like to achieve that isn't photography related? It is on the way, I want to achieve perfection, and have some recognition.

contact the artists Celeste Abrahams Facebook: www.facebook.com/celesteabrahamsphotography

Eric Boyd Website: www.ericboydblog.tumblr.com

Jennifer Bruget Website: http://www.jenniferbruget.com/

Ella Ruth Cowperthwaite Online Portfolio: http://ellaruthc.daportfolio.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ella-Ruth-Photography/137899876259656 Blog: http://ellaruthc.blogspot.co.uk/

Rosa Furneax Website: www.rosajoy.com

Laia Xixons Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laiaxixons Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaiaXixonsPhotography