Interview: Joseph Jimenez
AUGUST 2022 ● INTERVIEWS
What's goin' on, man? I'm amped to have the opportunity to showcase your art and hear your perspectives. Really, it's an honor to have you here in the Y35 Mag- I've been watching your work develop and seemingly blow up on social media. Things seem to be clicking for you, and you're gaining quite a bit of traction, and for a good reason. Just to get things started, what first sparked your love for photography? Where are you based? And what is it that draws you to film more so than digital?
I'm truly grateful to be a part of this wonderful series. Thank you guys for having me. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Joseph Jimenez, straight from Union City, CA, in the Bay Area. The first spark of photography for me honestly started in the middle of 2020. My friend was selling his Sony a6000, which is a digital camera, and I knew I wanted to eventually shoot film, but I felt like I needed to learn my basics (like properly exposing a picture, for example). Once I felt comfortable after six months, I got myself a Canon A-1 and a Mamiya 645. Deciding to use film is pretty much what sparked my love for photography. I just love the results you get with film, like the colors and overall uniqueness you can achieve with your images. I love the fact that everything I know about photography is from what I learned through shooting film. It's funny because I wanted to shoot film because of this romantic movie called "Photograph." The soundtrack, coupled with how they show film photography, made me want to shoot film. With the funky algorithm of Instagram, I honestly didn't think my photos would get the love they're getting now. I'm grateful for that because it opened some opportunities for me, such as getting hired to take portraits and even selling prints for people to hang. I love the fact that my photos can exist outside of social media.
Why photography? There are so many mediums and outlets in which creatives can express themselves. What is it about photography that resonates with your soul rather than some other art form? Do you dabble at all with any other mediums?
I choose photography because it makes me happy; it allows me to travel and capture moments I can look back on one day. The funny thing is, I never thought I could ever be artistic in any form, but photography revealed that I could create art. My love for photography flourished at the start of the pandemic. A lot of unfortunate events occurred, and many lives changed, including my own, so photography was one of the things that gave me happiness from then till now. I definitely try to dabble in learning how to use Photoshop. It's my own way of eventually adding this skill to all my work.
In all of your work, one thing really sticks out: lighting seems to be a prominent element of your photographic style. Your photographs demonstrate a masterful connection between you, the artist, and the environment around you. In my opinion, your ability to seek out and capture light is remarkable. Your imagery is also often full of warmth and radiates good vibes. Am I on the right track here- are these key ingredients in your process? What, in your opinion, makes for the perfect lighting, the lighting that can alter a scene or moment and take it to the next level, one worth capturing? And the warmth. Can you speak to that?
Thank you so much for the compliment on my photos- much appreciated! I do consider lighting and warm tones when creating my shots. Certain lights come in different angles and time frames. Understanding how to use light in my shots best helps me convey my message and how I want viewers to feel. I also appreciate warm tones and vibrant colors; they give a type of energy that people want to gravitate toward. Observing your environment and seeing what's going on around you is vital in making the whole picture.
To me, the perfect lighting is from noon to sunset, but really, I think anything that has light is "perfect" lighting. That's usually the time I take pictures. But I also believe that you can make a beautiful photo with any lighting. It all comes down to how you use it and show the reason why you took that picture.
While you shoot a wide range of subjects, there remains a constant, distinct aesthetic and atmosphere to your images that crosses over into multiple different styles of photography. Your collection is a synthesis of polished, nostalgic, and original aesthetics. How have you worked to develop this look? What are the intentions behind your work, and how do you manage to translate these visions into single frames?
I began taking portraits when I started photography, but I didn't want to stop there. I wanted to get involved with other shooting styles, such as landscape and street, and incorporate cars and sneakers into my images. This is what I gravitate to and what I personally love. I love challenging myself and want to create photos that I can print and eventually, in the future, make a photo book or zine. Although it shows that I can create pictures in my own way, I still feel like I haven't fully developed how I shoot. I still feel like I'm learning different ways to elevate my shooting style or build on my own aesthetics. There's always room for improvement. My whole mindset is that you don't have to stick in one lane. As a photographer, I want to show that I can create other photos that people can enjoy and maybe inspire them to do the same.
Do you have any favorite film stocks or cameras?
I use a lot of different film stocks, but my go-tos are usually Portra 400, Kodak Gold 200, Kodak Ultramax 400, Lomography 800, and CineStill 800T. My all-time favorite camera is the Mamiya RZ67. I also love my Rollei AFM 35 point-and-shoot, which is super sharp.
Speaking of film stocks, I frequently say that I'm personally drawn to film because of the space for experimentation, the unknown, the imperfections, and the different results you can obtain from different types of film. Each stock carries its own unique characteristics, and those can be used to convey our artistic visions or perceptions of the world beyond what the naked eye sees. In a way, film can help us to express ourselves because of these traits. Would you agree? How do you use different film stocks or techniques to your advantage to portray certain vibes or emotions? How big of a role does seeking out certain colors or color palettes play in your process?
I agree that you don't know how a shot will ultimately turn out while shooting. And the colors, tones, and details you can get with film are things you can't get with digital. I also agree that it can amplify what the photographer sees, and imagining the image you can get by using a specific film stock is also why shooting film is so fun. Different film stocks can give you different results, and I feel like many people are so drawn to analog photography for that reason.
For portraits, I try to strategize what film stock and ISO I'm going to use because, in some scenes, you need to get it right to get the results you want. It's vital to get the right colors for skin tones, the proper exposure, and to envision how the whole scene will affect the mood of the overall picture. So I usually stick with Portra 400 because it's the most consistent with portraits, in my opinion. For low-light environments or sunsets with heavy shadows, I usually use Lomo 800 or CineStill 800T. These two film stocks are so different from each other, but both can give you a cinematic type of look in your images, and the colors you can get with them are so vibrant. I feel like I take advantage of using specific film stocks by just knowing what they can do and how the film can handle colors. I feel like knowing what different film stocks can do is one of the keys to showcasing colors and tones in your images. I love that you can experiment with film even though it has its limitations. Sometimes it can turn out better than expected. Most of my favorite photos are usually by accident.
What would you say is the fundamental message, vibe, emotion, or meaning you aim to convey through your work? Does it vary among different realms within the scene, like from portraiture to street photography, for example? What's the lifeblood behind your creative drive and your resulting work?
I just love being out there, seeing different environments, and the whole process, including packing your gear, driving to a location (usually somewhere far), loading the camera, taking the photos, and waiting to get your scans back. What drives my creativity is simply just the love for the whole process. I try to make people feel nostalgia or recall some type of warm, happy memory from the past with my photos. Most of the images I take are from places in the Bay Area, and it's my way of showcasing the culture and what's around here. I want my photos to have a positive impact on the photography and film communities. With portraits, I want to make my models feel good about themselves. It makes me so happy when they get so stoked seeing the photos I took of them. I just want people to be happy with the photos I take.
From where do you draw your biggest inspirations? Who or what influences you the most?
People might find it weird because I don't know many famous or well-known photographers who now pave the way for most photographers. Like I said before, most of the photographers I know can be found on social media and YouTube. One of my inspirations is @vuhlandes on Instagram. The way he captures his portraits has a lot of influence on how I take my portraits and how I go about the process. The way he uses colors in his portraits can be so captivating. Other inspirations that I found on Instagram, which I always look forward to seeing new work from, include Joseph Anzaldo (@damn.thatsnicelight), you, Dante Ruscitti (@yung35mm), and Brian Chorski (@brianchorski). The way they can creatively elevate a scene or even come up with concepts is so inspiring. I definitely take notes from all of them. My group of friends also is a very big inspiration to me. We support each other and give each other advice to elevate our work. Having a group that supports each other is essential to me; I definitely wouldn't have loved film as much without them. The creativity they can achieve with film always amazes me. The fact that we all have different shooting styles is a plus; everyone feeds off each other. So just having a group of friends has definitely helped me improve how I take photos.
Big thanks for the shoutout, man!
I ask this question in almost all of my interviews nowadays, so it's become a bit routine. But the answers are always varied and diverse, so I have to get your take as it really helps to unravel the soul behind your work: Art, and film photography, more specifically, is special to everyone for their own individual reasons. There are so many different reasons why folks choose to create art. In our case, we 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? What brings you the most joy when clicking that shutter button?
I think the most satisfying thing about shooting film is getting an email link from the film lab. All jokes aside, what I find the most rewarding in shooting film are the pictures themselves, which I created and have the power to inspire people. Making art can speak for the words you want to convey, and this is what's so beautiful about photography: different people will always have different reactions.
When I hear my friends or other film photographers say I inspired them to shoot a certain way or that they want to get out, I get such a good feeling. For me, it's always surprising to hear, and I don't think I will ever get used to that. I still see myself as a student of photography. The fact that my work positively impacts people makes it rewarding to shoot film, especially because I think I still have a lot to learn and improve on.
I really admire your eye and knack for taking scenes to the next level. And that goes for portraiture as well- they have real character. You seem to very effectively incorporate an extra element into your photography that can truly transform a shot. I see it in the ways you use reflections and carefully consider depth, composition, shadows, and color to point out a few examples. Off the record, we've talked about shooting with intention and trying to cultivate authentic ways to add that "special" element to a moment. You and I have discussed just how much more meaning it can bring to a photograph when you can achieve this. Can you elaborate on this idea? How has this impacted your photographic approach?
Before I capture a picture, I observe what's around me. Then I imagine a scene or an image in my head and think of ways to achieve that by using composition and colors. Knowing how to use light and shadows is something I always think about before taking a picture. Sometimes when I'm on a photo walk and I get tired, I usually just stand in one spot and let things happen in front of me. You just gotta wait sometimes and let things happen naturally in front of you. I like to just be a good observer of my environment, and I do this with intention.
I also believe it's in the editing which plays a big part in my work and how I can convey emotions. Altering the colors and crop can be vital because it gives you a chance to add more character and show what motivated you to take that photo. It gives you a chance to remove unwanted subjects or parts of the frame that can affect the whole image. This is all part of having intentions, and, as we talked about, shooting with intention can take your pictures to the next level. As a college student with little funding, shooting with intention is especially important as film prices continue to rise. You can't help but pick and choose and make your shots count. This is my whole philosophy. When I shoot, I try my best to make every shot count, and that itself is an intention. It plays such a big role in all my work and why my photos come out the way they do.
Where do you ultimately see yourself taking your photographic pursuits? Do you have any long-term goals or aspirations, or are you just kind of goin' with the flow and riding the wave? Is there anything you want to build on or add to your craft, be it a technical or creative undertaking?
My whole goal is to make a zine or photo book. Having published work is something I want to do with photography. I also want to do photoshoots for musical artists or even fashion models. Eventually, maybe I will have a studio with my friends, but that's just something I think about or hope will happen. This is something that I want to add to my technique since my whole work has been using natural light, so it would be dope to work with studio lighting. I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish in this space, and I'm slowly checking them off. I'm taking it step-by-step, and I think enjoying the process and having fun will eventually get me there.
I've been enjoying adding in somewhat out-there questions lately, so let me throw ya a curveball. Pick an album you absolutely cherish. Let's pretend that artist came to you and said, "Joseph, you're the fuckin' man, and I want you to shoot a roll that embodies the heart behind my music. But add your own spin on it and create a story for each song through just a single frame." Who do you pick? How do you approach this, what I imagine would be, fuckin' dream-come-true scenario?
I am an RnB type of listener. My favorite album that I cherish, which was also another inspiration when I started photography, is Painted by Lucky Daye. The album is so full of funk, soul, and emotion and is just colorful. If you ever listen to this album or his music, you will know what I'm talking about. If Lucky Daye ever comes to me for a photoshoot, I would try shooting it where there's beautiful nature around him. Even with high trees and high grass would be so beautiful. His fashion and sense of style would already make my job easier. I would also try doing this in New Orleans since that's where he's from. Having that sense of home in the images would add character to show the entirety of his inspirations behind the music. I'd definitely use Portra 400 and 800 just 'cause the colors on them are so rich and vibrant. It would help me show how colorful and soulful his music is.
It's really been a pleasure speaking with you, and I hope to meet up and shoot with you someday. I'd love to witness your process in action, pick up some of your techniques, and build on your creative energy. Anyway, let's wrap this up, my dude! Just tell us more about yourself! Who are you outside of photography? Tell us more about the person behind the lens!
I should be saying that to you to show me some techniques I haven't learned. Shooting with you would absolutely be so fun. I'd get to learn from a great photographer.
Outside of photography, I am a college student trying to major in Nutrition Dietetics. I also love going on trips and seeing different environments. Another reason why I got a camera is to document that. I love listening to music. Most of the pictures I take are inspired by music. Usually, an idea pops up in my head when I'm just driving while listening to music. I love playing sports- mostly basketball, which is why I love shooting basketball courts. It reminds me of the game I love, even though hoops on film have become somewhat of a meme to some people. My friends outside of the art consider me a photographer now, so it's definitely a part of my life. A fun fact about me is I used to compete in Olympic weightlifting, so I always have that competitive spirit and have fun along the way. Due to knee injuries, I haven't been able to train as much as I want to.
Joseph's Instagram handle is @itsjobruh.
This interview was featured in Y35 Mag Issue No. 15. To see all of the photographs Joseph chose to present, check it out here.