Nikki DeCarlo

Nikki is a great self-portrait photographer. She can express what she wants by her body and the capture. So she is a great model, too. Her photos feel somehow cold and dark, but at the same time, they feel safe and the photos are filled with hope, for those who wait. She is the proof that you don´t need a great expensive camera with many great expensive lens to do a great art. She is the gem of the nowadays photography world of young artists.








Read the story:

1. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was some particular reason why you started taking photos?
- I initially began taking photographs because of sheer curiosity for the arts. Within a very short period of time, though, I realized that through photography, I could express more than just art.

2. What do you express with your photography, what is the message for the world?
- I feel that my goal in photography is to express not only my personal emotions, but emotions that vary through people of the world-something everyone can relate to. I want my pictures to bring people together through these emotions.

3. What equipment do you use?
- Currently, I only use my Nikon D70 and, if I am shooting myself, a tripod. I also have a speedlight, but I rarely use it for anything.

4. Where do you go for inspiration? What makes ou keep shooting?
- Flickr definitely inspires me-any time that I log on, I am instantly inspired. People also play an extremely important role for my inspiration. Watching people's faces intrigues me more than anything-I always want to know what they are feeling at that exact moment, and how I can capture it in a photograph.

5. What are your interests beside photography?
- I am in love with all of the arts. Recently I have started sketching and painting here and there, and I really love it. I also am in love with pottery. Besides that, I also love poetry and going to concerts.

6. Who are your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?
- Sally Mann and Gregory Crewdson! I also love Frida Kahlo, Delacroix, Dali, and Goya. As for musicians, I am in love with Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, John Frusciante, Beirut, and Nirvana.

7. If you were a thing what would it be?
- I would be a sunflower.

8. The last question - Tell us a few things about you.
- I am definitely a struggling artist! Right now I am stuck working at Dunkin Donuts, and I cannot wait to leave for Pratt Institute in the fall.

If you love Nikki´s work (and I hope you do as much as I do) you can support her art at flickr.

Christine Day Lorico

She is a storyteller without any words. In her world, words are not important. When you look at Christine´s pictures, they all seem iridescent - like bath bubbles kids play with. At the same time, there is a child but also an adult, playfulness but also responsibility. There is sadness and there is joy. She captures many kinds of things - fairy tales, fashion, landscapes.. and if you look close enough, you find out that there is more than just a picture. With Christine, it is not simple as that.








The fairy tale of artist:

1. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was some particular reason why you started taking photos?
- I discovered DeviantArt where I can look at beautiful artwork. I uploaded a couple of my friends' photos and got one or two responses. The comments were so friendly. That's how it all started. Encouraging words from strangers :)

2. What does your usual day look like?
- These days?! Haha. I read a couple of chapters from a book, open my laptop soon as I'm up, turn on some music and edit photos or look at photos in the internet to study them. That lasts til 12 am or 2 am. My eyes are already complaining ;p I have shoots weekly so when I don't have any, I'm editing away :) Of course I still sneak out to hang out with friends or just drive around. I'd go insane if everything becomes routine. I need to occasionally surprise myself.

3. What equipment do you use?
- I've recently been using Canon 5d Mark II. 85mm, 70-200mm, 50mm and 20-35mm. Got them all from photography earnings :)

4. Where do you go for inspiration? What makes you keep shooting?
- I don't really look for inspiration. Ideas just pop out. Active imagination helps I guess. I have a little notebook where I list them down complete with descriptions and a storyboard. I figured when you're hooked, you just don't stop most especially when you want to achieve something.

5. What are your interests beside photography?
- Reading and going to new places, experiencing new things, films, music, shopping... I used to sketch and write but not anymore. Does silly dancing in my room count? lol

6. Who are your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?
- PAOLO ROVERSI and TIM WALKER! Jeurgen teller and Julia Hetta as well.
I have more favorite musicians than photographers. All in different genres. mindy gledhill, sigur ros, damien rice, bon jovi, black keys, the pierces, led zeppelin, pink floyd... the list could go on and on.
When it comes to paintings and films I just go by, "I like," "It's okay" and "Not my thing."

7. If you were a thing what would it be?
- A book. fiction. feel good. best seller.

9. The last question - Tell us a few things about you.
- I go by instinct rather than by rules. I go by passion rather than practicality. I value family, friends and laughter a lot. I cry easily. I hate politics. And I do what i want because I don't want to grow old with a lot of "what ifs" written on the lines of my face.


For more of Christine go to her website, deviantart or tumblr. Do show her love for sure.

Kitty Gallannaugh

Selfportraits, portraits, still life.. none of this is a problem for this stunning photographer called Kitty, based in the United Kingdom, 20 years old. Her 365 project is not the usual project everyone is doing nowadays - it has a soul, a heart, a feeling and a thought. It speaks for itself.
Of course, we can´t forget about her shootings with other people. I don´t know where her magic is, but she gets what she wants to the photos, no matter what it is.
Yes, expressive, marvelous, original, amazingly postprocessed.. these are probably the words describing what I think of her photos. Now let the dream begin..


Here is the promised lullaby:

1. Where were you born, do you still live there and do you wish you lived somewhere else?
- I was born in London. I live all over the place, but my heart and home is still in London. I don't wish to really move anywhere else when all I need is right on my doorstep.

2. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was a particular reason why you started taking photographs?

- There was never a real "turning point" in my life where I thought "I should be a photographer". I grew up with my mother being a photographer and photographing my sister and I constantly as we grew. She'd always plait my hair and let the sun shine through it as she shot me. I grew up watching her use her cameras and lenses and when I was 6 I had my first plastic camera to practise with. It's always been a big part of who I am from the day I was born so I suppose it's run through my blood and one day my children will have the sun shining through their hair too as I photograph and (hopefully) inspire them too.

3. What equipment do you use?

- My eyes, a little imagination a sprinkle of youth, lots of laughter and a whole lot of love.

4. Where do you go for inspiration? What makes ou keep shooting?

- I listen to everything. I am very aware of the world around me and I think as a photographer you are a sponge. You soak everything up and make the most of the smallest situation being the most inspiring. I listen to people talking in the street, I listen to songs as I travel on the train, I listen to what my heart wants to do and mostly, I listen to what I think will look different. If you read a quote you like, write it down for a later day when you need inspiration, or even a photograph or drawing. Save all the inspiration you can, it's an artist's fuel.

5. What are your interests beside photography?

- I love baking little sugary treats like cakes or biscuits. I'm into anything particularly "girly" like dresses, shopping, pretty little accessories, collecting polaroids, beach walks, picnics, playing tennis, roller blading, singing in my car. Little things in life are the things that tend to please me most.

6. Who are your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?

- Tim Walker & Annie Leibovitz for their nostalgia/Monet for his palettes/Jónsi for his tones/Elissa Down for her rawness and beauty.

7. What book are you reading right now?

- My sister has lent me "Scrambled Eggs at Midnight" by Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler. I was worried that it would be a silly teenage book full of unrealistic ideas on love, life and clichés. But it's actually a remarkably light-hearted and fun read.

8. Tell us what does your usual day look like..

- All my days are so different which is what I really enjoy. My alarm clock always goes off at 7am and I am out the house by 8am. Some days I shoot and some days I spend at my desk filing through photographs and editing work. I love lunch breaks and tea time in the afternoon no matter what my day looks like. On days I'm shooting I can spend hours on location and just talking away. I take thousands of photos and then will flick back through them with the model, MUA, stylist etc. On days when I'm editing I'll usually just sit in tracksuits with a mug of tea or hot chocolate and focus into each photograph. Despite what I'm doing my days usually always end with a cuddle on the sofa, a hot shower and rugging up for bed with my loverboy.

9. If you were a thing what would it be?

- A thing? That's tough. I'd probably be a ceiling in a restaurant. Imagine how many interesting stories you could hear every single day and no one would really ever notice you "eavesdropping".

10. And the last question - what was your last seen exhibition or movie?

- The last exhibition I went to was Photographer of the Year 2010 and the last movie I saw was "Candy".

She is all over the onternet, as well. Go share some support and love at her flickr, facebook page, portfolio, blog, deviantart or twitter.

Amel Kerkeni

The thing I like the most about her photographs are the tones. The colours warm your heart just by looking at them. Secondly, her models are really gorgeous and they obviously know what they are doing. I like her imagination - the ideas for shoots are particular. She doesn´t just go somewhere and shoot - she sets up the place, gets all the things which are needed. Plus she gets a fashion designer and a hair-stylist and the show may begin. In the end, what comes out of her trying are those precious pictures.




The artist´s words:

1. Where were you born, do you still live there and do you wish you lived somewhere else?
- I was born in the north of France, a town called Valenciennes. I'm living not very far from Lille, the bigger town of North. I really like this town, we're near to paris, england, it's really dynamic and nice.

2. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was a particular reason why you started taking photographs?
- I can't really explain it. My most distant memory with photography was a lesson about darkroom, seven years ago. We had to bring an old film for learning to develop traditionnal photography. My father gave me this film, it was a picture of my grand father. When I saw it appear in the developer, it stucked on me forever. And i never stop to take picture since this moment. Also i really love stage, the photography is an easier way to realise all my ideas.

3. What equipment do you use?
- I've got a Canon EOS 7D and a 30mm object-glass.

4. Where do you go for inspiration? What makes you keep shooting?
- Anything could be an inspiration. A book, a movie, a personn, a light, a music... I don't have special rules for it! It's the renewal of picture in my head which gives me the desire to carry on.

5. What are your interests beside photography?
- I've got a theater diploma. I love it! I also like cinema and music.

6. Who are your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?
- Very very very many! To give some names: Andy Julia, Bruno Dayan, Man Ray, Tim Walker for photography. In cinema I like Coppola, Nola, Avedjan, Burton,...

7. Tell us what does your usual day look like..
- It's very difficult to describe a tipical day when days don't look like the same! With this job it depends when I work or not. But overall, I wake up, I read my e-mails (so many every day!). I take care of my publications on my website, I plan my month, my appointments, my prospecting, and I contact my clients. The afternoon I touch up my photos, and I prepare my next photographis session.

8. If you were an animal what would it be?
- Unhesitatingly a cat!!

9. And the last question - what was your last seen exhibition or movie?
- "J'ai tué ma mère" : I killed my mother by Xavier Dolan. Amazing!!

Show some love to Amel´s work at her flickr, facebook page, tumblr or take a look at her website.

Aaron Feaver

His own personal style of photographs beats your eyes and gets your attention. He chooses beautiful girls for his photos and somehow, he always manage to make them look even more pretty - plus a bit mysterious, not ordinary. It is like if Aaron was looking at this world from a completely different ankle than all of us and got to see much more than we ever can.


What does the artist say:

1. Where were you born, do you still live there and do you wish you lived somewhere else?
- I was born in South Caroline, but my family never really lived there, and I've lived all over. I live in Los Angeles right now, and I'm happy here.

2. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was a particular reason why you started taking photographs?
- I'd been taking photos casually for a few years, but I remember being really inspired by several photographers' fashion photos a few years ago and thinking I'd maybe like to do that.

3. What equipment do you use?
- I use a bunch of different cameras. For medium format a Pentax 6x7. For 35mm a Nikon FM2, Canon AE-1, Olympus Stylus Epic and Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim. For Polaroids an SLR680 or a 250 pack camera. For digital a Canon SLR.

4. Where do you go for inspiration? What makes ou keep shooting?
- Well I have my photo blog where I collect inspiring photos by other photographers. There are a lot of other great fashion sites on the internet, and I visit them regularly. I'm also inspired by old movies and vintage clothing stores.

5. What are your interests beside photography?
- I'm also a graphic designer, so I'm into all that design-y stuff: typography, color, etc. I also like interior design a lot, and music. Oh and older movies. The usual.

6. Who are your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?
- I like too many photographers to list. Painters, gosh, I guess I really like JMW Turner and Mark Rothko. Musicians too many to list. Filmmakers, I love Preston Sturges and Stanley Kubrick.

7. Tell us what does your usual day look like..
- My days usually start with me making coffee and sometimes breakfast for myself and my girlfriend. We'll drink coffee in bed, maybe read a little bit. If it's a weekend we've probably got a shoot (she styles a lot of shoots for me) so we'll meet with the makeup artist and hair stylist and model and hang out while they do their thing. Then we'll drive to the location and take pictures until the sun goes down. In the evenings we usually watch movies or play music or go to shows.

8. If you were a thing what would it be?
- I guess maybe a flat file.

9. And the last question - what was your last seen exhibition or movie?
- I don't go to exhibitions as much as I should. The last movie I saw was…let's see…I think I rewatched No Country for Old Men, which I love.

Go show some love to his art at flickr or blog. He also has a facebook page. And he runs a very pretty and inspiring photography blog.

Teresa Q

She shoots both film and digital, but the camera makes no difference when it comes to the quality of her ideas and shoots. Intense images of (mostly) people, beautifully coloured photos of flowers and still life. This is her, a girl called Teresa. She's one of the up-coming stars of our precious contemporary photography.


(And she was so nice to answer all my questions because I asked her much more things than I asked anybody before.. thank you for that, beauty. And there is also more photos from her than there has ever been from anybody. That means Happy New Year from me to all the beautiful people who are interested in this small blog.)

The lovely girl's story:

1. How did it all become? Do you remember if there was some particular reason why you started taking photos?
- I know how uninteresting it sounds, but there really was no particular reason why. I used to take pseudo-fashion portraits of my best friend at the time and I really liked it, along with all the beautifying production before it. I remember I used to borrow cameras from my friends, since I didn't have any at the time. Then I bought a second-hand sony cybershot 2mp (you have phones with 2mp, now ahaha) and only later I bought my Canon 400D. There was a time when I used to (awkwardly) ask complete strangers to model for me and I actually made friends that way - good times. ahaha Anyways, then I kinda got bored of all the posing and make-up and fancy dressing, and I felt like shooting something with a little more essence and substance. That's when I fell in love with film, I think. It just seemed like the perfect ally to do it, with it's soft tones and cinematic feel, everything is magical and prettier when shot with an analogue - film does it better. I started photographing mostly for fun, but it has been growing and I've been putting a little more thought and effort into my pictures recently. Nowadays, I just feel really passionate about it and I really don't think I would be the same person without it.


2. Describe yourself in a few words.
- Ah! I hate these questions, seriously. Whether they're about me or about someone else, I just hate them! ahaha. We live in a world where change is said to be the only constant. And we, humans, do change constantly, both psychologically and biologically. So, It just feels bizarre trying to limit someone to a few words, just as much as it seems bizarre to me, that someone would actually feel the need to pack people into groups - psychological tests and astrology (not in-depth astrology, but the basic 12 signs) do this, like many, many other theses and theories.
To make it short: I have no idea how to describe myself in a few words! I change my interests and points of view constantly - I'm such a different person from the one I was 2 years ago. Anyways, I do believe that there are certain personality traits that remain, that are stuck to us like glue, some sort of essence, maybe. The ones that I seem to be keeping throughout the years, though, are: being creative, sensitive, honest (brutally honest, at times). I still keep my child-like sense of wonder, I'm communicative, perfectionist, open-minded - even though I'm usually firm about where I stand, so I can be a little stubborn too. :) ahaha
I hope it's enough.

3. What do you express with your photography, what is the message for the world?
- There's really no specific message behind my stream, I think. I'm not on a mission and I'm not trying to fulfill any purpose besides my own. I love taking pictures - period. I love being able to picture the world in a prettier way. Other than that I'm just expressing myself, I'm creating something - because there's an urge to do so - and putting it out there, sharing it with anyone and everyone that would like to see it.
I like creating little stories, I like putting emotion into my pictures, I like it when people feel something looking at them, when they can relate to them. But on top of that, I'm an aesthetic person so, beauty is the key. However, beauty has many forms. Solitude, melancholy, longing, sadness, death, even, they are beautiful too, so why not portray them that way? There's beauty in everything, I believe. Yes, even in the darkest flaws and most cruel actions - being a good person is overrated, anyways.


4. What equipment do you use? (meaning also editing program)
- I use a Zenit-11 and a Canon 400D. When using my Zenit-11 I barely need to edit the pictures. Usually I just twitch the colors a bit to get them just like I want them, but it's nothing much. Now, when I use digital, yeah, Photoshop CS3 is in order.

5. Where do you go for inspiration and what makes you keep shooting?
- I don't go anywhere for inspiration. I get inspiration from other fellow artists and from new places and new people and a pretty object... well, just about anything, really. Light is the usual common factor though, there's nothing like good light to make me want to shoot. That late afternoon light, it just brings things to life in a magical way... fills me up inside. Besides, It just seems like such a waste not to use it when it's staring me right in the face. I just have to. There's really no way to ignore it. ahaha

6. Where were you born, do you still live at the same place and do you wish you lived somewhere else?
- I was born in Aveiro, Portugal. And, yes, I still live here. There was a time when I lived by myself in Porto, which I loved, but then I came back here. Felt good to be home for the christmas season, though. :)
As for living somewhere else, the thing is, I've never travelled anywhere else besides spain, so I don't really have means of comparison. But I do believe that when I do start travelling places, I probably won't want to come back.


7. Your favourite photographers/painters/musicians/film-makers?
- This is another tough one, because it keeps changing. Photographers that I love? Many! But I probably won't love them as much tomorrow. Anyways I'll give you some names: Waldemar and Max, Rus Anson, Alison Scarpulla, Viola Cangi, Li Hui, Ann He., Mervecan Saral, Adam Sewastianowicz, Aëla Labbé, and many many others. Painters, I love paintings, but I rarely remember the names of the painters ahaha but Leonid Afremov, Audrey Kawasaki, Rebecca Dautremer. Musicians: Hanne Hukkelberg, Anja Garbarek, Psapp, The Raconteurs, Tom Waits, Patrick Watson, Lhasa de Sela, Panda Bear, Bon Iver - and many, many more (I'm a music addict). Film makers hum... I like Jim Jarmusch and recently a friend of mine showed me Hal Hartley's work, and I really like it as well. But I'm not big on directors names, sorry.

8. Tell us what your usual day looks like.
- I get up, get the train, go to work... then I usually meet some friend for coffee or walk the streets listening to music - making time until my next train back home. Then after coming back I can meet with another friend or take pictures... and then I'll be home editing them like a maniac. ahaha But my days are very unpredictable. I don't plan them too much.

9. What do you like to do beside of photography?
- I have many passions, but the biggest ones are: singing, acting and dancing. Those are the things, besides photography, that make me ecstatic. Other than that, I'm a normal girl - I love being with my friends, I love movies and books, I like writting, too. I love to walk, specially on cold days and specially at dusk. I love listening to music, I carry my mp3 at all times. I love the simple things in life... the little things.


10. What book are you reading right now?
- I'm not reading any book at the moment, sadly. I really want to, though. The last one I loved reading, and totally recommend, was "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

11. Is there something you would do anything needed to get it?
- Hum.. "anything"? No, I don't think so. I am a woman of principles. :)

12. Is there anything you couldn't live without?
- Well, currently, I couldn't live without internet. It gives me the music that I love, it presents me with new artists of every single craft, brilliant movies, inspirational videos, beautiful people... Yeah.. internet would be it.


13. What music do you like to listen to?
- I mostly like indie/folk/soft and progressive rock/experimental, but I also like blues, gospel, trip-hop and chill out.

14. What does it look like at where you are right now? How do you feel?
- I'm at my living room. My cat is sleeping on my lap (well, she's between me and the laptop ahah), I have my christmas tree right in front of me, and that makes me happy cause it reminds me that Christmas is almost here. :)

15. You have one wish - what would it be?
- To be able to keep doing the things that I'm passionate about.


16. Can you tell what you plan for 2011? Any new years resolutions?
- Traveling is at the top of the list. I really feel the urge to travel. 2011 is the year. :)

17. If you were a thing what would it be?
- A music sheet.

18. What are you proud of the most?
- You know... I got stuck on this question. I have no idea, really - which is sad, I guess. ahaha
It's kind of the whole issue of only wanting what others have, instead of cherishing what we have
Hum... but maybe the fact that I'm self-taught. Some say that I have many talents, but I can't really say that I feel proud about them specifically because they were always mine, so... It's not
like I worked hard to get them or anything like that, they were always there. Besides, I'm not amazingly brilliant doing any of them (singing, acting, photographing, dancing). But, yeah, I guess I'm proud that if they are a little bit above average it's because of me, it's my own doing. So... at the end of the day, I guess I'm proud of being a clever girl. :)

19. Do you have a favourite flower or smell?
- Favorite flowers: Orchids, dandelions, pom pom, baby's breath... I love flowers! ahaha I could go on and on. I'm really sensitive about smells. I rarely like men perfume, for example. Most men perfumes are just too strong, they literally give me a headache. So... I usually like sweet, fruity and soft smells, like jasmine flower and pretty much any fruit smell. Oh, also, cinnamon, candy, chocolate, mint, freshly cut grass and freshly washed laundry (and sheets!). Many, to tell the truth... I like to smell stuff.

Find Teresa at her flickr, deviantart, blog, tumblr and facebook. She deserves all your love!

Luisa Möhle

All I want to say to this photographer is that she is truly inspiring and has a great chance to be one of the best one day. Her point of view is somehow special and she makes you see exactly what she wants you to see inside of her pictures. Not many photographers are able to do that these days.



The artist's story:

1. First of all, how did you get to photography and what was your very first photo taken?
- The very first photo was an analogue one. It was the November when I turned 6 years old and my mum and I were in Fuerteventura on holidays. I clearly remember the walls made of white, sparkling pebbles and I am sure I photographed them. I got into photography years later, probably at the age of 16.

2. What equipment do you use?
- I have a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 attached. Nice camera, great lens.

3. Where do you live? Do you wish you lived somewhere else? (if yes, why so?)
- I live in a very small village near Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. I am located between the Rhine Graben and the Black Forest with lots of beautiful places to take pictures. I'm sure there are plenty of awesome places in the world, but at the moment I can only imagine to move within Germany.

4. Your favourite photographer/musician/painter/film-maker?
- I don't have that kind of favourite something. I enjoy listening to different types of music, depending on the situation. And there are countless wonderful photographers out there, I couldn't decide for one.

5. Describe the place where you are right now for us, please.
- I'm sitting at my desk, in front of my new monitor. I'm still searching for a new space too keep all that stuff which had to be removed.

6. What was your last seen movie/exhibition? How did you feel about it?
- Some weeks ago I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 1. I really liked the movie. I have never read Harry Potter, but I've seen every film and I'm now listening to the audio book version read by Stephen Fry.

7. What are a few things you can´t live without?
- Well, that's difficult. At first there's my beloved boyfriend. And I would miss all my family a lot. All kinds of material stuff might seem quite important, like my camera, my books or my computer, but I guess I could manage living without them if I had to. ;)

8. Do you produce any other kind of art?
- In the past I used to write poetry and short stories, I tried painting and drawing, but didn't succeed.

9. And the last question - where do you go for inspiration?
- Nature. Lovely people. Sometimes other photographies, too.

Find Luisa at her flickr, blog, website or at her facebook page, it is really worth any of your precious time.