Image of the Week #7: Jason Tsay

“I always strive to use compositional elements like lines and symmetry while shooting.”

— Jason Tsay

Jason Tsay - Kodak Portra 400 NC+

Wow! As someone who swoons over symmetry and alignment, I'm in awe! Can you tell us how this shot came about?

Thanks, Ellen! My photographer friend Art Chang was in town, so we decided to meet up at Salk Institute. After exploring the grounds a bit, I knew I had to get "that shot" of the incredibly symmetrical architecture. Most photos you see of Salk Institute are taken in broad daylight, but I wanted to see some soft light bounce off the walls at sunset. It wasn't easy with the swarms of visitors and the pressure of the institute's closing time, but my patience paid off when I got the clear shot. The man striding by is actually a bit of a happy accident.

Do you always shoot with such attention to lines and composition?

I try! I feel like the little details are what set visually intriguing photos apart, so I always strive to use compositional elements like lines and symmetry while shooting.

What gear did you use and how did you process the image?

I captured this shot with the Leica T and its kit lens at 18mm. My processing in Lightroom involved the Kodak Portra 400 NC+ preset from VSCO Film 02 and various tweaks. 

Where are you headed in 2015?

One of my goals this year is to get better at taking photos of people. Maybe I'll have some portrait work to share with the Looks Like Film community soon. Thanks for the feature! 

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Kickstarter: "New Zealand & Beyond"

Portrait by Gavin Hardy

“I hope to inspire people who want to break free and do what they love, that with the right mixture of positivity, will power and hard work, it CAN be done. I want to empower people to take that risk and turn dreams into reality.”

— Ellen Richardson

Hi everyone! I'm Ellen Richardson, a portrait and lifestyle photographer from England, and writer of the Image of the Week and Artist of the Month features here at the Looks Like Film Blog. It's a such privilege to be part of a hugely talented community and nothing beats getting to browse all of your work in the incredible VSCO Film Users Group every week to seek out the best of the best!

I want to share with you a huge personal project I'm taking on this year: 

On March 12th I’m moving to New Zealand to travel the country for a year and will be creating a book of my photography taken over the 12 months! To make this possible though, I need your help.

I’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign, which is an online crowdfunding service that enables creative projects worldwide to exist, through pledges in return for rewards. So far they've raised more than $1.5 billion for independent artists just like us.

I'm self-publishing a 120-page book of portraiture and personal travel photography from my 12-month journey around New Zealand, via crowdfunding service Kickstarter. I need your help to turn my dream into a reality - pledge here now

It runs on pledges rather than donations, so you don't actually pay anything until the goal deadline (March 12th), and only if my target is met. If it's successful, then you receive a cool reward based on how much you pledged, such as a copy of the book or prints and posters from the series. If I don't meet my goal then you don't pay a penny - win-win!

By essentially pre-ordering a copy of the book or some artwork for your home, your pledge will go towards funding the printing and shipping costs of the first 250 copies of 'New Zealand & Beyond'. The book won't exist without your support, so please pledge and help turn this dream into a reality.

If you can’t pledge money, you can still have a huge influence on the success of this Kickstarter. Simply SHARE the project or this blog post wherever you can and you'll receive a free eBook version of 'New Zealand & Beyond' - just like that! Be sure to let me know you've shared it and provide your email so I can add you to the mailing list.

For lots more details about the book and my journey, visit the official Kickstarter page, and you can keep updated about my progress by joining the 'New Zealand & Beyond' Facebook group.

Thanks so much for reading!

- Ellen

P.S - If anyone is located in New Zealand or planning to visit, let's meet up for some portraiture and fun! Email me at ellelouise2@gmail.com

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Image of the Week #6: Lucia Morud

“...the image really illustrates a typical Oregon evening—beautiful, yet usually somewhat melancholy. ”

— Lucia Morud

Lucia Morud - Kodak Porta 400 VC++

What a haunting portrait! What's the story behind it?

Thank you! My lovely friend Lindsay Anne and I were on a hike in Portland's Lower Macleay Park. It was foggy and gorgeous as we were heading back, so we decided to take a trek across a bridge which spanned the park as the sun set. I snapped a few shots of Lindsay as we were standing on the border of the bridge, and she gave her hair a little toss, which resulted in this image! 

What are your thoughts and feelings on the image?

I love the mood and the way Lindsay Anne's beautiful red hair + the "woodland" colors in her ensemble compliment her misty surroundings. The way her hair hides her face adds a bit of mystery, which I always like in a photo. I feel like the image really illustrates a typical Oregon evening--beautiful, yet usually somewhat melancholy.  

Is this your favorite style of photography?

I generally steer towards a lighter, "sunny" style, but I do love the film feel and the rich colors it brings. Portraits are my absolute favorites, yes, especially women (and Lindsay Anne was a breeze to capture). I am looking forward to working with actual film vs. digital sometime in the future. 

What gear did you use and how did you process the image?

I used my Nikon D700 and 35mm 1.4 Sigma Art lens. I processed it in VSCO with Kodak Porta VC+++, pack 03.

Thanks so much for the feature! :) I love your site and you guys do a fantastic job of mixing it up and showing the world so many amazing images!

It's a pleasure to have you, Lucia!

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