Interview: Jordan Garza
NOVEMBER 2021 ● INTERVIEWS
Jordan! Dude, I can't tell you enough how stoked I am to have you involved with Y35 Mag. I've been shooting film for around four years now, but didn't create my film-based Instagram account or really start getting involved with the community until roughly one year ago. Looking back, I remember from the get-go that I always admired your work and looked up to you as an artist. Your images always caught my eye and instilled some sort of inspiration one way or another. A lot of the subject matter we each shoot tends to differ, but I have the utmost respect for your game and hustle. It really is an honor to get to talk some analog with you and share your work with the analog family through this magazine. Let's get to some questions, my man!
To start, let's get some basics out of the way. How long have you been shooting film? Did you start with film or transition away from digital? I know you thrive as a creator when in the ocean– what are your go-to cameras for when you're out in the water or when you're back on land?
I’ve been shooting film for almost two years now. My first camera was a cheap, used Fujifilm digital camera. I don’t remember what model it was because I only played with it for about a month before my mom gave me her old point-and-shoot camera. I’ve only owned a handful of cameras throughout this little photo journey I’ve been on, but I’d have to say one of my Minolta X-700s when I’m on land and one of my waterproof Nikonos cameras when I’m out in the water.
One of the images you created that really made my jaw drop when I first came across your work featured some wild sparkles that radiated beautifully off of the ocean tides. I'm pretty sure this was shot on CineStill 800T. Being in a landlocked state, I desperately wanted to emulate that sort of characteristic, just in a different setting. Do you still shoot a fair amount with CineStill? I know from combing through your Instagram feed that you've been shooting Dubblefilm quite a bit as of late. What are your favorite film stocks? How has your love for these stocks changed as your work has evolved? Any film you're not super high on?
It definitely was CineStill 800T! Before I discovered underwater film cameras, I was heading to some of the local piers in Orange County and would just shoot the surfers whenever I could make it down early enough in the morning. I love CineStill 800T quite a bit, but as of lately, it’s been a ton of Fuji C200 and Kodak Portra 160 out in the water and Kodak Portra 800 for pretty much everything on land. For the longest time, I never shot anything Portra-related– no particular reason other than it’s expensive and I had never been stoked on the results from whatever I was shooting. I’m not crazy about black-and-white film, but that could all change one day. For some reason it has just never caught my attention as far as something I’d want to shoot or continually shoot.
To continue on with some talk on film stocks– how do you employ different film to depict certain vibes or artistic expressions? I've said that I personally use film as a means of translation. Our naked eyes see the world as it exists. So, we use different film stocks, each carrying their own unique characteristics, to ultimately capture and portray a moment as we perceive it in our minds. How do you pull these characteristics out of certain film stocks to express certain feelings, auras, or emotions?
First and foremost, I never shoot anything at box speed. I like heavy saturation and true colors if that makes any sense. For me, I’ve found that Fuji C200 is my go-to film stock whether it’s in the water, on land, or shooting at night. I had felt stagnant with my own photography for a little while because nothing was hitting that creative nerve that I’m sure others have felt before. I never felt I fully was able to express myself through photography until I got in the water and, even with that being said, I'm still trying to figure it out. My biggest hope with all of this has always been to move myself and to be present in some sense rather than just take some pictures and move on.
Let's take a step back for a moment. Tell me a little bit about your upbringing. How has that influenced your artistic and photographic styles over the years? I know you partake in a considerable amount of surfing-based photography, which I have to say is fucking rad. When looking at these images myself, I see fusions of nostalgia, action, and serenity. You're also a curator over at the Instagram account @boardsonfilm. Have you always been involved with the skating and surf scenes? How has that shaped who you are today?
I grew up in Costa Mesa, CA. From my front door at the house I grew up in, I was exactly one mile from the beach. Being able to skateboard to the beach every day was more than I could have ever asked for growing up. Skateboarding, bodyboarding, and surfing were just second nature. Between one of those three activities, I was always out doing one of them. I was heavily into punk and hardcore music during that time. It definitely shaped my mentality moving forward in life as well: a kind of can’t quit, won’t quit state of mind. It’s hard to say what life would have been like if I didn’t grow up in such a beautiful place. I still feel I’m figuring all of this out as I go. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m still relatively new to photography or if I’m just overthinking what I’m doing.
How does a day of shooting in the water look for you? Tell us about the process. How the hell do you manage to consistently create such impressive images– what hurdles do you have to overcome and how do you keep that creative spark lit? Is this where you're most comfortable behind the lens?
I wake up at about 5 a.m. and start checking the surf reports to see where a good spot would be for the morning. This usually includes a ton of caffeine, some stretching, and just getting in the right mindset to swim for almost an hour straight. I’ll load up my truck with my wetsuit, cameras, and my fins and head to whatever spot I feel is where I need to be that day. The only hurdle I would say is myself. On the bigger days, it can be easy to just psych yourself out and just go home. Then there are the days where the only place I want to be in the world is out past the break in the water. At this point, I’d say it’s safe to say that, yes, I am most comfortable in the water with my camera. I think what keeps me creative is the drive to simply keep doing what I’ve been doing, but in more locations around the world.
Now, speaking of that creative spark, this kind of builds on what I just asked, and I always love to get different perspectives from artists all around the world as everyone has their own special and unique answers: There are many different reasons why folks choose to create art, or in our case, shoot film. Maybe it's to document the world around you, inspire others, express yourself in ways that are easier to convey through pictures, or maybe it's something else. What do you find most satisfying or rewarding in shooting film?
For me, I’d have to say it’s the reward of not knowing if what you did while out shooting will actually turn out when developed. Other times, it’s simply just advancing the film and taking a shot and hearing the shutter go off. I would say it’s hard to express myself with a photo of a basketball hoop, but, because of nostalgic purposes or for whatever reason, I like to do it. The most rewarding part of film photography for me is finishing a roll knowing you made every single shot count, even if they are not the best photos. It’ll always be about the process for me.
Who or what is/are your biggest inspirations or influences, photography-related or otherwise? Do you have any creative pursuits outside of photography?
Music and skating/surfing are the fuel to this fire. My parents are huge inspirations to me both in their own ways as well as my sister. Outside of photography, I love long-distance running, comic books, and recording music when I have the time.
Earlier this year you released a zine called Save It for the Weekend. I've gotta say, it's fuckin' beautiful, man– you should be proud. On the very first page, you mention that it includes some of the most cherished photos you've taken. How was the process of putting together the zine and, from your perspective, what did you want to channel or convey to the world through this project? Do you have any other projects planned for the future?
THANK YOU. It was a rather stressful process honestly! I had never, ever thought about making a book of my photos and did it on a whim for the most part. I wanted to make the book cohesive in some sense, so I picked the film stocks I was going to use and pretty much just went to work after that. Clearly, the world has not been in the best shape this last year. I had failed to realize that the company that was making the books was based out of Sweden, so the timeframe I had set for myself had already gotten thrown out the window. At the time, I just wanted to have something physical in my hand of something I made, but I also wanted to show the contrast between the ocean and being on land. I am definitely planning another book of sorts, but I think this one will be a much more proper release. It’ll more than likely just be shots from the water.
Alright, let's pretend some weird-ass situation arises where you're about to be transported somewhere else in the world for one day– maybe it's aliens, I dunno. But, the kicker is this: this will be the last time you'll ever be able to shoot film. And the location is totally random, all you know is that you'll wake up in some unfamiliar location. What's the one camera and the one film stock you bring to prepare for this trip? Where would you be crossing your fingers for? Do you think you'd try to emulate the styles you create over in California, or would you try to adapt to this unfamiliar area and take a different approach to your shooting? What the hell do you do and how do you make this outrageous situation special??
Well, if this were to happen, knowing my luck, it’ll be aliens. I would take one of my Nikonos cameras with a roll of Fuji C200. I’d hope I’d end up in Bali or somewhere tropical. I’d definitely try to adapt to whatever is happening around me and try something new because why the hell not? To make this situation special, I’d try to figure out if aliens actually dropped me at whatever spot I’d be and, if they did, I’d be asking to go to space immediately. That would be something no one would ever forget.
Ok, stepping back into reality now– how do you see yourself evolving as a photographer over the next year? Is there anything you'd like to expand upon in terms of developing or incorporating into your craft? Any new creative elements you want to add to your arsenal?
I never really shy away from trying new shooting methods or trying different cameras. Trying some different underwater cameras is something that’s always on the table. And testing out new film stocks is always fun! I’d really like to check out more of the coast and get into the water in some spots in Santa Cruz and San Diego. Some international travel would be rad too. I’ve been thinking about trying a couple of different medium format cameras and seeing where that takes me. Night photography seems like it would be really fun with something like that.
Is there any one particular day of shooting that really stands out in your mind? What was that like? Give us a glimpse into that special day for you.
That’s pretty much any day when the waves are good or when there’s a pretty sunset. Places with a view never hurt. I’m stoked any day where I get to shoot a camera. Photography in some way is my way of grounding myself. I feel like whenever I’m out shooting is when I do some of my best thinking. Every day is a special day for photography.
For whatever reason, I get the impression that, in the best of ways, you've mastered not giving a fuck when it comes to photography. Mad respect– you seem to post/publish whatever the hell you want and find joy in, whenever you want. Do you feel this way? Am I on the right track? How do you mentally get to this place to practice freely within the photographic realm and how has that helped you on an artistic level as well as a deeper, more spiritual level?
I would say you nailed that one right on the head! I enjoy film photography for the pure fact that I can do it alone and just explore places on my own. I love shooting with friends just as much. I don’t feel there are any rules when it comes to film photography, or photography in general, and that nothing is off the table, and it all should be explored. I feel like any creative wave I catch comes out of nowhere– I just ride it as long as possible. I’ll have a roll loaded in my camera for sometimes up to almost six weeks just because nothing is catching my eye or moving me in some type of way. It’s all just another extension of myself for myself. The fact that I have a ton of photos now from the last couple of years that I can immediately have that nostalgic feeling of being right back in that exact moment is the real reason I think I do all of this. Digital or film, I think most photographers have similar feelings about photography. I would never limit myself in a creative setting and I think that’s what has pushed me to do whatever I’ve felt I’ve wanted to do in photography. I don’t feel like I’m very “artsy,” if you will. I think I just have a genuine appreciation for pretty moments and the little things we don’t pay that much attention to on a daily basis. I feel like I’m still figuring all this out as I go, but I can safely say that everything has been a positive experience as far as anything photography-related goes. It’s a way of life for me at this point.
Building on that last question, what advice would you give to someone just starting out with film?
Dive in. Take your time and don’t rush anything. Don’t take yourself too seriously, it’ll only work against you.
Last question, bro! Just tell us a little bit about yourself! I know you're into tattoos as well. What's your favorite?
I love tattoos! I have my entire body tattooed except for my neck, so I’ve pretty much run out of room! My favorite tattoos are the ones on my stomach! I’m also an electrician for a living! It’s kind of hard to imagine myself doing something else for a living at this point, but who knows! Photography seems like it would be pretty awesome as a career.
Jordan's Instagram handle is @jags.film.
This interview was featured in Y35 Mag Issue No. 11. To see all of the photographs Jordan chose to present, check it out here.