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Lisa Brown
b;lack joy March 1, 2022
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Photographer Lisa Brown helps us heal with her powerful images

Photographer Lisa Brown is a Black woman making work that feels and looks like film stills. Her work covers the African diaspora in an honest and beautiful way. The powerful images encapsulate the Black joy and are at times moments of reflection. 

This Women’s History Month I want to recognize the powerful voices of Black women in photography. The emergence of black women in photography is not at all a new concept.

We know historically women and people of color have been left out of the major canon in this field. We can trace back time and again where BIPOC voices have been suppressed throughout multiple mediums.

There are many notable names that come to mind like Deborah Willis, Carrie Mae Weems, Zanele Muholi, Deana Lawson, and Polly Irungu. 

lisa brown photo
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

Photographer Lisa Brown connects to the diaspora

Lisa Brown and her works have been recognized by the Pittsburgh Art Society, Black Is Magazine, and The National Museum of Women in the Arts.

She began her photographic journey taking classes at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, DC. Brown completed college and got an AS in African American film at CCBC, and a degree in the Arts from Prince Georges College. 

After Brown graduated she dove into Africana Studies and the inspiration of these studies shows throughout her work. She is a bicoastal creative from Compton California, and Washington DC, a Getty Contributor, and a part of The Black Women Photographers collective.

Collectives like Black Women Photographers show us the importance of building a community amongst our fellow photographers.

photographer Lisa Brown
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

Currently, the photographer Lisa Brown is someone I admire. Her willingness to take a chance on her dreams and is creating works is inspirational, to say the least.

These images speak to the experiences of Black women. Her work promotes the representation of Black people from the black perspective. She uses a careful and caring eye throughout her photographic work.

Her project titled Shadow Work shows images of a woman in a white dress in a field. These images are striking in the way that Brown has captured movement and the individual’s essence.

She talks about Shadow work and the importance of recognizing the subconscious work that must be done to better oneself. 

Lisa Brown comes from a long line of photographers

black woman joy
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

Jade Rodgers: How did you get your start in photography?

Lisa Brown: My grandfather put me in a photography class in 1st grade. By 3rd grade, I learned to process film alone and did enlargements in the darkroom. 

JR: You’ve been photographing on film for some time. Can you talk about your relationship with film?

“Film has this timeless presence and you can always go back to this tangible item.”

Photographer Lisa Brown

LB: Subsequently, it has the ability to take you back in time. This reminds me of Sankofa. Which is a staple principle in my journey.      

black joy
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

There’s always room for Growth

JR: You mentioned to me in a previous conversation that you’re a Getty contributor, how did that begin and what sorts of jobs do you have to do for them?

LB: I randomly applied to BWP and got accepted. As a result, I was offered an opportunity to be critiqued by a director there. Who fell in love quickly with my work and taught me how to pitch a story deck. I think if you want to see the change it has to start with yourself.

Black joy
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

JR: Your work centers Blackness in a really beautiful way. Can you talk about your process and how you bring projects to life?

LB: While I learned some time ago from a professor at Towson, named Dr.Wright. Wright said to me“put your Black glasses on because you can’t take them off.” Being African from the diaspora is a beautiful movie. I thought, “Why not shoot a still?”

“I pray my images will make you want to see more of the emotions we go through daily.” 

– Photographer Lisa Brown

JR: Have you thought about entering into the NFT space? If so can you talk about some interest you might have or what you’d like to mint in the future?

nigerians
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

LB: Yes, I’m in the production of my Polaroid book and there’re at least 5 shots that will be minted as NFTs through the platform Nifty Gateway soon.

JR: You grew up bicoastal. Can you talk about that experience and some of your influences growing up that played a role in your creative process?

LB: I grew up strangely loving Compton in my heart. My sister is Samoan and their culture is very different from my experiences living in the east. From their food to music it’s all very different.

I’ve had those hot fire hydrant days in DC and snowboarding on cardboard at Howard’s campus hills as a child. I was also able to have many muscle beach days and fly to the bay. It’s a polar life I’ve lived.

photographer lisa brown
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

Being apart of Black Women Photographers

JR: How did you get involved with Black Women Photographers? How has that space helped you grow as a creative?

LB: Big shout out to Polly Irungu, she critiqued me at Women Photojournalists Of Washington (WPOW) and stayed in contact with me like no other.

I was in Nigeria sending her emails and she encouraged me to scout this and that. Honestly, endless thank you’s to the space she created to grow fruitful relationships.

“Even in my little film corner, I didn’t feel alone anymore.”

– Photographer Lisa Brown

JR: It’s a new year so I’d love to talk about any upcoming shows or works you have and some goals you might have set for yourself moving into the new year?

LB: I have 9 shows this year, not including a solo in dc, a residency in Cali, and a show in Lagos Nigeria. My goal for 2022 is to hire a publicist and start working with an editor for my book. Honor an elder and accustom a professional mentor for my career. I’m very thankful for my photographer mentor Q in ATL.

black joy
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

LB: My project Shadow Work is a series about a close friend transiting in her life, a dark time but this too shall pass. The importance is to be present and perform your rituals and do the work on yourself.

This includes dancing, self-care of this body, sister circles, and devotion to your higher authority. 

lisa brown photo
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

LB: The Big Pin Up is a series on owning your sex. To show vulnerability and the muse shows you what you’re allowed to see that is attractive.

“Brown women have not been seen or allowed to control their sex in these countries and not at all like other women of noncolor.”

– Photographer Lisa Brown
lisa brown photography
Photo Courtesy Lisa Brown

Check out all of Lisa Brown’s work at Heal Her Photography here.

NFT
10K80 August 17, 2021
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5 photographers who are making big ETH from NFTs

At Kulturehub, we have touched on the ever-expanding market of photographers and NFTs many times.

But, we are more than willing to give a summary to those who are unfamiliar with their unique place in the art world. NFT’s (Non-Fungible Tokens) are any digital assets that people pay real money to own. In the art world specifically, they are pretty much any piece of art that can be purchased and owned digitally.

NFT’s are an interesting and somewhat controversial technological and artistic topic. Some people believe that NFT’s are the art of the future. Some people scoff at the idea of owning something that is subjective “not real.”

However, as our society continues becoming more reliant on technology, the existence of NFT’s and NFT artists has slowly become increasingly legitimized.

It’s also important to remember that nothing legitimizes art more than money and popularity. NFT’s are becoming more and more popular every day, and people are investing more and more money into digital artwork.

Lately, people have been paying outrageous amounts of money for photographs. Photographs that are deemed iconic are particularly popular. Let’s take a look at 5 photographers who are already heavy in the NFT circuit.

“Love Is War” by Aimos Vasquez – NFT sale price $125,000 (40 ETH)

Via Instagram

You may be familiar with Aimos Vasquez from this extremely iconic photo that he took of XXXTentacion. The photo is currently the only photo left on X’s Instagram, the second most liked photo, and the most commented photo in Instagram history.

The photo was placed in a collection of his concert photos entitled: “Now Crediting: Aimos”, and was auctioned as an NFT. It was put to auction on the online asset marketplace Blockparty and the collection sold for an undisclosed amount of money.

Aimos is still snapping dope pics of your favorite artist. If you want to support him and his amazing photography, check out his Instagram and the portfolio on his website.

“Until We Disappear” x “White Roses for My Soul To Keep” by Randall Slavin – Combined sale price $22,000 (6.8 ETH)

“Until We Disappear” (courtesy of Randall Slavin)

On May 18, 2017, rock legend Chris Cornell tragically died by suicide at the age of 53. It was recently discovered that, only months before he passed, he had done a photoshoot with photographer Randall Slavin. Slavin, with the approval of Cornell’s widow, decided to mint and sell the unreleased photoshoot as NFT’s.

Two NFT’s went up for auction, one entitled “White Roses for My Soul To Keep“, and the other entitled “Until We Disappear.”

Each of them is essentially slideshows of the different portraits that Slavin captured of Cornell in his final photoshoot. They were purchased using Cryptograph.

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale went to Phoenix House California, which is a trio of non-profit drug and alcohol rehab centers. Cornell was on drugs at the time of his death and struggled with addiction through much of his life, so it seemed to be the most fitting place to allocate money.

You can see the previews of these two NFT’s here. If you want to support Randall Slavin and his beautiful work, be sure to check out his website, and his Instagram.

NFT artworks by Matty Furious – Total estimated value $61,008.42 (19.217 ETH)

Terminal Stop Edition 1 of 1 by Matty Furious

Absurd cityscapes, vintage video games, and eerily familiar early 2000’s computer aesthetics. What do these things all have in common? They are all attributes of the insanely difficult-to-describe NFT’s created by photographer Matty Furious.

While NFT’s have the tendency to be sort of interesting and atypical, there is no artwork I have seen quite like Matty’s.

His work is so interesting because it is typically composed of things that seem so familiar, but you know you have never seen before. These familiar elements come together to create new ideas and fantastically chaotic worlds.

Matty’s work is currently available to view and purchase on SuperRare. You can also follow him on Twitter where he posts updates on new NFT’s he’s dropping. You can also subscribe to his Youtube channel where he makes wild videos with similar aesthetics to his NFT’s.

NFT artworks by photographer Elise Swopes – Total estimated value $339,772.88 (107.027 ETH)

We have already interviewed the brilliant Elise Swopes regarding her work and the NFT’s market. However, in case you weren’t familiar, Elise is an artist, a name-brand collaborator, an NFT creator, and a pretty remarkable human.

Her NFT’s are beautiful, they typically involve the distortion of stunning city pictures that she takes herself. She manipulates stunning, but ordinary environments into artwork that changes reality.

Recently her NFT’s have seen a great amount of popularity. In fact, some of her pieces have sold for over 40,000 dollars worth of cryptocurrency!

She is quickly climbing to the top of the NFT world, and you should be there to enjoy the climb. Go looking through her website, her SuperRare page, and her Instagram to keep up to date with all of her artistic developments.

Anna McNaught total NFT assets have an estimated worth of $105,000 (33.2 ETH)

Via https://annamcnaught.com/

Anna Mcnaught is an extremely talented photographer, photoshop artist, and NFT bag collector. She has dropped several impressive NFT’s along with her portfolio of far-out digital art.

Her Instagram is packed with beautiful, colorful, unique pieces that stand out even in the field of digital art. She has some NFT’s dropping on August 15th, so we highly recommend you hop over to her Instagram if you are interested.

Also, check out her website for a more comprehensive overview of her portfolio and everything she has to offer. You can shop for her work directly on her website.

A portion of the proceeds from your purchase will go to the environmental organization The Sierra Club. She’s one of the next big things in the NFT world, so check her out today.

Photographers need to get with NFTs

Photographers are having a tremendous amount of success selling their art as NFTs, so it looks like NFTs are not going anywhere anytime soon. Whether or not they are the future of art is yet to be seen, but it is worth it to take some time to get lost in this new and exciting art medium.

If you are new to this, start with these awesome photographers and see how you like their NFTS and work. You may just find that you appreciate digital art more than you ever thought possible.

Stonewall Riot
diana davies June 14, 2021
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The memorable photography of the Stonewall Riots years later

At the center of Pride Month in New York City is the commemorative space that Stonewall Inn carved out in the summer of ‘69. Incited by a police raid, the Stonewall Riots laid the foundations for queer liberation in the years that followed. The revolutionary period of the Stonewall Riots was documented by photography that makes up the archive of visual history we still have today.

Not only were the Stonewall Riots captured in photographs, they also left a lasting impact on the artistic community as well. The Stonewall Riots were a liberating movement for the LGBTQIA+ community, and photography that had previously suppressed themes of queerness.

The movement was also a fight for visibility that transformed the expressive limits of photography. Photography during and after Stonewall was having its coming out – below are some of its key actors and defining images. 

stonewall riots photography
McDarrah captured this view of paradegoers during the fifth annual Christopher Street Liberation Day march at Gay and Christopher Streets in June 1973. Courtesy of Fred W. McDarrah Archive/MUUS Asset Management Co LLC.

Fred McDarrah

A longtime staff photographer for the Village Voice, Fred W. McDarrah is the photographer behind still many of the most recognizable images from the scene.

pride month new york city
Fred McDarrah’s “Celebration After Riots Outside Stonewall Inn, Nelly (Betsy Mae Koolo), Chris (Drag Queen Chris), Roger Davis, Michelle and Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt, June 1969” (1969).Credit…Photo by Fred W. McDarrah/Getty Images, courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Gallery, New York.

There was still no demand for photos of transexual or queer people from museums or galleries. But McDarrah knew they were valuable subjects.

pride month new york city
Marsha P. Johnson, the trans activist and co-founder of star (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), the radical, intersectional activist collective, June 27, 1971.Photographs by Fred W. McDarrah / Courtesy OR Books

He shot countless Pride Month parades, hearings, and also marches that summer in New York City on his film camera. The images were developed in a makeshift darkroom in his family’s Greenwich Village apartment. All together it was about 40,000 prints by the time he passed in 2007.

Now McDarrah’s work is an invaluable part of this history. And it has been featured in countless institutions telling the story of queer liberation. 

Diana Davies

Another essential photographer of the movement was Diana Davies. She was a big-name photojournalist at the time that she turned her attention to the queer liberation movement.

photography after stonewall
Photo by Diana Davies, 1971. Source: NYPL.

As a result, Davies was able to capture those figures at the head of the movement including Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Ellen Broidy amongst others.

after stonewall riots photography
Diana Davies, Untitled (Marsha P. Johnson Hands Out Flyers for Support of Gay Students at N.Y.U.) c. 1970 © The New York Public Library:Art Resource, New York

Her participation in the movement and presence there was read by the public as an admittance of her own queerness and was a kind of ‘coming out’ in and of itself.

This kind of shallow judgment failed to deter Davies from continuing to capture the transformational work happening at the Stonewall Riots. 

Photography After Stonewall


The art world now stages countless exhibitions that seek to honor the photographers of the movement and beyond. One particularly notable exhibition by Soho Photo Gallery in 2019 commemorated the 50th anniversary of Stonewall by highlighting the work of 23 artists.

Titled Photography After Stonewall, the exhibit showcased the work of photographers that have developed a creative approach to LGBTQ issues. The works, which include themes of gender/sexuality, the AIDS crisis, the American nuclear family, would have been unthinkable before the riots.

pride month new york city
Image by Fred McDarrah, courtesy OR Books

As a queer liberation, the Stonewall Riots rippled out into the artistic community, and the lives of people around the world.

Mental Health Photographers
10K80 May 17, 2021
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5 mental health photographers capturing the importance of MHAM

Art is not only a coping mechanism but an escape for many. Its different forms allow both artists and viewers to communicate, relate and understand the distinct depths of the human experience.

And now that is officially Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM), and the world is experiencing change like none before, perhaps, is worthwhile to explore the depths of the human mind through photographers.

Many of these visual artworks can be a great example to study and destigmatize different mental health problems.

The following photographers scrutinize and communicate different aspects of mental health. They explore depression, anxiety, and different mental disorders. But, most importantly, their depictions expose and challenge the taboos over the matter.

Edward Honaker

Edward Honaker was diagnosed with chronic depression when he was only 19-years-old. Thus, the photographer documents his experience with it through a series of black and white self-portraits. Honaker successfully captures the isolating fear that depression brings.

“Your mind is who you are, and when it doesn’t work properly, it’s scary,” he told The Huffington Post. Ironically, it was only after his diagnosis that he saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes, when your mind is off, it’s important to name the problem. Not only does this give you a kind of explanation, but it’s the first step toward finding a solution. That way, Honaker used his camera to turn these emotions into a tangible expressions.

Katie Joy Crawford

At only 11-years-old, Crawford had her first panic attack. When she was 13-years-old, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

In her series, My Anxious Heart, Katie Joy Crawford represents her physical experiences with anxiety and depression. The series not only aims to capture her internal struggles, but to bring them to light.

The photo series explores the emotional and physical journey that her diagnosis gave her life experience. She depicts her own experience as both draining and suffocating. Yet, aims to explain the weight that these bears in our society, thus challenging social taboos.

Heather Agyepong

Heather Agyepong, on the other hand, brings awareness to the difficulties in dealing with racism and oppression. This British-Ghanian artist sheds light on ‘Black trauma’ through a series of staged self-portraits. Mixing historical figures and her own experiences, she combats all the negative feelings of inequality and racism.

Her goal is to open up conversations about how these issues affect the Black community politically, socially, and most importantly, mentally. Thus, acknowledging the severity of the problem.

Photo by: Heather Agyepong, “Too Many Blackamoors”

John William Keedy

Through a deeply personal series ‘Its Hardly noticeable,’ photographer John William Keedy, illustrates his struggle with anxiety disorder.

After seven or eight years of being diagnosed with anxiety, Keedy was ready to create an artwork that not only represented him, but something that could help some audiences to relate. Through his series, he creates the ‘character,’ a person who intends to portray the different struggles that anxiety presents for different people.

Photo by: John William Keedy, Its Hardly Noticeable Series

He told NPR magazine, “if only to help a couple of people who are going through the same thing in some way feel that they’re not alone in this.”

Etinosa Yvonne Osayimwe

From the Plateau State conflicts to Boko Haram’s insurgency, Nigerian people have had their fair share of suffering. That leaves its scars.

Etinosa Yvonne Osayine uses her camera as a powerful tool to depict trauma and use it as evidence of such atrocities. Her series, ‘It’s all in my Head,’ aims to help people open up about their experience and help them deal with trauma.

“When I wake up in the morning and just before I go to bed, I think of all that happened. I went through hell and I can’t get it out of my head. Boko Haram is the worst thing that happened to me.”

Hajara Abubakar, 24, Borno, Nigeria. The Culture Trip Magazine
Photo by: Etinosa Yvonne Osayimwe, It’s all in my Head series

Yospie Cardoso

At the age of seven, Yospie Cardoso was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Through a series of self-portraits, he depicts the life of a man living with schizophrenia. Not only does he hope to incentivize awareness, but also to eliminate the stigmas around it.

Photo by: Yospie Cardoso, ‘Loneliness and Alienation’ 

“It’s been a chance to show people my experiences. When you tell people you have schizophrenia, they automatically think you’re crazy. I want people to understand and stop looking at the stigma of it.”

Yospie Cardoso, The Mighty Magazine, 2015
Photo by: Yospie Cardoso ‘Suicidal thoughts’ 

The importance of photographers specializing in mental health

Art can be both golden or gummy, but it is always real. Whether it is the subconscious mind communicating something beyond the realms of rationality, or a practical depiction of existence.

What these artists communicate, for that matter, depends on the eyes of those viewing. At the end of the day, the beholder would always see what the beholder wants to see. So, whatever it is, just let it sink.

10K80 January 26, 2021
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Remembering a legend: 10 iconic photos from Kobe Bryant’s career

To the photographers able to capture photos of Kobe Bryant throughout his illustrious career over the years, thank you. It is because of you that we have iconic and powerful photos of Kobe Bryant to remember him by, both on and off the basketball court.

Much of my family derives from Philadelphia and neighboring East Coast areas. The farthest back that I can remember is the first time my feet touched the ocean at age three in Avalon, NJ.

When I sat down with my grandparents to watch the 2001 NBA Finals (76ers versus Lakers), my family swore up and down how the 6ers and A.I. would triumph.

Unbeknownst to them, there was a guy on the other side of the court with the basketball named Kobe Bean Bryant. Remembering Kobe Bryant is one of the best things we can do whenever we need motivation and clarity.

Let us now reminisce and bask in the glory of the legendary ‘Black Mamba’ through this collection of wondrous imagery.

Remembering young Kobe Bryant at the tip of his career

Kobe Bryant photographed by Jon SooHoo during a portrait session outside of The Forum in Inglewood, CA – 1997

“Green and inexperienced, dreaming about that chariot.”

Capital Steez – Dead Prez

Making the leap from high school to the league is quite the feat. Kobe welcomed the challenge in stride and set his sights on the upper echelon from day one.

Remembering Kobe Bryant means remembering him before reaching the height of his powers. The star-eyed youngster intent on being great.

Reading the paper, Kobe clearly disapproves of what he sees

Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein while reading the paper prior to playing the New Jersey Nets during the 2002 NBA Finals in Los Angeles, CA – June 01, 2002

The satirical caricature of Kobe’s domineering comrade, Shaquille O’Neal does not even measure up to his waistline. Why poke a bear? Kobe gives us his best Cam’ron impression in this flick in contemplation along the lines of, “Sure. Add fuel to this Mamba fire. My play will do the talkin.'”

Star-studded lovers Kobe and Vanessa Bryant in the early years of their relationship

Vanessa Bryant & Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein while arriving home after defeating the 76ers during Game Five of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles, CA – June 16, 2001

“Am I wrong? I want my bouquet when I can smell it”

(Legend – Benny the Butcher)

An undying passion for the game and commitment to excellence flowed through every vein of Kobe’s body. One can only imagine the amount of love and devotion Kobe showed to those with whom he surrounded himself, inside and outside of basketball.

We remember Kobe Bryant in his efforts off the court just as much as we do those on it.

A beautiful father-son duo, Kobe always respected and appreciated his pops

Kobe Bryant & his father Joseph Bryant photographed by Nathaniel S. Butler while in the locker room before a game against the 76ers in Philadelphia, PA – November 26, 1996

Kobe’s hunger transcended generations. He was one of the few athletes with the caliber to jump straight from high school to the NBA.

Some people know their calling from a young age and KBB was clearly of a different elk since conception.

Shaq and Kobe always had a contentious relationship, but there was always love there

Kobe Bryant & Shaq’s father Phillip Harrison photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein before a game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA – 2000

Kobe was a family man through and through. He yearned to discover every single detail and aspect about the game of basketball.

That crossed over to relationships as he wanted to know every single thing about those around him in order to better himself and advance relations in the utmost.

So even though Shaq and Kobe feuded, this photo of Kobe Bryant and Shaq’s dad reminds us that there was a lot of love on display still.

Before the rings, Shaq and Kobe had a lot to prove, together

Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant photographed by John W. McDonough while playing against the Houston Rockets in Inglewood, CA – May 09, 1999

The rift between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in their basketball endeavors was well-documented in their careers. When you get two competitive behemoths of that magnitude, it is difficult to have everything flow perfectly.

Regardless, their off-the-court disagreements never spilled over onto the court. As genuine basketball connoisseurs, that is all we can ask for.

After the first ring, this candid photo shows the pride both Kobe and Shaq felt

LOS ANGELES – JUNE 19: Shaquille O’Neal #34 and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a photo after winning the NBA Championship on June 19, 2000 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2000 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Clearly, the rings can do the talking. Not only that, but the sheer gaudy statistics speak volumes of these two players’ capabilities.

Call them what you want – never call them for fronts. These two men are legends.

Perhaps one of the most famous photos of his career, Kobe takes a second to take the moment in

Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Five of the NBA Finals in Philadelphia, PA – June 15, 2001

Exhausted, spent, worn. Kobe poured his heart and soul into every bounce of the Spalding.

An individual to truly admire for his wondrous deeds on and off of the court, these photos of Kobe Bryant keep us inspired. Greatness personified.

The ultimate competitors: Kobe vs. A.I.

PHILADELPHIA – FEBRUARY 20: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers stand during a game played on February 20, 2000 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

If you were there, you attended the closest thing to heaven’s entrance. Night in and night out during their careers, Kobe and A.I. spoiled us with their incredibly gifted outputs.

When Kobe fatefully passed on this day last year, A.I. was one of his many contemporaries to speak out on his love and respect for the Mamba.

“Greatness needs company, and we needed each other. Mike needed Prince like Prince needed Mike.”

Allen Iverson in The Players’ Tribune

One of the most famous photos of Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson: The two biggest Laker legends of all time

Kobe Bryant & Magic Johnson photographed by Walter Looss Jr. during a portrait session for Sports Illustrated in Los Angeles, CA – April 01, 1998

Voila, Magic! Not only did Kobe put on for the entire state of California, he commanded attention, globally.

Together with Lakers’ legends, Kobe had massive plans to continue to bolster the identity and elite functionality of the Los Angeles Lakers organization.

The magnum opus of Kobe Bryant photos: Kobe and Mike, teacher and mentor

Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant photographed by Andrew D. Bernstein during a game at The Forum in Inglewood, CA – February 01, 1998

There is no denying the fact that to be the man you have to beat the man. With careful craft and rigorous preparation Kobe molded his game ever so closely to that of Michael Jordan.

Kobe Bryant’s basketball prowess is what got MJ’s attention. But it was his work ethic and killer mentality that truly attracted Mike to Bean. And MJ spoke reverently about Kobe at his memorial in 2020.

“Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother. When Kobe died, a little piece of me died.”

Michael Jordan

Interested in more Kobe Bryant quotes? Tap in here:

zhong lin photography
Kulture January 19, 2021
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Who is Zhong Lin? The artist setting the tone for capturing portraits

“I want to rediscover what it means to start from nothing. No limits, no boundaries and no definition,” says Zhong Lin, the brilliant artist capturing portraits.

Zhong Lin pledged to take a portrait a day for 365 days. Calling it the “365 challenge,” at first she struggled maintaining focus and creative inspiration. Something we can all relate to at some point or another.

But Lin found focus and inspiration in spontaneity. And, shooting around Taiwan in South Asia, she was able to capture beautiful portraits of people without worrying as much about the coronavirus, as the country did a brilliant job mitigating its spread.

“Every visual starts from a blank page. I have learnt that there is no right or wrong in creativity and with this vision I invite you to take on this journey with me to title what is yet to be named.”

Zhong Lin

A portrait captured a day – the Zhong Lin way

Zhong Lin’s work has been celebrated in Vogue China, Harpers Bazaar China, and many more publications. She was born in Malaysia, though as mentioned before, traveled around the area of Taiwan capturing portraits in 2020.

Her project is still ongoing, as from the day she began, 365 days is not yet up. It also just so happened that, despite the immense difficulties the pandemic presented and the severe loss felt, it gave her a chance to look around and reflect.

“The breakout of COVID-19 happened to give me a pause and an opportunity to start this project.”

Zhong Lin

As of January 19, 2021, Lin has captured 272 portraits, the most recent being this delightfully enigmatic close-up.

portrait photography
“#272 #stye” (Cred: @zhonglin_)

The art of capturing portraits

Zhong Lin is a self-taught photographer, which should provide the most novice (and aspirational) creatives to follow, and teach themselves whatever they want to do.

Each of Lin’s images are distinctly unique, which of course is no simple feat with 272 completed (and more to come). They are dreamy, like they all exist within an ethereal plane.

And capturing portraits is not an easy feat itself either. One has to make their subject feel comfortable, giving instructions, but not too many as to bother.

Another important aspect of Lin’s work, and for all portrait photographers, is to let the creation come to them. Don’t force it.

“In the beginning, I just wanted to create beautiful things without boundaries, with different people and talents I meet at work or in life… and to share my visions with the world.”

Zhong Lin
capturing portraits
“#258 #bubblegum” (Cred: @zhonglin_)

Portrait photography in South Asia

When Lin found herself stuck in Taiwan at the onset of the pandemic, she started conceptualizing the project.

“Daily life here hasn’t been impacted much by the virus,” Zhong told CNN in an interview this past September.

“In Taiwan, people still get to walk outside, travel domestically and go about life normally, though with more caution.”

Zhong Lin

We follow Zhong Lin’s portraits with giddy anticipation. She, truly, is an inspiration to creatives seeking to start something new. Creatives looking for reinvigoration. Any of us looking for how to create in isolated times.

Asked where the inspiration for this project came from, Zhong Lin had something to say that we should all listen to.

“I’d been thinking it’d be so cool to work with these people creating something that’s free from limits; just create to create.”

Zhong Lin

MLK
10K80 January 15, 2021
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Rare Martin Luther King Jr. photos holding us down for MLK day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is hailed as one of America’s greatest leaders who worked to bridge the gap between racial and class struggles in the name of equality. Rare photos of Martin Luther King Jr. remind us that even the most famous public figures can be captured out of the public light.

King was a man known to move mountains with his words, using speeches to call America to arms of peace, love, and commonality. MLK, a larger than life figure, is able to retain his memorable demeanor and candor of expression in his photographs.

So, with MLK day on our minds, here are five photographers who captured King throughout his life in photos in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Photographers who captured the duality of King being a leader for the people, and a father to his children. Thus, on this day close to MLK day, we look at complex imagery birthed out of rare photos of Martin Luther King Jr.

Fred Baldwin

Wendy Watriss and Frederick Baldwin - HCAS
Fred Baldwin and his wife, Wendy Watriss.

A photographer driven by curiosity, Fred Baldwin was brave and ambitious in his pursuits. The camera was his means of expression and also a way to find out the truths of the world. In 1963, Baldwin came face to face with the truths of America.

Baldwin stumbled upon a Civil Rights march in Savannah, Georgia and began to take photos of the protestors. There he met many of the leaders of the movement, including Hosea Williams who was a trusted member of Dr. King’s circle.

Baldwin knew that the world needed to see what Black people were going through in this nation. And he dedicated the next few years of his life to photographing the movement including a picture of Dr. King at the municipal auditorium in Savannah, Georgia in 1964.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Auditorium, Savannah, Ga. January 1964.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Auditorium, Savannah, Ga. January 1964.Credit-Fred Baldwin

James Karales

The Voting Rights Act and Shelby County v. Holder: How the Supreme Court could make the VRA better instead of striking it down.
James Karales

Some of the most famous civil rights images were taken by James Karales. There was the young teenager marching with the word “VOTE” across his face behind a backdrop of an American flag.

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Cred: James Karales

Karales is one of the few photographers to capture Dr. King at his most earnest and vulnerable state, with his children.

An image from 1962 shows Dr. King with his daughter, Yolanda, explaining segregation to her. The angst and disappointment of the conversation are shown in his face as he struggles to explain to a child why the world is the way that it is.

It’s an image that shows King at his most hopeful. His hope was in the children just as he outlined in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

MLK day photos
Dr. Martin Luther King and his daughter, Yolanda King, 1962.

Ernest Withers

This is my favorite African American photographer . Ernest Wither documented the civil rights era. E… | Black history facts, African american history, Black history
Ernest Withers

One of the most respected photographers of the civil rights era was Ernest Withers.

Much of his work came at the very beginnings of the movement, such as photographs of Emmett Till in 1955, and the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Ernest was revered by King for his documentation of the movement, and was allowed to travel with him and sit in strategy meetings as the main photographer documenting the history that they were making as a movement.

Thus, Withers’ pictures were truly rare photos and insight into Martin Luther King Jr.

The Double Life of Ernest Withers
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the funeral of Medgar Evers in Jackson Mississippi in June, 1963 -Photo Credit – Ernest Withers.

Withers was actually secretly an informant for the FBI. He would send them rare photos he had taken of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as contextual information of each event, and schedules of organizations and individuals.

King was never aware of this truth, as well as many other activists of the time period, but that takes nothing away from the wealth of history given to generations after the Civil Rights Movement through these photographs.

Steve Schapiro

Steve Schapiro | The Talks
Steve Schapiro

A photographer truly one of a kind, Steve Schapiro found himself in the middle of multiple historic instances, most notably his work documenting President Kennedy’s campaign.

His work capturing the civil rights movement came in the form of documenting the historic march on Selma in 1965.

Martin Luther King Jr. (with Flag), Selma March
Dr. King at the Selma March of 1965. Photo Credit – Steve Schapiro

Schapiro captures a rare photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marching with the flag of red, white, and blue behind him.

The black and white pallet of the photograph blends King in with his compatriots of peace behind him, all marching to the beat of the same drum of equality and love.

Yet, King is still able to stand out as the center of the piece. That attention to the subject and blending of their image and might is what makes Schapiro’s images what they are.

Moneta Sleet Jr.

Moneta Sleet, Jr. (1926-1996)
Cred: Moneta Sleet Jr.

Moneta Sleet Jr. is a legendary photographer for his work capturing the Civil Rights movement. This includes rare photos of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech of 1964, and the march on Selma in 1965.

Dr. King and Sleet grew to be close friends throughout the movement because of his respect for his work. While Sleet captured King many times through his life, his work through King’s death is what most remember.

Coretta Scott King and Bernice King - Atlanta, Georgia, 1968
Coretta Scott King and Bernice King at Ebenezer Baptist Church, April 9th, 1968.

Sleet captured an image of Coretta Scott King and the King’s youngest child, Bernice, at a service in Ebenezer Baptist Church. The image shows Mrs. King grieving and comforting her child. It’s a somber image showing the weight of Dr. King’s absence on their lives.

The image earned Sleet a Pulitzer Prize, making him the first African-American to receive the award for journalism. He made history with an image he took with his heart while also grieving for an old friend gone too soon.

Rare photos of Martin Luther King Jr. remind us the fight for equality doesn’t stop

Dr. Martin Luther King may never walk this earth again, but his legacy is forever. MLK day and these photos taken by brave photographers are constant reminders of how large his legacy truly looms over us.

Through their lenses, these photographers ensure that Dr. King will always be remembered for generations to come.

With MLK day on our mind, these photographers and their photos also should inspire all creatives to not only create, but document the times that we are in.

That is the true nature and responsibility of an artist and each of these photographers understood their role in the fight for change and equality.

Civil Rights Movement
10K80 January 12, 2021
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10 civil rights movements in photography that changed the world

Civil rights photography is incomparable to any other form of the art. There is no other form of photography that captures, at its essence, a group of people crying out for their own humanity to be recognized.

As the latter half of the 20th century illustrated, and this past year reminded us, the fight for civil rights is a war, not a battle. Small fights matter, but it takes a strong, unified coalition of all races acting in consistent and trustworthy faith, to vanquish the evil powers of racism and all that it permeates.

There is no similarity to civil rights photography because there are no other photographs that can capture such vivid and visceral emotions that represent a time. Whether it be a photograph of MLK speaking, a group of people protesting police brutality, or a little girl walking with poise while racist adults eight times her age scream at her, civil rights photography cannot be mimicked.

And in its most intrinsic nature, it cannot be forgotten. Here are 10 civil rights photographs that are equally harrowing as they are inspiring for a new generation.

MLK photographed

@gettyarchive

This picture is as iconic as they come. Brothers in arms, freedom fighters marching for justice.

No violence, no seething tempers, no fear. These men, led by MLK in the middle, know they are doing no wrong. Even moreso, they are doing what is undeniably right, judged not by man or woman, but by something greater.

With the late great John Lewis included in this civil rights photograph, let us be reminded how recent these civil rights marches and demonstrations are.

“I come here to urge every person under the sound of my voice, to go to the polls on the third of November and vote your conviction.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Sound familiar? Freedom fighters have been calling for the disenfranchised to get out and vote for decades. And we just saw in 2020, how it can pay off.

It is deeply impressive how poised MLK was, constantly in the spotlight, looked up to by so many. And still not letting fear and anger consume him.

Martin Luther King is greeted by his wife Coretta and children, Marty and Yoki, at the airport in Chamblee, Georgia, following his release from prison after being arrested at a sit in in Atlanta, 27th October 1960.⁠(Cred: Bettmann/Getty Images)

We leave you with this beautiful image of MLK and his family. He did not fall prey to despair, even though the anger from all he had seen and knew could consume the best of people. As candid an image as you will see, this MLK photograph fills us with joy.

Rosa Parks photographed

Seen here, Parks (center) rides a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal on the city bus system on December 21, 1956. (Cred: Don Cravens/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Rosa Parks is one of the most famous civil rights icons in U.S. history. Her disobedience, her bravery in standing up to what she knew deeply in her heart was right, inspires us greatly.

“People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day, I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

Rosa Parks

Parks famously refused to give up her seat for a white person on the front of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. She was subsequently arrested. The image below shows her face well, ostensibly unperturbed because she had had enough.

@jacobyork

The first image, however, shows Parks in more peace. Her decision to not move for the white person on the bus inspired the Black community to boycott Montgomery buses for over a year. Eventually, in November 1956, a decision was made that bus segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Gordon Parks photography

Gordon Parks, Untitled, 1941 (Cred: @gordonparksfoundation)

An iconic image. Gordon Parks is widely known as one of the most important civil rights photographers of all time. His work defines a generation of social justice, and it has inspired generations of photographers to emulate his passion and skills.

“The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.”

Gordon Parks

How fitting is that quote, for it captures the extreme bravery of civil rights leaders like MLK, while also inspiring photographers like Gordon Parks to always strive for more.

Gordon Parks was not just a photographer, but an activist too, and we shall remember him as such.

August 28, 1963 — More than 250,000 people, across all races, classes and ideologies gathered in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was here that MLK delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. (Cred: @gordonparksfoundation)

Angela Davis photographed

Angela Davis in 1971 (Cred: @secondmoonvintage)

Known as one of the most influential civil rights leaders in U.S. history, Angela Davis continues to shine. The civil rights photography that captured her in her natural states is some of certain photographers’ most influential work.

“When you talk about a revolution, most people think violence, without realizing that the real content of any kind of revolutionary thrust lies in the principles and the goals that you’re striving for.”

Angela Davis

Do her words stand in stark contrast to something we all heard recently? We heard a lot of backlash over the Black Lives Matter protests last summer, how the protestors could have gone about things a different way. Angela Davis’ words will forever ring true about how a revolution is not determined, or remembered, by the journey, but rather by its goals/decisions at the conclusion.

Her insight will always be appreciated and inspiring for those seeking to ensure justice and freedom for everyone.

Ruby Bridges photographed

Ruby Bridges walks the steps of William Frantz Elementary School with a security detail in 1960. (Cred: @RubyBridgesOfficial)

There is no greater indication of how recent the sweeping civil rights movement of the past was than the fact that Ruby Bridges is only 66 years old. A civil rights icon, activist, author, and speaker, Bridges came into national attention over the New Orleans school desegregation crisis.

Her poise in walking through crowds of white adults screaming expletives and hateful rhetoric at her, even with demonstrative threats, will always be inspiring to me. The bravery that must have taken is nearly unfathomable.

Fred Hampton photographed

Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. (Cred: Melaninisthemood)

Fred Hampton was the Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP). At just 21 years old, he was a leader of the party as a whole and a leader in the civil rights movement.

He was killed unlawfully by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the F.B.I. in 1969 due to the U.S. government’s fear of his influence. Hampton is the subject of Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya’s upcoming film, Judas and the Black Messiah.

We will never forget Hampton and what he meant to the Black community in Chicago and beyond. And due to poignant civil rights photography having captured him, we will always have a piece of him to look back to.

Muhammad Ali photographed

Muhammad Ali, London, England, 1966⁠. (Cred: @gordonparks foundation)

Muhammad Ali is best known as the greatest boxer of all time. But his efforts outside the cage are even more prominent. He was an activist, and vehemently against the war in Vietnam, or at least Black people’s forced inclusion in it.

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?”

Ali, February, 17, 1966.

Ali is both a model for how to achieve success and stay at the top. And for calling out what is wrong and speaking on what is right. We will always remember him for his impact on the world, and for always staying true to what he believed in. The civil rights photography surrounding him contains some of the most profound images ever.

Muslim minister and activist, Malcolm X trains his camera on a tuxedo-clad Muhammad Ali, then still going by the name Cassius Clay, in 1964.⁠ ⁠(Cred: Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images)

This civil rights photograph shows icons Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali together. The boxer was celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston and his new title – Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Malcolm X photographed

Malcolm X, Harlem, New York, 1963 (Cred: @gordonparksfoundation)

The discourse around Malcolm X is one of the most contentious of any icons in modern history. He advocated and insisted upon the liberation of Black people, but had a different idea of how to get there than MLK and others.

What is undeniable, however, is his impact on his community in Harlem and the entire world. As Angela Davis alluded to, it is not the means for securing a revolution that matter, but the goals at the end of it.

Malcolm X wanted justice for his Black brothers and sisters, just like more-revered MLK did. Let us remember that about him above all else.

Maya Angelou photographed

Maya Angelou speaks at the First Million Man March in 1995 (Photographer unknown) 

The late great Maya Angelou is captured here in one of the most iconic civil rights photographs ever. The poet is remembered for her beautiful, poignant words, as well as her civil rights efforts. May she rest in peace.

John Lewis photographed

(Cred: @gettyarchive)

John Lewis, seen earlier with Martin Luther King Jr., sadly passed away last July.

His memory reminds us that laws are arbitrary, and often upheld by those who wish to stay in power. This civil rights photograph, and all that captured him on that day with MLK, show that fighting back against oppressive powers is necessary.

“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

John Lewis

Lewis also rose to become a Georgia congressman, fighting from inside politics to ensure a better future for our youth.

Let us all remember that civil rights photography is not some ancient thing. Some of those who were photographed and listed above, either recently passed or are still living today.

The fight moves on, and photography, like that of Gordon Parks, helps show us the way. We do not need to reinvent the wheel to fight for civil rights. We can ask our elders what they did, what they wish they could’ve done, and more.

These ten great civil rights leaders photographed remind us of a world both seemingly far away, and at the same time, distinctly familiar.

photo by ace of LA
10K80 October 29, 2020
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Finally Focused NY to LA: Episode 5 Photographer Ace of LA

“The image that we create enhances that person to be bigger than life.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA, black Commes des Garçons tee on, black snapback faced backward, speaks from his studio in a reclined black chair.

As he speaks, it is clear he is reflecting on his journey, with a visceral understanding in a solemn tone that he always wanted to be a photographer, and thus was always going to be.

“I knew my purpose at a young age. And that’s what I wanted to do no matter what.”

Ace of LA

Photographer Ace of LA takes the first step towards success…

Ace of LA is a photographer based out of Los Angeles. Born in Mexico, from an early age there was never any doubt about what he wanted to do.

“The changes that I went through defined who I was as a person.”

Ace of LA
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THE ETERNAL

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He dropped out of high school at an early age to become a photographer. And amidst family members and peers thinking it was a hobby, temporary, or just fun-and-games, photographer Ace of LA stuck with his craft because he knew it was anything but.

He started taking pictures of people he wanted to photograph; “people that gave you that magnitude in front of the camera…” He then transitioned into photographing models, often with no pay.

But Ace of LA doesn’t see free work as just that, because that endeavor is always going to end up in securing a bigger paid opportunity.

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IN MY MIND w. @queenofblood

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“That’s one of the biggest things to me, just knowing the value of yourself, what you bring to the table.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA has shot for Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa, Common, Nipsey Hussle, and many more in his career. And he’s just getting started.

“We are in a never-ending journey,” Ace of LA says solemnly. There isn’t a day that goes by where he does not learn something new about himself and his craft.

“The only thing I can tell that young shooter is just to keep being hungry, keep wanting to create, and keep wanting to excel.”

Ace of LA

Ace of LA’s ability to live in the moment enables him to stay grounded and focused on the task at hand. Treating every project like it is a big-budget blockbuster means he is always seeing the best work emanating from his eye and fingertips.

Stay tuned for more of his work and his fashion line here, and check out the rest of our Finally Focused series below.

Watch the entire season of Finally Focused below

matthew stith
matthew stith September 12, 2017
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Matthew Stith is the photographer capturing soccer like you’ve never seen it

There’s a reason they call soccer the beautiful game.

The skill on the pitch, the passion in the stands, the drama in the technical area, all of which are singular to this one sport. This is what drives photographer Matthew Stith to capture the emotional depth of soccer.

Matthew Stith has photographed soccer at all levels, from shooting Messi, Suarez, and Neymar at the Nou Camp to documenting the domestic game in America, Stith’s shots encapsulate the unique emotional dynamism of soccer. I recently spoke with Stith about soccer, photography, Arsenal, and pursuing your passions.

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Stith has played soccer all his life and fell in love with the sport at a young age. He played goalkeeper at Syracuse University before graduation left him at a fork in the road.

He had dedicated his life to the game of soccer and now after graduating from ‘Cuse with a major in Public Health that didn’t really feel right to him, Stith had a decision to make.

Stith described this post-college feeling, the void that no longer being on the pitch left, and how he ended up picking up the camera,

“I’ve always loved soccer, and I picked up film photography in college. Once school was over, I moved back home and was stuck. I didn’t want to work in Public Health, and I had this love for soccer that I couldn’t drop.”

But there’s a lot of work to be done between a love for soccer and being able to photograph the sport professionally.

Lucky #99

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Stith used his connections within the game to gain access,

“On my college team, a lot of my friends turned pro. So in October of 2016 I rang one up and asked if he could talk to the marketing team to try to get me into shooting one of his games. With access, I instantly fell in love, and knew this was what I really wanted to do. I got to shoot and interact with my favorite players and capture them in a unique way.”

Sports photography is a pretty crowded field, especially in a sport that’s beloved by so much of the globe. But Stith is able to capture the game in such a dynamic and compelling way. A glimpse through his Instagram page reveals photographs of players, fans, and soccer environments through an exceptional perspective.

The most beautiful game

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Stith explains that his past as a player allows him to understand the game in a way that some other photographers might miss,

“As a photographer, I’m in a really unique position. I have a huge interest and knowledge of the game so I know what will look good on camera where a lot of other photographers don’t. I try to get as close as possible to the action to give the viewer some emotion… I always want to viewer to feel exactly how I felt when I took the shot.”

The only American sport that compares to the emotion and passion of world soccer is maybe SEC Football. The pageantry, obsession, and life or death nature of every game heightens the intensity to ridiculous levels. And unlike other sports, especially American sports, soccer players aren’t encouraged to hide emotions or become automatons of THE TEAM.

spread love it’s the BARÇA way

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This makes soccer a specifically interesting sport to watch and capture. When I asked Stith about this, he explained why soccer is just so damn photogenic,

“Most soccer players are very expressive. If something goes right, they laugh and smile, and if something goes wrong they frown or put their hands on their head. Unlike football or lacrosse, soccer is one of the few sports where there are no [helmets]. You can see everything.”

The diversity of styles and techniques in different countries also makes the beautiful game beautiful,

“Soccer is played all around the world, and it’s really interesting to see how all the cultures come together for club and country. The Brazilians dance when they score, the English knee slide, and the South Africans have super diski.”

Stith is interested by soccer culture in America and beyond, repeatedly telling me, “I’m all about the scenes.” This interest has led him to the famous Nou Camp in Barcelona, an experience he described as “like a Church,” but Stith has also snapped some of the most provocative pictures of soccer in America.

NO PYRO NO PARTY

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The MLS is growing massively, and not just in terms of ratings or reputation, but most importantly in terms of the “scene” as Stith describes it. Personally, as someone who was there when the MLS began, going to games in massive football stadiums with maybe 1,000 spectators in attendance, it’s amazing to see the growth of soccer in this country.

Stith is equally encouraged by how the soccer culture in America is changing,

“Growing up, soccer was always brushed aside, or taken for granted and it always annoyed me. Thank god that’s starting to change. Kids growing up are getting better and better and the fan culture continues to evolve. Smoke bombs and flares are common place in MLS Stadiums now, and so is singing and standing the whole game. It’s so funny taking people to their first game, or showing them pictures, because for the most part, they aren’t expecting that it at all.”

I asked him who has the best fans in the MLS, “Toronto FC. Those fans are wild.”

Need. More. Scenes.

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As encouraging as it is to see the game grow in America, the biggest scenes are in Europe. On that trip to the Camp Nou, Stith captured Leo Messi up close and personal. He told me about the experience and how the now-departed Neymar compares to Barcelona’s #10,

“Messi is the goat. That’s all that needs to be said. He was God-like. It was incredible. He wasn’t the coolest footballer I’ve ever photographed though. Neymar will easily will easily take that crown.”

But for all of Neymar’s coolness, Stith’s allegiance lies with a team in North London. A team I also support. A team that often defies logic in the ways it tortures its supporters. The Arsenal Football Club.

Stith’s passion for The Arsenal is such that he’s tattooed the club’s crest onto his chest. He quotes Arsenal and Holland legend Dennis Bergkamp (the reason I support Arsenal) in explaining his fandom,

“Dennis Bergkamp summed it up best ‘When you start supporting a football club, you don’t support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history, you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong.’”

It’s a beautiful statement about soccer fandom from one of the most graceful players ever.

So what’s next for Matthew Stith, who has been able to capture the growing scene in America, the most famous team in the world, and seen his own favorite team play?

Happy Birthday TT. I love you.

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He wants to photograph some of the biggest rivalries, the greatest ‘scenes’ in the game, and not those in England, Spain or Italy. Stith tells me passionately,

“I want to shoot world football rivalries. I want to go to games that are dangerous, games that are scary, and games that really mean something.”

So which games are these? Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray in Turkey where fans are constantly on “the brink of a massive brawl” is one. There’s also Rangers vs. Celtic in Glasgow, Scotland, a match that goes far beyond fans just not liking each other as the teams are divided along religious lines.

But the ultimate match that Stith would like to shoot? Boca Juniors vs. River Plate, the “Superclásico” of the two biggest teams in Buenos Aires. Stith explains,

“Buenos Aires explodes with so much passion and fandom during that game, it’s a game that should be on the list of any football fan in the world.”

Attending these matches is the ultimate dream for any soccer fan and anyone who, like Stith, is all about the scenes.