INS(oev)IDE # 8
This series explores the stories inside my days shooting portraits in the "east vancouver" neighborhood. This issue I finally meet one of my photography inspirations (JJL).
This last Saturday was a day in the neighborhood that I will likely never forget. With abnormally high temperatures and blue bird skies, I headed to Commercial Drive. I was meeting friends in the evening for pizza and bowling and had a few hours before meeting them to make photos and wander the streets of the neighborhood.
To be honest, it’s not always a guarantee that nice weather brings people to the drive, but on this particular Saturday, the streets were buzzing, and I was excited.
I walked north from Commercial-Broadway, heading towards Alterior as they were hosting a pop-up with Modus Coffee and I was in the mood for my second cup of the day. Before I even made it to First St., I had already stopped to take ten portraits. This is a rare occurrence, but a welcome one. Often, I could be in the neighborhood for a couple hours and only snag a few photos, so starting with ten within the first fifteen minutes started this journey off right and I could feel the neighborhood buzzing with excitement as we wake up from the grey winter.
With a few stops and chats on my way I finally made it to get my coffee and check-in with the crowd at the shop.
For a while now, I’ve had a mental list of people who I know frequent the neighborhood and I’d love to get a photo of, but have not cross paths with yet. People often ask if I coordinate shoots with people, and the simple answer is no, it’s all luck of who is out on the day.
On this particular day, I got lucky checking one of my favorite photographers, Jeremy Jude Lee, off that list, and getting an opportunity to chat with him and his partner for a bit.
If you are unfamiliar with his work, I highly recommend checking out his website and Instagram. I remember being immediately drawn into Jeremy’s work back in 2020 when he had some absolutely gorgeous portraits of Briana King, Whitney Peak for Hype Bae, and Cole Sparrow for Street Dreams Mag. The colors, compositions, and the general energy of his photos has always been aspirational to me.
Going into my saved photos to find these for this reflection reminded me of the warmth and honesty that led me to gravitate to his work in the first place. His most recent exhibition “Where I’m From”, brought that warmth and honesty and mixed it effortlessly with the nostalgic feeling of memories of summer nights to make a cohesive and beautiful collection of photos. I always am blown away by what he produces and study his work often.
As I was waiting for my coffee, I noticed Jeremy out of the corner of my eye finishing a conversation with some friends, and I saw an opportunity to introduce myself, something I am normally hesitant to do. It’s a strange habit I have but I am continuing to work on it. For one reason or another if it’s random stranger on the street, I have no problem introducing myself and asking them if I can take a photo. But, people I have admired for a long time, know of them and/or their work extensively; I clam up and pass-up chances. Maybe it’s a case of subscribing to the whole “never meet your heroes” thing, as I have definitely been disappointed in the past, but on this day, the timing felt right, and I went for it, and I am really glad I did.
We stepped outside back into the afternoon sun and I got a chance to tell him how his book “Montage” inspired me to finally take the leap into publishing something “real” with my last two books. The form factor, aesthetic, and spirit of it was definitely in my mind when designing my own book and I am grateful for that inspiration.
We continued to chat a bit longer and I got to learn a bit more about the cycle of work that he undertakes, how him and Sabrina (her website can be found here) work together and run their business, and I also got a great book recommendation from them (in my opinion, a sign of a good conversation).
Then it was time to take their portrait, and I honestly don’t even remember snapping. Taking another photographers portrait is so nerve wracking the first time around, partially for the fact that I know photographers prefer to be behind the lens, but also partially because you know how good they are at what they do and they may analyze/scrutinize the photo after!
Regardless, here is that photo. I hope I get another opportunity again soon, not only to get another crack at taking a portrait, but also because the conversation was so warm and kind, much like the energy in his photos.
Conclusions
Definitely a quicker post this week, but a special one none-the-less.
Of course before I end this; a quick photo/fit analysis. There are a few things in this photo I love. Starting with their outfits, both have elements of comfort and style mixed together perfectly. Jeremey is wearing Alterior jeans, a Yoshiada&Co t-shirt, and Brother Brother cap. All the pieces bring elements that he clearly identifies with also showing that he can put his eye for quality, his personality, and taste into a simple classic white t and jeans outfit. Sabrina comfortably styling a baggy pair of track pants with my favorite early spring clothing item, the long sleeve t-shirt, matching effortlessly the green in her hat with the green on her tee, and of course, the pants and Jeremy’s hat subconsciously synergize as well.
The elements around the portrait are key as well. The trees in the background showing their first spring buds on this last winter day, the building façade behind Jeremy framing the photo with a contrast of geometric yellows, and the Modus coffee sign indicating when and why this photo was taken. My gut reaction with having the person walking behind was not positive, as I normally try to time or maneuver the lens to have the subject appear alone in the shot, but once and a while it’s impossible, especially on very busy days in the neighborhood, and this was definitely one of them. It didn’t end up doing a disservice to the photo as it was luckily a more muted outfit in the background which contrasts the bright blue and greens in the outfit I was focused on.
I have a couple GENEs interviews coming up so hopefully will be producing some more of those soon!
As always, thanks for taking the time to read these posts, and if you haven’t already, follow JJLs work, link here one more time.