December Feature: Alex Currie
- blueshiftjournal
- Nov 30, 2014
- 4 min read
For the month of December, we are proud to present you with Alex Currie, teenage photography extraordinaire!
Alex is a 17 year old photographer and filmmaker from Buffalo, New York. His photographs focus on conveying a story in a single frame and evoking a strong emotional connection with the viewer. Throughout his short tenure as a photographer and videotographer, he has accomplished an incredible amount. Alex has been recognized by publications such as Photo Vogue, Photofocus, Lens People, Rewind Magazine, 2VIDA Magazine, and Awake Platform. Furthermore, Alex has received countless awards for both his videotography and his camera work, including First Place in Short Film at the National Fine Arts Festival (both 2013 and 2014). Recently, Alex was selected as one of Flickr's 20 Under 20 photographers. Among this group of highly talented and unique individuals, Alex received the Most Creative award.
Check out his work on our Homepage or at the following links:
Take a look at what Alex had to say in an exclusive interview with our spiritual leader, Tyler Tsay:
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Tell us how you got into photography.
I first picked up a camera when I was eleven, shooting amateur films for amateur audiences. I wasn’t really shooting consistently, though, until last year. I recently completed my 365, a project where I developed a concept, shot, and edited one photo every day for a year. It was through this project that I really dove into photography.
Give us some background on the 365-project. What inspired you to start this project?
I was inspired by several artists on Flickr who had also taken on this difficult challenge. It was intriguing to watch a year’s time pass by through a series of photographs and also to see the improvement made in this time. The 365 project was a crazy, difficult endeavor as it wasn’t uncommon for me to spend 3-5 hours a day on a single image. Mix this in with school and work and you’re left with a very sleep deprived student. I’m pretty sure I was just a zombie for that whole year.
Were there any obstacles or tough moments during the project?
The toughest part of the entire year was the entire time period spanning the Winter months. I’m based in Buffalo, NY, a city known for its below-zero temperatures and bitter cold. By the time I got home from school each day, the sun would already be set and the temperatures reaching well below freezing. I normally prefer to work in outdoor environments and scenes, so having to work inside the confines of my house and still create a new idea each day was an extremely difficult task. There were days during that period when I almost quit the project completely. I’m glad I stuck with it.
Any photos that you’re particularly proud of?
The last photo in the series, 365/365, is one of my favorites. I spent weeks constructing a life size cardboard plane and had to assemble it on location with the rapidly setting sun in a public park. One of the most stressful shoots of the year but it’s one of my favorite photos regardless.
Any moments stand out for you during this project?
Sure. There have been amazing moments in every shoot, things that I would never have seen or done without photography. It’s been the best year of my life and I’m lucky to have the whole thing on camera.
Tell us about the process for your photo shoots – idea creation, set up, execution, etc.
I don’t really have a set process – every shoot is different. Some photos are spontaneous, some are planned down to every last detail, and some are even candid. I shoot with the intent of capturing an emotion, a feeling, or a story, and hope it resides well with others.
Have there been any times when the idea and outcome for a photo were completely different?
I don’t think a photo has ever come out exactly as I wanted it to. That’s what separates a photograph from a painting – photography is real, and it can’t always be manipulated. It’s spontaneous and things go wrong and sometimes that can make it better than if it was planned.
How’s the family with all these photography endeavors?
My family is amazing. They’re supportive and helpful and behind me one hundred percent in everything I do… though my mom said if I ever did a 365 again she’d probably kick me out of the house.
What do you have planned next?
Currently I’m answering questions in between filling out college applications, so once this process is over, I’m hoping to start shooting personal projects regularly again. I’ve got some exciting work opportunities in the coming months I can’t talk about yet. And, of course, I’m finishing up my senior year of high school.
Who inspires you?
There are so many incredible artists whose work I love. I’m always inspired by Tim Walker, who is probably my favorite photographer of all time.
If you could give one word of advice to our readers, what would it be?
Just pick up a camera. The only way you’ll get better at something you love is if you put time into it, so set aside your limitations and shoot.
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Keep looking out for Alex - after what he's shown us so far, we have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future. Stay tuned for other exciting interviews, blog posts, and the like!
