editor-in-chief Keerthana Byreddy
front and back covers Gabrielle Angeline photography
adjacent page Marta Syrko
page four Corinne Perry
page eight Lucia Moretti all inquires: [email protected] Blog: wearealivemag.tumblr.com facebook: We Are Alive Magazine twitter: @WeAreAliveMag © We Are Alive Magazine 2012 All Rights Reserved
credits
06 Letter from the Editor
08 Cover Feature: Gabrielle Angeline
22 Feature: Olga Valeska
36 Feature: Corinne Perry
48 Feature: Jannah Velma Noir
56 Photography Series: Scrambling Noon
68 Feature: Lucia Moretti
84 Photography Series: Jessica Nguyen
contents
To the lover, creators, & dreamers:
As the summer ends, and the fall starts, many things end, but many things
begin. The leaves start to change their colors, gracing us with the richest of
yellows, oranges, and reds. A soft chill begins to grace the air, and the night
starts to roll in. Not to mention of course school.
Fall is not terrible however. It is a beautiful time of year, full of wonder and
change. This issue tries to show off both of those ideas: wonder and change.
I’m certain you will delight in these artists and their beautiful work.
Hope, Love, and Dreams
Keerthana
Gabrielle
Angeline
Gabrielle
Angeline
Can you tell me a little bit about
yourself?
I'm 16, turning 17 in October this
year. Apart from photography, I re-
ally love playing softball, tennis and
guitar. I frequently hike or go on
long walks, and I love writing
(letters especially). I'm of Chinese,
Irish, Lebanese and Filipino de-
scent, and I currently reside in
Hong Kong.
How did you first start out taking
photographs?
It's a funny story, actually. I re-
ceived my first basic DSLR about 2
to 2 1/2 years ago, with a kit lens
(18-55mm). Around September of
2010, I broke the kit lens by acci-
dent. I wasn't really into photog-
raphy around then so I didn't think
much of it, but my dad got me a
cheaper lens (a 50mm f/1.8) at
around Christmastime of the same
year, warning me not to break that
lens too. I decided to try it out and
I ended up loving the lens and I
loved the way my photos were
coming out. That was really the
starting point for my photography,
because I began to shoot all the
time after that.
What do you try to show through
your photographs?
Rawness of emotion. At first I was-
n't entirely sure what people saw in
my photographs, but after asking
around, a lot of people said there's
an expressiveness and a ingenuity
with my models. Personally, I love
seeing when photographers can
express that in their photos, too. I
love seeing real emotions instead
of just a stony expression. A per-
son's facial expression alone can
really tell a story.
Who inspires you? Why?
Many people! In terms of photogra-
phers, I really love Cat Lane, Julia
Trotti, Nirrimi (but who doesn't?),
Annie Leibovitz, Akif Hakan Celebi,
and Steven Meisel. But aside from
them, I am also inspired by Meryl
Streep, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hep-
burn, Marilyn Monroe and Art
House films.
The photographers each have their
own uniqueness that I have found
myself very drawn to. Some are
young, like Cat and Julia and Nirri-
mi, yet they have accomplished so
much and they have proven that no
matter what age you begin taking
pictures, you can take beautiful
ones and you CAN find success.
Others like Leibovitz and Celebi
and Mr. Meisel have accomplished
so much already in all their years
that they have their own styles that
are so unique and ultimately their
own.
The actresses I mentioned inspire
me differently. Women like Meryl
Streep and Julie Andrews started
out young, and have really made
something of themselves while
maintaining their poise and values.
That is something I will always re-
spect and look up to: strong wom-
en. Meanwhile, Hepburn and Mon-
roe are simply two of history's
most stunning and talented women
- they had so much wisdom and
talent to offer people and they did
not take it for granted.
Art House films are probably the
one genre of film that I can sit
through no matter what. They al-
ways have these wonderful themes
of young souls who go out into the
world and live their lives the way
they want. They don't care who
tries to bring them down, they just
do what their hearts tell them and
go where their lives carry them. It's
beautiful to watch and it puts this
warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart.
What have you already achieved as
a photographer and what more
would you like to achieve?
I've had a few of my pictures ap-
pear in the newspaper, magazines
and on PhotoVogue, and I've been
approached numerous times by
small companies and student de-
signers who want to collaborate
and who love my work. I've already
managed to make my photography
into a little business, earning small
cash to buy my own equipment.
I haven't told many people this, but
it's honestly my biggest dream to
become a working photographer
for National Geographic. I know my
work right now doesn't really em-
body what they normally 'do', but I
would give so much to travel the
world, meet amazing people and
take pictures that can really tell
stories, and record documentaries
for them too.
How long have you been shooting,
and how do you think your work
has changed since then?
Only for about a year and a half.
And oh yes, my work has definitely
progressed since I began taking
pictures. I've improved both in my
processing and just in coming up
with newer, more creative themes
and concepts. I've become a lot
more bold with the ideas that I try.
For example, now I go out and
make the effort to find horses to
shoot with, or I go buy supplies and
make my own headdresses and
other props for my models to wear.
I try to go the extra mile now to
make my pictures better and more
presentable.
How has being a photographer im-
pacted your life and/or personali-
ty?
A few years back, I wasn't satisfied
with my life at all. I wasn't very
happy in school. I wasn't nice to
people and some people weren't
nice to me. I was very depressed
and very angry all the time, and
photography proved to be a very
healthy outlet for me. I began no-
ticing that with the amount of time
and effort I put into it, the less an-
ger and sadness I felt. Photography
has, in a sense, saved me from my-
self, if that makes sense. I found
something in my life that makes
sense to me for a change, and it
makes me feel secure. I take pic-
tures because it brings me the
greatest joy knowing that I can cre-
ate beautiful things, and that is
something that nobody can EVER
take away from me.
What is your favorite music/
movie/book? Why?
I like a lot of underground music
that people have seldom heard of.
Of course I love some of the more
well-known stuff too; bands like
Stars and Death Cab for Cutie. I
have recently submersed myself in a
lot of music with lyrics that I can
connect with on a personal level. My
absolute favorite song though is
probably a tie between Your Ex-Lover
is Dead by Stars, and Hoppípolla by
Sigur Ros. Both are quite different
both in mood, lyrics and even lan-
guage, but they both are so beautiful
to listen to.
What else would you like to achieve
that isn't photography related?
Perhaps writing a book, or learning
how to ballroom dance like a pro-
fessional. That would be wonderful.
Any other random things about
yourself?
I can put my leg behind my head,
wanna see? :) //
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m 21 years old, I live in France and as a
passionate person, I’ve got a lot of hobbies. I
like creating costumes, reading, writing,
painting, drawing, sculpting, decorating,
building huts, playing, dreaming, thinking,
climbing trees, being in nature… and so
many others things!
How did you first start out taking
photographs?
I discovered photography three or
four years ago. But at first I was
not interested in it that much. I
had never imagined or dreamed of
being a photographer. The tech-
nical aspect bothered me and it
seemed that one could not be as
creative as in drawing, painting or
sculpting. I did not see the interest
of transcribe this reality that did
not satisfy me in image. And then
one day I realized, belatedly, that I
could invent my own set scenes,
shoot my own pictures. So it has
only been a year since I really
started photography.
What do you try to show through
your photographs?
Actually, I do not really want to
show something, nor to convey a
message. I need to do all these
things without really knowing why.
But there has always been in my
head a whole universe, and I feel
the need to keep it alive. With the
photograph, including the self-
portrait, I feel I can immortalize
moments of dreams, I can really
travel in my world and I can believe
that all these things are true. Fi-
nally, there is some form of exor-
cism in some pictures: everything
that torments me, my thoughts, my
existential questions, I pour them
into the photos, like an outlet.
Who inspires you? Why?
There are no real people in partic-
ular and even fewer photographers
who inspire me. It's pretty selfish
but I try to stay as close to myself
as possible, to go further in my
own world. But of course I am
nourished by everything I've read
or seen since I was little. I had an
education both strict and whimsi-
cal. My parents have given me the
desire to excel, to create by myself,
to be innovative. At home there
was no television, and everything
was very “traditional”. So I spent
my childhood immersed in my im-
agination, novels and art books.
Artists who have marked me are
painters, poets, writers, musicians,
philosophers, heroes from fairy ta-
les and legends, historical figures,
Gods ...
What have you already achieved
as a photographer and what more
would you like to achieve?
For now, it does not seem to me
that I have accomplished much,
and that's just what makes me
want to continue. There are so
many dreams in me that I feel a
lifetime would not be enough to
achieve them. And I have so many
projects every day ... It would take
too long to explain!
How long have you been shooting,
and how do you think your work
has changed since then?
So it's been one year since I do
photography regularly and it be-
came a profession. What has rad-
ically changed is that now I impro-
vise a lot less and I make photo-
graphs often depending on the
final result. And finally, I somehow
regret my beginnings: I invented
stories, I was playing all alone ...
Taking pictures was finally an ex-
cuse, what was the most im-
portant was to dream. Now pho-
tography is my profession and I
am more exposed: my photos are
viewed by others, my face, my
dreams ... Being a very secretive
person, it feels like a form of in-
trusion into my own world. And I
miss this time of real dreams and
complete solitude.
How has being a photographer
impacted your life and/or per-
sonality?
I think that I have not changed
more than that. I've always been a
very creative person, and I try my
hand at everything. Also I do not
consider myself especially as a
photographer. What I like to do is
create worlds, moods, images ...
But photography allows me to be
more comfortable in this reality,
living the dream fully, which I
could not do with other forms of
art.//
Can you tell me a little bit about
yourself ?
I’m twenty two years of age. Other
than photography, my hobbies are
reading, as my photography is of-
ten influenced by literature.
How did you first start out taking
photographs?
I first started taking photographs
as part of a College course. At the
start, I would take a range of sub-
jects and had little idea of the di-
rection my work was heading.
Then about two years ago, I start-
ed taking self-portraits and using
entirely analogue methods of pro-
ducing my work and that’s how it
all started really.
What do you try to show through
your photographs?
I aim to portray to the viewer how
I’m feeling at that exact moment in
which the image was created.
Who inspires you? Why?
I
am inspired by strong women,
who portray their emotions through
their self-portraiture work, such as
the painter Frida Kahlo and the
photographer Francesca Wood-
man.
What have you already achieved as
a photographer and what more
would you like to achieve?
I feel that I’m right at the beginning
of my photographic journey and
still have so much more to hope-
fully achieve. So far, I have devel-
oped a style of photography which
I have a strong emotional bond to,
and that I hope, is relatively unique
to me. My work has started to be
exhibited and I hope to continue
with this path. Also I have just
achieved a 1st Class Honours De-
gree at University. There is so
much more I hope to achieve I feel
there is so much more for me to
learn.
How long have you been shooting,
and how do you think your work
has changed since then?
I have been taking photographs for
a few years now, but feel that two
years ago my work really changed,
when I turned the camera on my-
self. For the first three years of my pho-
tography study at College and University, I
used digital, as this was what everyone
else was doing. Then one day, I fell in love
with film and decided that that was the di-
rection for me.
How has being a photographer impacted
your life and/or personality?
I think that photography is my life and it
impacts it a lot, as I portray my emotions
through my work.
What is your favorite music/movie/book?
Why?
My favourite book is The Yellow Wallpaper
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, which tells
the story of a woman’s decent into mad-
ness, despite the fact that it’s not so much
of a happy story that fills the reader with
joy. It is so beautifully written and really
inspires my photography.
What else would you like to achieve that
isn't photography related?
Other than photography, I hope to one
day become a mother. //
Can you tell me a little bit about
yourself (age, other hobbies, etc.)?
This is Jan, everyone calls me Jan-
nah Velma Noir, but my real name
is actually Janet Fung. I am an 19-
year-old photographer based in
Hong Kong who is mainly doing in
Portrait, fashion and street style
photography. I am not a photog-
raphy student. But currently stud-
ying Bilingual(Chinese and English)
and Literature.
How did you first start out taking
photographs?
I picked photography as my per-
sonal interest since 16 when my
parents brought the family camera.
Ever we have any events or func-
tions for our family, I’ll be the one
who is going to caption every
beautiful moment. Inspired by Lara
Jade, I start doing fashion portrait
photography last year.
What do you try to show through
your photographs?
Photography is a way for me to re-
duce my pressure from life. So I
express different feelings/
thoughts from my work: sad, hap-
py, angry, etc. I hope people could
see the natural beauty and feel the
peace of this world through my
works
Who inspires you? Why?
A lot! Everyone and everything
could inspire me in life!
What have you already achieved as
a photographer and what more
would you like to achieve?
I am glad that I have started to put
my works online, letting more peo-
ple to see my works. This little ac-
tion brings me to meet more cool
people in this industry. Nothing is
more fun than meeting people with
similar interests.
How long have you been shooting,
and how do you think your work
has changed since then?
For Portriat photography, I have
already started almost a year. I
think I am puting more and more
emotions/ meanings into the pho-
tography and make it more mean-
ingful.
How has being a photographer im-
pacted your life and/or personali-
ty?
I am the kind of person that not
good to express myself. As I have
mentioned, Photography is a way
for me to reduce my pressure from
life. So I express different feel-
ings/ thoughts by photography.
Also, fahsion photography is a
team work, I have learned to com-
municate with people and get
along with them well.
What is your favorite music/
movie/book? Why?
Proud and Prejudice. It is romanti-
cally showing what is human-being,
full of imagination.
What else would you like to
achieve that isn't photography re-
lated?
Language.
Any other random things about
yourself?
I am easy-going, cheerful and ran-
dom person! If you meet me in the
future, please lemme know more
about you! //
Photography by Jannah Velma Noir Model: Vincent & Tasha & Julia Make Up Artist: Rikki Chanyeeki Hair Stylist: Vincent Hin Long Stylist: April Wong & Wingman Yeung
Lucia
Moretti
Can you tell me a little bit about
yourself?
My name is Lucia. I am a 25 year
old photographer from Switzerland.
I studied cultural anthropology at
the University of Zurich and re-
ceived my Bachelor degree, but felt
in love with photography mean-
while; therefore I haven’t done the
Master degree and carried on this
way [with photography].
How did you first start out with
photography?
About 4 years ago, more or less. I
always used to shoot moments with
my little point-and-shoot camera, to
preserve memories. But I consid-
ered photography as an artistic tool
only later, at 21. My passion started
by seeing amazing pictures taken
by great artists from all around the
world on deviantart. It took me 2
years to join this amazing website
and share my own pictures. I never
felt good enough and I was too
shy.
The reason I started taking pictures
is because I wanted to take the kind
of images that lets the viewers be
inspired and caught up in this par-
allel world called photography. I
feel so good when I see amazing
images; I don’t think about doing
anything else and I only have posi-
tive emotions. This is why I love it,
and what I want to share [with eve-
ryone].
What kind of feelings do you try to
show through your photographs?
All kind of positive feelings. I try to
show all the beautiful things we
have in our world.
Who inspires you? Why?
I guess Nirrimi and Tim Walker.
Both have introduced emotions in
to the fashion world. I love Tim
Walker’s fairy tales, and Nirrimi’s
lovely world. I’m also inspired by
other photographers from devi-
antart, flickr, blogspot and face-
(Continued on page 72)
book and course by my own emo-
tions.
What have you already achieved
as a photographer and what more
would you like to achieve?
The best things are when I get
messages from people I don’t
know that say they love my pic-
tures and ask for suggestions. I
hope it will never stop; I love help-
ing other people and sharing what
I know. Photographers should col-
laborate. Besides that, I worked
this year with Camille Bloch
(Ragusa) a Swiss famous choco-
late company, I’m testing with two
model agencies in Zurich, and I got
few publications. I hope I will be
able to be a fulltime photographer
one day.
How long have you been shooting
and how do your think your work
has changed since then?
I’ve been shooting for four years
now. I thing my work has changed
quite a lot technically speaking.
But the feeling I have while taking
a picture is unchanged. I always
feel thrilled.
How has being a photographer im-
pacted your life and/or your per-
sonality?
Well, first of all, it changed my way
of seeing the world. Since I first
discovered photography it is like
I’m constantly looking through a
camera. Each time I’m around I
see places where I can shoot, I see
interesting light, beautiful models,
and so on. Everything, everyplace
inspires me with new images. At
the beginning was a different way
of seeing, now it is just part of me,
looking at the world in this way.
Secondly it helped me a lot in
connecting with other people. I
was solitary and shy, now I always
am, but not more that much.
What are your favorite music,
movies , books? Why?
It usually changes with the time.
My favorite song is “Where I Love”
by Nadine Carina; favorite book,
(Continued on page 74)
The Never Ending Story by Michael
Ende; and favorite movies are all of
Disney’s. They have all given me hap-
piness.
What else would you like to achieve
that isn't photography related?
That’s interesting! And I haven’t
thought about something different
than photography. I’m not sure.
Any other random things about your-
self?
I love cats. :)
Gia An (Jessica) Nguyen
Gia An (Jessica) Nguyen
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