Here is a post from our S P A C E podcast series, May 2021, so yeah, around the time the pandemic was ‘lifting,’ sort of, but not really where I was. And we were still all in a funk about meeting people in real life. I personally still am, but it’s not because of covid, now. It’s because meeting people in real life is too awkward. I’m back on the internet, more, now, except for the hyperlocal place where I live to suss out the scene, discover stories, and connect people… right here. Right where I am. And virtually, everywhere I’ve ever been, so far, which is kind of a lot of places.
I did get to meet the person I met through this interview, below, in real life when I went to London, in 2016, to do an event there. Yes, I used to go half a world away to make events. But can you see why I stopped? Investing in that way doesn’t make sense when people aren’t easy to communicate with post-pandemic, as I’ve been noticing and recoiling from, on a recent trip to the US that was the first one in 12 years and man, what a strange experience. So I know now. Do not engage. Okay, cool. I will not.
A post from the photographer, resharing it again today, from back then. I hope young artists will find inspiration and take heart in the risk — and adventure — of the creative process. Let go a little. Find their ways.
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One of my favorite photographers in the world agreed to talk with me about the art of making street photos, back in 2018. I loved that conversation. It was so, so fun and delightful. S P A C E makes space for that kind of conversation–it meanders, flows, and is a sort of exchange that you wouldn’t have any way of guessing what the outcome would be, from the start. I met the artist whom I got to know over instagram then in person, then I asked if I could talk with him for a bit and maybe even record it. It was my first foray into ‘podcasting’. I didn’t get too far, to be honest. I felt less and less interested in hearing my own voice but yeah, the people that I’m lucky enough to get to meet, wherever I go in the world (or surf online) are quite fascinating, at moments like the one in this conversation you can see… how… artists… think. Wait. Think is the wrong word. Feel. [deleted]
In this frank conversation between Design Kompany’s Dipika Kohli and portrait photographer Benjamin Nwaneampeh, we talk about how to get started, the culture of wanting things *now*, equipment, style, the city, and the art of peoplewatching.
‘Forget what people are telling you what street photography *is*,’ says Nwaneampeh. ‘Just go out and take photographs. If you like your pictures, and you feel you’re maturing, you’re growing in it, then just keep doing it. Just keep shooting.’
You can listen to it.
Here’s a link.
https://soundcloud.com/designkompany/make-art-1
Photo: Design Kompany for S P A C E the zine