NSFW: Joshua Pereira

Joshua Pereira is a film photographer based out of New York city. He primarily shoots figure and the nude body. Shooting with our 400 ISO Color Film , Joshua details his love for analog and Lomography film.

Joshua, welcome to the magazine! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks for having me, have been a fan of Lomo for a long time so it's a real pleasure. I was born and raised in New York City so definitely feel a deep connection to this place. Right now I'm just exploring different styles and techniques, for the experience but also just to see how they feel. My past few projects have been collaborations, and that's been extremely rewarding. I've connected with some amazing people in the process.

How'd you get into photography?

I've always had a love for travel, even when I was pretty young. On school breaks as a teenager, I'd work a job for a while then quit and use the money to travel. For my birthday one year, I got a hop-on-hop-off type ticket with Amtrak as a graduation present. I used that to see a lot of the country, spending time in the southwest in hostels or budget hotels. During that time was when I started taking photos in a more conscious way. I'd definitely say that's where I got my curiosity about people, which is the thing that motivates me the most in terms of my photography.

What do you love most about shooting film?

The thing I enjoy the most about shooting film is that it really forces you to be present, to be aware of your breath, your body, so that right at that moment when you take your shot, you need to be absolutely present.

Why do you decide to shoot nude subjects?

Because the human body is real and honest and I'm amazed by the range of expression that can come from us at our most essential form.

What are you trying to communicate or achieve with this series of work?

My intention is to show the emotional intimacy and vulnerability that comes with being connected to another person. There are times when I've felt disconnected from the people around me and I think that comes from a fear or reluctance to make myself open in a way that can hurt me, so focusing on that dynamic is a challenge but it's something I think a lot of people can relate to. Representing closeness that feels safe is something I wish I'd see more of, so portraying that is something that feels important to me.

How'd you like working with Lomo cameras and film?

Love it. I'm a huge fan of the Color Negative 400; the tones and color saturation are gorgeous. When I first starting shooting medium format it was with a Diana, which was a great camera to start with and really lends itself to experimentation, which does a lot to take the intimidation factor out of working with a new (and expensive) medium. More recently I've been shooting with the Lubitel 166b, which has a really great lens. I've submitted some of the pictures I've taken with it, some of my favorite work.

If you had to only shoot with one Lomo camera which one would it be?

That's a tough question, but thinking about it I'd have to go with the Lomo Instant Wide. I've had the chance to use one for a while now and it's versatility along with the colored filters and lenses really makes it a unique camera.

What can expect to see from you in the future?

Right now, I'm organizing a show in Berlin with some friends, but the details are still being worked out. Most likely it'll happen in late-May, early-June but will be posting updates on my Instagram

Any words of advice to budding photographers?

Keep shooting, no matter what people say or how you're received. The only thing that matters is the feeling you have while you're out there creating. Compared to that, the end result is the least important aspect of the process. If you go with your gut and listen to your intuition, you'll make something no one else can, and that's where the power in your work will come from.

You can follow more of Joshua's work on his Instagram

geschrieben von sarahlindsayk am 2018-05-30 in #Menschen