Bali Workshop 3.0

The Crew

Megan Armstrong

Home: Missouri, USA

Gear: Sony A6300, GoPro, Polaroid, Olympus SuperZoom Infinity 330 with Gusto35 Red Admiral film.

Experience: Well, this is embarrassing, but I'm just starting. I have been primarily a writer my entire life. But for the last three years, I've felt drawn deep down to photography and exploring visual storytelling as a complement. To make me a more complete storyteller. I'm a documenter at heart — always have been. I was that kid in the friend group that brought a camera everywhere. I'd look forward to our weekend plans because it meant new opportunities to take new pictures and more stories to tell. 

Work: Well, this is going to sound like I'm just saying this because Jeremiah will see this email, but being the first person to write down his story for Thrillist over a year and a half ago meant a lot to me — specifically when he told me that his mother was so thankful that she now had that part of his life all documented. I'm also proud to have been part of curating this exclusive Chainsmokers photo gallery for Billboard: https://www.billboard.com/photos/7973753/chainsmokers-asia-tour-behind-the-scenes-pics-bts 

I'm most proud of work that the people I'm documenting are proud of. More recently, I've been working on cover stories for a magazine in London called tmrw — I can't link you to it because it is content exclusive to print, but I have grown a lot as a creative being involved in putting together that print product and developing deeper narratives. Another thing I will link you to is this: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8483939/raleigh-ritchie-me-myself-i-interview

Obviously, it has nothing to do with photography or videography. But the conversation is something I'm very proud of. For Raleigh to have been so comfortable with me to open up the way he did, and for him to be pleased with the end result that he wants to continue working together in the future outside of Billboard. He and I are batting around ideas that could involve photo/video, and nurturing these relationships with the human beings behind the music is a priority for me. 

Greatest Strength: Humanizing. Making empathy palpable through narrative. When talking about photo/video, I'd say that translates into making people, places, things feel relatable and capturing emotion and intricacies.

Improvement Points: As I said, I'm a beginner visually. So, I simply want to come away better. A more well-rounded individual. Having more knowledge of the fundamentals behind a camera so that I can create my own style of capturing moments from there. I'm looking most forward to all of the new friends and creative allies I will have. I am not expecting for this workshop to instantly change my life. It is up to me to change my own life. But I am optimistic that I will learn tools to help me in doing so over time. 

Inspirations: So many, but these are the people coming to mind as I sit here to answer this. You, Reese! Joe Termini, who once told me he creates all day every day because he doesn't know how else to get through the days — he needs it to process the world, which I relate to. Where I falter is turning that feeling into corresponding consistent production/output. Katie Nolan because of how she built her career: working full-time as a bartender and then coming home late at night to make her own videos for years. Raven Varona because she is one of few women accompanying artists on tour. My aunt and uncle: they are both 60 and have never stopped pushing themselves to learn new things. They travel together as much as possible, they read and consume as much art to expand themselves as people. My uncle decided to start taking art classes earlier this year for the first time in his life and is already making really cool ceramics. Doing art just for the sake of doing art and nothing more.

Learns by: I learn best by being told what to do (step-by-step), doing it as best as I can, and then being critiqued so that I can learn how to do it better at the most basic level. So, in other words, step-by-step at first, and then being challenged/critiqued once I have the very basics down.

Struggles: Both intimidation and perfectionism. I compare myself too often on Instagram to people who have been doing this for YEARS! And so, that paralyzes me because I am a perfectionist when what I should be doing is just starting and seeing what builds from there. I do believe that signing up for this trip is a huge step for me in that direction. Technically, my career is in content creation as a writer. But not in the way I truly want or in the way that totally feels most authentic to me/my sensibilities. 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/documeg/

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/meganarmstrong

Victoria Tennisco

Gear: I currently don't have much gear at the moment, but I am planning of buying more within the next few months. However, as for right now all I currently have is a camera. 

Experience: I have done a few classes in school over the past few years for photography. As well, I am planning on potentially starting school again, at some point, in a program for Photography, and Video Production. 

Work: She didn’t send any.

Greatest Strength: My strength in content creation, would be finalizing and making sure the product is edited and put together to the way I want it. 

Improvement Points: I would like to improve on process organization, and putting ideas together to make sense.

Inspirations: One of a few people who inspires me is Rory Kramer. 

Learns By: I learn best with step by step instruction, and repetition. It help for me to visually learn something and when I can write things down so its easier for me to memorize and retain the information.

Struggles: Some struggles I have with making content are, finding inspiration and figuring out how to piece together an idea, and organize my ideas so can create my idea. Another struggle is figuring out how to start my career in content creation to make money.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/victoria.tenn/

Hannah Cohen

Home: Toronto, Canada

Gear: Nikon D3100 camera, Lens is a Nikon 18-200mm. tripod, external flash, and my phone which is the Huawei Mate 20 pro with Leica lenses. I am looking to maybe purchase some new equipment but have not as of yet.

Experience: I have been shooting on and off since I was a child. Got my first camera when i was a young teen, and shot film for many years until the digital camera age came about. I am only, just in the last 6 months, really making photography my focus and spending my time wandering around cities with my camera. I am hoping to make a career out of it but am only just beginning.

Work: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Okvy1Xf-7lnDMUJECyqBFiGksBcVMIOg?usp=sharing

Greatest Strength: I would say my strength in content creation would be trying to capture things in a different way than people may see them. Also I love light, shadows, sunsets and sunrises. no matter where i am i try to see as many sunsets as i can.

Improvement Points: I hope to learn as much as possible in all areas from you. I do want to learn how to capture photos that are going to be useful for content creation but also appealing and how to put myself out there to gain exposure and really just get my foot in the door of the world of photography and content creation.

Inspirations: My biggest inspiration for photography has always been my father. He shoots recreationally but has my whole life and has always encouraged my creativity in every way possible. Also last year in January (2018) I went on a trip to California to drive down the coast, and when i was in Santa Barbara met up with a bunch of folks on an instagram meet-up organized by Brighton Galvan (@brightong on instagram) and a bunch of his friends in Santa Barbara. I had never done a group shoot like that and was inspired by others and the insight provided to me was exceptionally valuable and by seeing what and how they shoot was very inspiring.

Learns By: As for how i learn best, I would say hands-on is better. Im a very visual and tactile learner.

Struggles: As for struggles, i would say just getting my self out there is my biggest struggle, as I am just beginning to do so.

Website: http://hannahcphoto.com