brilliance

Rewarding excellence in the quest of brilliant minimal.

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B R I L L I A N C E Spring ~ Vol. 5

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Founder, Editor in ChiefMICHAEL BRYANT MODE

Contributing PhotographersPhoto Credit assigned to photos inside of this magazine

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JOE BULGER Photographer: Weddings/Outdoors/Headshot

@bulgerjosephUnited States of America

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Grateful. This word is continually how I feel when the nurses and doctors and specialists at Baylor treat me. It's bittersweet from time to time but overall the medicine seems to be working this go round. And many of them work extremely hard in keeping me alive. Their knowledge and ingenuity in medicine and this delicate balance vitally needed has been life saving. I talk about my illness because it often stands in the way of my publishing each issue of Brilliance online, and although Brilliance is a passion for me, my health comes first. I am equally grateful to all those reading this article of Brilliance! I am ecstatically grateful to those contributing to make this issue as beautiful and evermore stunning than past issues.

As I write this letter it is during an interim of waiting for my veggie burger to arrive. I have been contemplating trying vegan and/or vegetarian. I attempted vegetarian back in the 90's and Taco Bueno was my new home. However, that whim faded because I was doing it just to be called and claim that I was a vegetarian. 6 months later I found myself back on the beef wagon. Twenty years later, I have since educated myself about nutrition and chemistry in the human body - The two play an integral part in attaining a balanced health. I call this interaction a symphony. Different foods are the instruments that our body parts play, and each person is maestro. Everything, the music, instruments and conductor all come together and function as an exquisite ensemble, playing beautiful music. You, the reader and contributors play similar roles in making the production of Brilliance a success each quarter. We have an exciting issue in time for spring. Hopefully you will glean new ideas from the photos featured.

Thank you! See you this summer!

Editor-in-Chief and FounderMichael Bryant Mode

JORDAN LAESSIG Media Director | NEED | Photographer

http://www.neededition.com http://www.foremostedition.com

@jordanrlaessig Instagram

Dallas NYC

White Book Aesthetics in White

In a past issue of Brilliance, the title "Mini Book" was a term used once to boast Eric Ward's photography because there were too many to stop at 4 or 5 stills. Whenever I find a photographer with an amount of photos as such I find it difficult deciding which to feature. White Book is a name that I had been kicking around in my my brain for the past few months. It will feature white minimal, be that color or black & white but the major aesthetic will be white. The first person's work to be featured is photographer @aesthetnik Dominik Schulte.

How long have you had your Instagram page?For one year now!But I really stated to post nice photos like 5 month ago.

When did you get into minimal photography?I started with minimal photography like 4 month ago. I wanted to create a complete new view in NYC. And the typical NYC instagrammer only upload this really dark and high contrast photos if the city... That´s how all this started...

What do you do for a living?I´m working at a big german car company as an mechatronic technician.

What is about Instagram that you like the most?That you can spread your art/ photography around the world and that you get in contact with so many different and interesting people.

How has Instagram made an impact on your life and on your photography?I really started with photography when I started with instagram, because I gives the hole thing more sense. I've the feeling that people are interested in my work an that keeps me going harder and harder....

Where do you want to take your photography?I want to take it more and more into Art and that I can live of it someday.

You made mention a really interesting quote about "black and white..." What did you mean?"Black and white are the colors of photography. To me it symbolizes the alternative of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected." For there a two big parts in life, that´s hope and despair. That´s life, and this keeps the life interesting. And I try to symbolize situations of life in my photos, so black and white are the best colours in my eyes to do it!

The Monarch butterfly is creature I used to be afraid of when I was a young boy. One summer afternoon I almost had a heart attack because a monarch, one of the most harmless incests of nature, landed on my face. It landed on my right cheek to be exact. I can still feel the intensity of the sun that day. But I do not remember the month nor day that that event happened. It had to be on a weekend because the sun was directly centered in a cloudless blue sky and I was on a playground. There is a grade school behind the house we lived in as children. Many of us would walk over to the playground, tetherball, baseball and kickball on the weekends.

On this particular day I was the lone kid on the playground when that lone monarch landed on my face. I don't talk a b o u t t h i s d a y b e c a u s e i t i s embarrassing. Most insects that I had knowledge of stung: bees, wasps and ants. I collected ants back then. You do know that some ants fly? So, as a young boy, I thought that most anything that flew had to have the capacity to sting which added to my fear of butterfly. There is one person that I know holds no such fear. Meet Bill Chu. He is not only the photographer of this issue's cover shot but he has an interesting hobby that I think is quite fascinating. >>>

"Living Colorful Fractals"

Pediatrician | Photographer Texas

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Where are you from, and where were you born? I live in Houston, TX and have been here most of my life. I was born in Miami, FL and have also lived in Washington DC and Los Angeles, CA.

All of those cities you made mention are places that I either wouldn't mind ending up living in and are definitely places of choice for vacation spots. When did you become interested in raising butterflies? My interest in raising butterflies actually evolved from my interest in photography. Soon after joining Instagram, I became fascinated with macro photography. Butterflies became a favorite subject because of their natural beauty, but also a challenge because of their elusiveness. I found out that the American monarch butterfly population is dramatically declining because of a combination of climate change, pesticide use, and GMO crops. Planting milkweed, the only host plant for monarch caterpillars, is a simple and easy way to make a small difference. My first year raising monarchs was such a fun and gratifying experience, and it provided me with some great photo ops!

That's great information to know Bill. I was watching a PBS special about the migration of monarch butterfly the other night. That is when I learned about what you made mention. I also remember the delve about milkweed being essential for their survival. I will be headed to the nearest nursery for plant or seeds to plant. How long have you been in Instagram? I’ve been on Instagram for over 3 years now. I started out knowing practically nothing about photography, and I’ve learned so much and made so many good friends along the way!

Yes. I enjoy our Instagram friendship as well. Do you have a favorite species of butterfly? It’s pretty hard to pick a favorite, because there are so many unique and beautiful butterfly species. Right now, it’s the Glasswing Butterfly, which I’ve been able to see a few at the Cockrell Butterfly Center here in Houston. There’s something magical about seeing their transparent wings, but it also make them a challenge to photograph. >>>

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<<< To be honest, when I became interested in photography, I didn’t even “get” minimalism. Seeing the work of talented minimalist photographers such as yourself really opened my eyes to the “less is more” philosophy. My attempts at minimal pics have been some of my personal favorites and most successful posts on Instagram. I read a quote by a French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery that really captures minimalism for me. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

That is a profound statement. Believe it or not, I didn't get minimalism either. I would see all of those absolutely stunning minimal photos and was so inspired and jealous and envious and grateful that I felt I just had to learn all that I could about it, because there was something about minimal that I liked automatically. Now keep in mind that this was pre-Brilliance. I quickly developed a deep passion for the art of minimal so much that I was like the character Russell Crow portrayed in A Beautiful Mind, I saw minimal almost everywhere I turned. So, creating a magazine to advocate it was the easy part because I'm retired and can devote the hours necessary for each issue. ended up being the very driving force that breathed life into the Brilliance magazine. The gallery you see today is not the gallery I started out with. My first gallery quickly turned into a digital photo album. Nothing really matched. After browsing many minimal galleries I noticed that my gallery needed some structure and was not at all organized. So I started a new gallery and I knew that it was going be minimal. Hey, I noticed something that has absolutely nothing to do with this interview but it interested me. Are you a doctor? Yes! I’m a pediatrician.

That is awesome! Have you started a family yet, or will that come later once you reach a certain plateau in the world of a pediatrician? And, Do you plan on continuing raising butterflies? Definitely! This year, I’ll be planting a lot more milkweed for monarch butterfly, but I’m also planting different host plants for other butterfly species and more flowering plants for them to feed on.

That is great to hear and was an enlightening interview! I know I will doing my share to help save these beautiful incests. Thank you for chatting Bill. Keep up the good work sir. Talk to you soon.

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25 Brilliant Minimal

Adonis @almostpicasso

Instagram United States

Adriano Silva @dricosilva

Instagram Brasil

Joseph Edward @josephedjohn

Instagram United Kingdom

Cass Hughes @altoimagery

Instagram Australia

Miss.BW @miss.bw Instagram Germany

Lullabycafe @lullabycafe

Instagram Spain

Dominik Schulte @aesthetnik

Instagram New York

Steven Xue @stevenxuex

Instagram New Zealand

Martan Ferreira @martanferreira

Instagram Portugal

Davide @omniamundamundis

Instagram Germany

Bruno Stuart @brunostuart

Instagram

Rey Canalas Jr. @reycanlasjr

Instagram England

Httanabe @httanabe

Instagram Finland

Amber Jones @amberrrjones

Instagram England

Alan Pea @peapookcachoo

Instagram Turkey

Alan @alanivg Instagram

Mexico

Ana Gil @ana_gil_

Instagram Portugal

DrianiriRi2 @riri.nyc Instagram

United States

Antonio Fonseca @tozzzze Instagram Portugal

Olivier Morisse @oliviermorisse

Instagram England

Hugo Carvalhal @hugo.carvalhal

Instagram Portugal

Eric Corrales @thunderdreamer

Instagram United States

Eduardo Cortázar @elcortazar

Instagram Mexico

Greta @tusky.alego

Instagram Mexico

MURIELLE @muetc Instagram

France

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Fragile An interview with Jerome Canlas

PhotographerHong Kong

Sometimes our story is just as simple as words on paper. We hope to spellbound and captivate and simply relate an experience. However, some of us have stories that pull and tug leaving our hearts yearning or broken. Meet Jerome and his wife Keso. The journey these two have traveled is nothing short of remarkable and an example of human resilience. Their story is concise on purpose because this interview is powerful and super special. I wanted this to be just their story; one of struggle, one of emergence. Such is the life of a butterfly from the dormancy of a chrysalis.

I've been using Instagram since November 2013. Photography has always been a hobby of mine, but I never really had an platform to share and see other people's photography that I really liked using. Instagram made this a lot more accessible and organic. In addition, Instagram has also fostered such a great community of creative individuals that goes beyond merely sharing photos. The community actively encourages meeting up with others, taking photos and has been a great way of meeting inspirational people.

Keso and I arrived in Hong Kong on 30th December 2014 to start our new life. On 11th January 2015, I left Keso in Hong Kong and flew back to London to finish my work there and tidy up a few loose ends. I was due to return to Hong Kong on 5th February 2015. The week before I was due to fly back, Keso was suffering from headaches, fever and flu-symptoms and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. On 1st February 2015, while showering in the morning, she discovered a growing lump on the top of her scalp and, worse, began to lose the ability to control her left leg. She immediately called my sister - who also lives in Hong Kong - and they went to the hospital. Keso had gradually lost control of her left arm and leg. She was given an MRI scan which showed a clot - she was diagnosed with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, a very rare type of stoke. Treatment began immediately - seizures, a stay in intensive care, a chest infection and a blood infection were all par for the course. By 17th February 2015, her recovery was sufficient that the doctors were happy to discharge her. Her recovery continued at home, though she was very tired all the time. On 26th February 2015, she had her first follow up with the Doctors. Whilst her heart and brain functions had improved, the lump on her scalp she originally discovered had not reduced in size. She was sent for a surgical consult and another MRI scan. >>>

<<<The neurosurgeon aspirated the lump and found that the lump contained a pus - a sign of an infection. Worse still, the MRI showed that the infection had managed make its way into her skull and onto her brain - there were now 3 abscesses which would need to be surgically drained. In hindsight, it was this infection that cause the intracranial pressure, manifesting in the stroke. The surgery was carried out on 3rd March 2015 - and tackling the abscesses has had an accelerating impact on Keso's recovery from the stroke. She was eventually discharged from hospital on 15th March 2015.

The physical recovery from the stroke is expected to be around 6 months. Her core strength, dexterity and coordination is returning well and she continues to work on the finer muscle movements - for example, she is able to walk unaided, grip and hold things, type but she has to concentrate when walking on inclines, stairs and uneven ground and writing is a challenge (she's left handed). She is on a 6 week course of antibiotics to combat the infection which is administered intravenously twice daily, so even though she has been discharged from hospital we still need to make a trip every 9am and 9pm until mid-April, when this will be reviewed. She is also on oral medication - anticonvulsants - which she has to take for approximately 2 years during which she has certain off-limit activities - such as drinking, which is the thing that shocks most people! So, all that being said, she's fully expected to make a full recovery (barring no further complications) and when she's able to drink again, we'll have one heck of party!

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Santorini An interview with Adrián Mora MarotoArchitect | Art Director | Photographer

Spain

"Nostalgia" is probably one of the most beautifulest songs ever written. If you have never heard of it, please listen to the original track of it from the "Reflections of Passion" album. Each time I hear this song I think of two events; one, my thoughts of Greece, and two; a woman named Chandra. I call these events because one I loved and the other loved me and I broke her heart. Still to this day I think of her. No one will ever love me like she did. When it comes to Greece, I have decided that if I ever get over my fear of flying and become wealthy that I would live the rest of my life there. Although I have never been there and have only it in the movies and travel video but I found a gallery that became a visual for this song. Meet architect Adrian Mora Maroto. His Instagram gallery reads like one of those high end magazines for the rich and famous. Adrian speaks Spanish but he translated our interview into English. I like it when I meet professional businessman on Instagram because it gives Brilliance a breath of fresh air. >>>

<<<Where were you born, and did you grow up in Spain?I was born in Valencia, but my family is from Toledo. I have been lucky to grow up between these two cities, both beautiful but so different from one another. Toledo is a city in the inland of Spain, steeped in history, culture and architecture... Valencia is a coastal city with perfect climate, a beautiful historical centre and lovely beaches.

The way you describe these two cities is watching one of those travel vacation shows where only millionaires gather. How long have you had an Instagram page?I started my Instagram page about a year and a half ago.

That's a pretty good span of time to make an impact on Instagram. I'm trying to remember what my Instagram page looked like when it had been a year and a half. What do you enjoy best about Instagram?I love the Instagram community. I have had the pleasure of meeting great people and making new friends. They have also given me the opportunity of learning and sharing personal moments with them.

Yes. The people you meet here are always interesting and many end up being great contacts and loyal. One of the things that caught my attention about your gallery is its architectural smoothness. I think of summer and Greece and Mediterranean when I visit. How long have you been an architect?I finished my Master of Architecture four years ago. I was lucky to start working in a studio while studying, the firm where I still work. Thanks to Fran Silvestre Arquitectos team I have learned, created and matured into a stimulating creative atmosphere. >>>

<<<That sounds great. Not too many people can say that they love what they do at their place of employment. That's very fortunate. How long have you been interested in photography?I have always been interested in photography. I am fascinated about how it is able to capture a moment in time. It is amazing for me to be able to convey so many things to people through photography.

I absolutely agree with you. Instagram is so popular. Everyone can use their photography to reach others and connect. What do you like most about minimal photography?I love minimal photography because it is closely linked to the architecture I believe in. Architecture does not need many elements for being able to convey a message or a feeling, as well as photography. As Mies Van der Rohe said: “less is more”.

An architect is what I wanted to be in college but I didn't make the grades and my family was poor. So I studied communication. What is on the horizon with your photography and with the architecture firm that you work for?My main aim has always been and will be to be able to work in what I love. My goal is to enjoy and to balance hobbies, job and life. In this direction, Instagram is a very special way to combine it all.I feel lucky to work in a firm where all the team has always trusted in me.Currently, I am the Communication and Art Direction area manager at Fran Silvestre Arquitectos. I love to be able to work on Architecture projects. I enjoy thinking about how to explain, through images, everything that forms the project. It is very pleasant to work in a place like this, to work in a firm where I can combine hobbies and job.

Thank you for this interview Adrian. I will be keeping an eye on your gallery. An honor sir.

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The Aesthetist An interview with Lily McFly

Photographer | Editor Moscow

The definition of beauty is "the qualities that give pleasure to the senses, an outstanding example of its kind." Meet photographer and editor of The Aesthetist Lily McFly. When I first saw Lily's gallery was through a photo she captured of the Guggenheim. If you haven't seen her gallery you're in for a treat especially since she lives in Moscow. Despite the brief time she did live in Los Angeles her Instagram is stocked with a look at the city of angels in a smooth, dulcet and pastel aspect. We discussed a little bit about her technique and eye for the aesthetics and elements of minimal she features in her Instagram gallery.

How is Moscow these days, and what is it like to live there?Moscow has radically changed over the past ten years. I think it looks very European now, it has a lot of cool new places like Red October in downtown, which is chocolate factory transformed into a bohemian island of art, fun and culture; Multimedia Art Museum, Gorky Park and much more. I love those places because I live in that area of Moscow. But as it is a very big city, and a capital of the biggest country in the world, Moscow is huge and really controversial. People are not that nice here, and it’s really cold and really dirty most of the year. But still, it is beautiful, it has that royal and imperial vibe, and surely has a lot of ways to impress you. >>>

How long have you had your Instagram page?I’ve had my Instagram account for almost 4 year now. However, I started my ‘minimal & pale’ gallery only last summer, when I realized that Instagram page could be much more than just another social media. What is the most rewarding part about your gallery?In my gallery, I convert my experience into an image so it becomes some kind of a souvenir. All those tiny visuals from the past belong to me; I can bring them back to life by just looking at them. And they belong to me, because I’ve created them, giving them colors and styles they haven’t had before.

What is The Aesthetist Magazine all about?The Aesthetist Magazine is about culture & fashion from an aesthetic point of view. It is a guide to the nature of coolness, for people who don’t want to know what is popular, but want to know what’s cool. We ignore ‘manufactured’ trends and the buzz of mass media; we select the most exiting ideas, re-evaluate and deconstruct them. First Issue is coming out this summer, but you can already read few articles on theaesthetist.com.

In what ways has Instagram had an impact on your photography and on your life as a whole?I believe that art heals bruises. Last summer, when I started my gallery, I was going though a bad patch.

I had to reinvent myself, change all my plans for the future, and start all over again. I was not really into photography. However, I was a fan of minimalism. I chased minimalism in everything – in design and architecture, in magazines like Cereal, in music, art and designs. I craved uncluttered space – in my mind it equated with clear thoughts. I needed to find a cure for the overwhelming present state of the world. So I realized that I needed to create something that would express that yearning, my own visual space – my gallery. And you know what? It worked for me.

Where do you get your inspiration for your photography and for each of your Instagram posts?Inspiration is for amateurs. I create my posts because I want to ‘build’ a beautiful gallery. That’s why I post pictures everyday, and that process of creating is very exiting for me. I feel mysterious pleasure from the harmony of particular colors, textures and atmospheres. That's a new thought, "inspiration is for amateurs." What is your dream job?Being a fashion model. (hahaha) Just joking.

You laugh. But I wondered if you were a model or starting out being one. What is the one thing about your photography that you feel people don't know about?Well, nobody knows that I address all my photos to one person who will probably never see them.

<<<Lily, you have a fluidity about pastels in your gallery I have noticed. Let's play a quick round of "Either Or". What is your favorite color?Either mint green, or beige.

New York or LA?My heart belongs to New York. Spaghetti or Lasagna?Lasagna. Cake or Pie?Cake. Cheesecake. Oh! Cheesecake. That's cake that is a pie. Unexpected answer. Coffee or Tea?Coffee. Tea. Repeat. Maserati or Porsche?White Porsche 911. Although I like the Porsche, the Cayenne model to be specific, I'm gonna go with the Maserati. Thank you Lily for this candid and revealing interview. I wish you all of the best in Moscow. Perhaps we will more of your work on future trips across the globe. An honor!

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JORDAN LAESSIG Media Director | NEED | Photographer

http://www.neededition.com http://www.foremostedition.com

@jordanrlaessig Instagram

Dallas NYC

A Sense of Humor An interview with Kyle Huber

Graphic Designer | Photographer @asenseofhuber

California

Astronomers and space advocates spend many years patiently listening for signs of life in outer space. Occasionally they might hear noise but for the most part of their waiting is in listening. Combing through photos on Instagram, in what was once called Explore, I see a lot of good, bad and ugly shots. Some photos there need to be banned. But every now and then I stumble across Instagramers with large and meager followings, curating sensationally talented galleries that correspond back. And this makes what I do much easier. Meet graphic designer and iPhone enthusiast Kyle Huber. He run an additional Instagram page dedicated to his pet turtles. However, it's how he has migrated some of those turtle posts onto his personal Instagram hash-tagged turtle Tuesday. And with a hash-tag like that left me curious to investigate what that is all about and his recent invitation to The Oscars this year! >>>

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Are you a professional photographer?No, I am a professional graphic designer who found my passion for iPhone photography.

Impressive! And I like it that you didn't shy away from owning having a passion for iPhone photography. How long have you had your Instagram turtle page?I think I've had @TurtleTuesday for almost 2 years. I started posting photos of my pet turtles on a weekly basis over 3 years ago though using the #TurtleTuesday tag.

Yeah, I was thinking that this was a great idea. Where did the idea come from in thinking of a turtle page for Shelly?I knew the #TurtleTuesday hashtag was popular and since I was posting a turtle photo every single Tuesday, I figured it would be fun to have a profile for the turtles too. I began the account posting individual images of the little guys, but decided to make the account more unique and began to create #panoseries that consist of multiple thumbnails completing the full photo in gallery view. This concept is challenging to make happen because it requires large high resolution images and since I only photograph using my iPhone, not every picture will work at the quality I want. I am not able to post each week for this reason, but try to get at least one new image series up each month. I'll never miss #TurtleTuesday on my main Instagram account though- Never have since week one! I wondered about that and I follow a few Instagramers displaying that same, I guess you would call it patchwork or multi-panel posts that has captured one idea and thought. The Oscars! And, so you know, this is not only why I wanted to interview. I learned about your involvement with The Oscars after they aired. You have a good outlook and this reflects well in your photography. I thought, heck with all of his followers why not get on the wave. So, How did all of that come about with The Oscars? The Academy contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in the Oscars Creators program that they selected me for. It was an amazing opportunity and I was given access to pretty much anything I asked for during the week leading up to Oscar night. During that week, I worked with members of the social media team and created several pieces of content for our Instagram and other social platforms. Feel free to check out this link for more information about it, but there were 6 other talented artists chosen from Tumblr, Vine & Instagram to create photos/videos for The Academy along with myself. >>>

<<<And how did Shelly enjoy her seat at The Oscars?The Academy was nice enough to make her a seating card with her name on it, but unfortunately it was all just for fun and we were only in the Dolby theater for about 20 minutes to get that shot we posted.

It's cool the Academy has a sense of humor about it because it was genius. How many green turtles do you have?I currently have 8 youngsters and they are all red-eared sliders.

Thanks for the correction. When I was a kid, I remember my aunt Doris had a red-eared slider. What is it about the sliders that you enjoy most?They're super easy pets and I think they are the cutest animal! I've ways loved turtles and have had them since I was a young child. I got them for $2 each in Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles. There was no way I could just have one!

Cool deal! My younger brother had a slider but I never paid much attention to it because I was hatching sea monkeys in a goldfish bowl. Who started "Turtle Tuesday?"Who knows! I'd like to think I did though. (smile)

What's next on the horizon with your photography?I'm going to continue being an influencer on Instagram and will be involved with a lot of exciting things in 2015. I hope to travel often and capture more of the world than ever before. I'll continue to be iPhone only for my photography, unless a fancy camera magically falls into my hands on its own. For now, I'm satisfied with the quality of work I can create without a big bulky camera. I also own a drone, so that takes videos and photos also. These drone posts will always be tagged #PhantomFilmed so you know they aren't from my iPhone 5S. >>>

<<<To travel the world would be the best gift anybody could receive. I can't wait to see what your posts and journey of those trips. Where do you get your inspiration for your photography?I get my inspiration from all sorts of sources, but I think it's rooted in my graphic design education and is amplified by the always innovating and endlessly creative community of artists on Instagram. I follow accounts that inspire me, not just through gorgeous locations or portraits but bc of unique perspectives that tell stories and evoke thought or emotion. Anyone can take a pretty photo of a sunset, a mountain or a cityscape. I'm a believer in more than just throwing up pretty picture after pretty picture though. It's the editing process and the organization of images in the gallery that really makes the magic happen. I usually spend a couple hours on each post I put up, thanks to the insane perfectionist in me. I just think it's the details that matter most when trying to stand out on a platform full of millions of talented picture takers. How each image joins together as a body of work is a huge priority to me and I probably spend half of every day thinking about what to post next. I have developed a carefully curated color pattern consisting of a checkerboard system of light and dark images. Between my white photos I try to use a consistent pallet of colors including blues, purples, greens, oranges and reds. (Check out #asenseofblue and #asenseofpurple, a couple tags I started for the colors I use often.) All of these things that I think about are probably not recognized by the majority of my followers, but that's okay with me! I look at my account as my brand and I follow my guidelines to keep it cohesive. As far as the content that inspires me is concerned- I like illusions, symmetry, balance, centered subject matter, clean line work (Horizontal lines are my biggest pet peeve. For the love of Pete, people, please make your horizon lines straight! Crooked is sloppy and shows poor craft. End rant. Haha!), and most importantly- COLOR!

Thank you very much for this interview Kyle! I came away from this with knowledge about how to expand a single photo into multiple photos. And I now know that the "green turtles" as I had stated are called sliders. Turtle Tuesday not only shows your love for an unusual set of pets this interview also show your good sense humor. All of the best to you and everything you do in the future. I'm sure that whatever it is you plan the sky will only be the limit.

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Visionary Photographer | Nurse

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A visionary is not only a person that many consider a mover and shaker but is a person and that makes great changes for the world as a whole. A visionary is a person with a clear understanding of drive it takes and the amount of determination needed to turn dreams into action. Meet Vicente Bravo. One of the aspects that keeps me returning to his gallery is his sense of style and creativity with his photography. I glean idea from my folks that I follow but this cat is high on my list of what I consider true inspiration. Vicente is a visionary that understands the height, breath, width and length about impact of an idea.

How long have you had you Instagram page?I've had my page since April of 2013, almost 2 years from that time.

That's a good stretch of time. When did you start taking picture?I started to take photographs when I was a young teenager, perhaps 13 or 15. Back then it was only for fun and I lacked of any serious knowledge about it. Now that I am 21 years of age I have had the chance to get a bit more educated about this style of art called minimalism, but still have no formal training nor training in the subject. >>>

I'm the same way. I think I picked up a camera when I was 11, and that only because my parents had been arguing that day. My stepdad was trying to take pictures of my mother. It was a Sunday and we were at Sandhills. The wind was blowing and she kept turning her back to him. So he handed me the camera, probably convinced that she'd turn around for me, and that was my first lesson so-to-speak in photography. I still have that photo which was my very first photo shot. Where are you from? I'm from Chillán, a small city in the south of Chile.

What do you do for a living?I am a Nursing student at my local University.

How admirable. A woman once told me that if you get a degree and a job in the medical field that you will always have a job. Smart move. Where do you get you inspiration for each of your Instagram posts?Since my photography mainly focuses on minimalism and architecture, the principal inspirations for me are objects and spaces. If I am studying objects, for example, I tend to choose the ones that are more appealing to my sense of touch. This means things and materials taken care of and that have textures which adds to the depth of the object in each of my composition. Objects that you can touch and that are malleable, you know, with flexible textures and how they move with human interaction, touch, if you will. This is why you will find in my gallery many pictures of the delicate bending of paper, or giving the illusion of movement. In the case of discussing spaces, I get less minimal and more architectural I must say, because I pay attention more attention to other elements with aspects of perspective and straightness. One of my main interests when taking pictures of buildings is height. The amount of different angles I am able to work with, and the presence or absence of colour are evident and key to me. Another kind of inspiration is movement of people, because sometimes I like to emulate common everyday human movement in a photo, but not so much an explicit demonstration of it.>>>

and now I'm into Vaporwave). But recently at 19, I rediscovered minimalism and understood that this style was precisely what I was searching for.

When it comes to minimal photography who are your favorite photographers on Instagram?I have many "minimal crushes" on Instagram, and when I joined the community I went right away to the accounts of some of them because I read their blogs. I like quite a lot the style of Ilanka Verhoeven (@ilankaverhoeven) because she can perfectly put 2 colours together and make an ever changing story just out of white and blue. Also, Ivania Carpio (@love_aesthetics) has a unique sense of things with a purpose, cause she is a product developer (she makes stuff). Besides these 2 inspirational people, I found inside the app another even deeper world of minimal photographers, such as @spyroc, @pabloalzaga and many others. And in matters of architecture, I have personal respect for Alex (@_absolutelyalex), Dirk (@macenzo) and my fellow countryman Adolfo (@adoguzman) (because we are both chilean).

I noticed that you have more black and white photos in your Instagram gallery. Is black and white your favorite?I must say that my favorite palette is in between greyscale and light blues. In my short time experimenting with minimalism, (I chose to embrace this style only 3 years ago) I have noticed the many different styles that coexist among the main one, and realized that my main purposes were reaching white, and bold contrasts. Although I like to "explore" another colour or another shade, I feel like I made my signature look with white, grey, and black. And sometimes a little bit of blue.

How long have you liked minimal?At the same time I started taking pictures of random things, there was in myself an unfinished aim of pursuing the essential in those things. All of that translated simply in my inclination for clean visuals for my bedroom, and when I say that I didn't complete that purpose I mean that I didn't paint my bedroom bone white. In fact, I had a quite long period in my life when all my personal aesthetic and my art was about visual excess (I was into Pop Art

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"G" Man An interview with Can Mete Photographer | Gastronomist

Turkey

I found myself mesmerized with a gallery that features foods and drink. I am still working on capturing food to settings that enhances the dish featured because I have heard often that food is an elusive subject to capture. Further stating the "they say", food is difficult to capture and still look delicious. Meet Can Mete. This student of gastronomy has a few stills of culinary that are so uncanny in that you might find yourself afterwards craving that particular dish. And how ironic that the country he's from is also the name of favorite pheasant most dined around the globe.

What makes a great dish?To me, what makes a meal tasty and complete are the natural/organic ingredients. I live for and enjoy the connection between foraging the produce and making into the form of a dish. The Rosemary I collect from my backyard, the tomatoes I purchase from the 73 year old farmer from the village; those are the matters I surround myself with upon thinking of the perfect plate. The tastiest dishes are made with only organic ingredients.

How does dairy, herbs and spices add to a meal in making it a favorite dish, and which are your favorite herb, spice and dairy product?I believe spices are the soul of a meal. I can't even imagine a perfect meal without black or red pepper. I make use of many Middle Eastern spices in my kitchen as well. As far as dairy product, I use natural milk and butter also fresh from the village. The butter I use makes for great tasting dishes and allows for incredible tastes to be experienced; it adds an amazing aroma and taste to the dish. However, let's not forget that it all begins with milk.

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"I learned about the Instagram yoga community from my good friend, and Acro Yoga partner, Robin. She had a strong account of 7,000 followers, but wanted to post more Acro shots..."

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"I'm addicted to handstands. I point my toes because I think it makes the line look better..."

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"For me, yoga is my break from reality. When I step onto my mat the world drops away as I focus on my breath and movements. It is a way to clear my mind and reenergize for the week." - Thomas Eagen

Laird Kay enjoys photographing aircrafts so much that he, also a Suggested User

on Instagram, pens himself an airplane geek, and you will see why on the next few pages...

BEN CLARKE "Old Harry Rocks"

Photographer @ben.clarke

United Kingdom

brilliance

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