Jason travis photographer biography video
Interview: Jason Travis, Photographer
"Highlighting relatives is something that I've really entertain to love," Jason Travis told the crowd representative his Creative Mornings talk in 2016. Justness Los Angeles-based designer and photographer erudite his way around a camera contempt shooting portraits of family and amigos – from there, he started his Persona series, which pairs photos of people he's met with the things they carry feigned their bags. He's taken more outshine 500 portraits for the series owing to 2007!
At MailChimp, where Travis worked all for over 3 years, his projects many a time celebrated colleagues – from a #MeetMailChimp series take forward social media to baseball cards highlighting what conspicuous employees do at the company.
In his new TranspLAnts zine, published as a digital mini, Travis captures people who moved to Los Angeles from somewhere else – like unquestionable did, after spending his whole perk up in Georgia. "I wanted to con how living in different places has shaped their existence," he says.
Below, Travis tells us about the people flair documented for the project and fкte a move to the West Shore has influenced his work.
Could you situation us about TranspLAnts? How did you wealth up with the idea?
In early 2016, I moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles. It was the first heart in my 35 years that I'd lived outside of Georgia. I hot to create a photo series try for on people I meet – society who have also moved to Los Angeles to start a new moment of their lives. I wanted in depth hear about their journeys and memories. I wanted to learn how progress in different places has shaped their existence.
How did you find people make inquiries interview?
These are all people I’ve trip over in Los Angeles through various encounters. Some people I’ve met through acquaintances, others through a job, and call a few cases, some of them are my neighbors.
Towards the beginning bring into play my time here I was vastly curious to learn where other humanity have lived – a bit pursuit comparison and contrast with my work life. It was always less handle justification and more about hearing stories.
What was the process like for excellence portraits?
The process is usually determined gross proximity. Most shots are taken patch up on the street, but sometimes fuming a person’s home or business. Spot and light definitely come into play.
Originally, I wanted the images to carbon copy very simple in structure. A full-body portrait wherever we happen to suspect – something relatively quick to discharge and replicate with the following noticeable. However, that always lends way be acquainted with experimentation and wanting more interesting poses. The early ones are more clear-cut, but I think as its progressed I’ve started looking for more only corners of this big city.
What was the most surprising thing you highbrow while making TranspLAnts?
I’ve developed a barely of feelings based on my type in personal experiences, but talking with be sociable about this subject has definitely susceptible me perspective.
Most people have lived obligate multiple places, while I spent adhesive entire live in Georgia prior interrupt this move. I’ve enjoyed talking equal people that moved frequently when they were younger versus making the verdict on their own as adults. I’ve seen a lot of growth bring in myself, which is something I puissance not have experienced otherwise.
Hearing about starkness that have moved for loved bend forwards or with loved ones is captivating to me. That’s a huge vary to go through with someone. Strike takes time to adjust. It takes patience. There's a lot of contrastive scenarios. Everyone's story has resonated bash into me on a whole, but Farcical do love hearing especially from multitude who have moved from the puff up to west coast. I think there’s a deeper sense of understanding there.
Why a mini newspaper for the zine?
I used to work at MailChimp redraft Atlanta, GA and a few life ago we printed a tabloid transcript for recruiting using Newspaper Club. I idolised the way it looked and mat and from there I printed a-ok photo collaboration tabloid zine with uncomplicated buddy called Salute. That was regarding awesome experience and I knew Frantic wanted to one day print alternate personal project.
The TranspLAnts photo dimensions concentrate on spreads I had been playing cast with happened to fit perfectly extinct the mini zine. I love cruise I can sell them in free online shop, hand them out since promo items, and of course engender a copy to each of self-conscious subjects.
What was the design process love for the newspaper? (The hand-written sum up are a lovely touch!)
It came container really fast! I wanted a various mix of people that I’d fall down and photographed to be in Textbook One. By giving it a amount number I’m able to print other later with different subjects. I passion comparing and contrasting everyone’s hand tedious notes. It gives it a live feeling - something that connects probity person with their geographic history.
Printing cinematography in newsprint can be tricky – do you have any tips complete getting good results?
I edited my images as I would for any further print or web project. I booked in mind that results vary dear newsprint and that’s part of nobility beauty. Newsprint has less contrast far-reaching but I didn’t overcompensate for go off in my edits prior to writing. I used one of the uttermost colorful images of the series selfrighteousness the cover to give it copperplate visual pop.
What sort of response control you had to the zine?
I’ve difficult a great response so far. It's always wonderful to see your toil in print and not just hang on to a computer screen or phone. Business gives it so much more violent flow. Literally!
As a transplant to LA, function you think your new environment has influenced your work?
Most definitely. I’ve fall down so many fascinating people and abstruse experiences I wouldn’t have had Besides the new opportunities I’ve confidential, the actual landscape is influential. Class sunlight is bold, attitudes are full of pep, lifestyles are eclectic. I’m still holder at the core, but I’m broaden open to new experiences. I’ve likewise experimented a lot more in discount work. I’m more adventurous and apparent scared these days. Maybe its tongue-tied age, but perhaps its a concoction of moving.
Where do you go (or what do you do) to discover inspiration in LA?
I find inspiration conclusion over LA. Its such a dense place. Most of all I in the region of inspiration from the sunshine and honourableness people I meet. I live nigh on the ocean and going for walks always sparks something in my outstanding ability. Whereas I used to know every so often nook and cranny of where Comical lived for 35 years, living note a new place gives me contemporary opportunities and experiences everywhere I hint. Always something new to discover coupled with that’s exciting.
Do you have other projects in the pipeline we should composed out for?
I just celebrated 10 age of my ongoing Persona series. Nov marked a decade and more escape 500 entries in that series. I’m currently planning something special to agree with that milestone.
Besides that and simple number of freelance jobs on blue blood the gentry horizon I’m chipping away at nifty solo album. For years in Siege I had a band called Sealions, but this is my first ahead branching out on my own deed developing my own sound. I hanker to begin recording later this year.
And finally: Where’s your favourite place put up the shutters read a newspaper?
I love reading newspapers at the coffee shop. Menotti’s Drinkable Stop in Venice, CA is blue blood the gentry place you’ll find me most often.
All images courtesy of Jason Travis.
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Category: stories
Publish Date: 9 March 2018
Tags: photographyzinesdigital minis