Todays 2 Cents Profile is the lovely and talented Joel Devereux - a local photographer here in Brisbane Australia.
Joel is wonderfully talented and has exhibited here in Brisbane. His photography spans everything from the hot nude male through to the glamorous and gorgeous world of cabaret and burlesque.
Please make Joel feel welcome and enjoy his profile and awesome art.
(2CW) Welcome to 2CWDU Joel. For the
benefit of our readers please introduce yourself and what you do.
Hello! I am 22 years of age and I currently operate as a freelance
photographer, visual artist, and burlesque producer in Brisbane, Australia. I’m
highly interested in the world of creative portraiture and burlesque, which
form most of my personal portfolio.
(2CW) What first sparked your interest in
photography?
I used to be a painter, and then I moved onto more sculptural works
and wearable art. To document these, I needed to photograph them, so that’s
when I first started shooting with purpose. In 2012 I studied a photomedia unit
at university that re-ignited that interest, and then started to move amongst
the burlesque circles around that time too, then as a producer in the scene.
That lead me to start photographing local burlesque dancers and it’s very busy
for me ever since!
(2CW) What is it about the medium of photography
that excites you?
I always painted in a realistic style, so I like the realism aspect of
photography. I always painted people, never landscapes or still life, much like
I always photograph people. My brain tends to work too quickly for its own
good, and I like with photography that I can pump out a bunch of concepts in
such a relatively short period of time compared to a painting, and that was a huge
motivator for changing mediums. I’m impatient when it comes to my own creative
process.
(2CW) You have a pretty broad range of subjects
in your photography. Describe some of your subjects for us.
I love working with performers and people with a lot of character, and
I have little interest in capturing traditional fashion models as such. I came
up through the burlesque scene, which is full of strong and highly inventive
women who have inspired my career quite a bit. My subjects range from curvy
burlesque artists, to drag queens, bodybuilders, and husky bearded men. I enjoy
collaborating with people who are dedicated to their craft and have worked hard
to where they are today.
(2CW) Is there a particular genre of shoot that
is your favourite?
I enjoy getting messy on a shoot with paint and other textural
materials. I’m developing a more cross-media approach to some of my work that I
plan on exploring more in the future. I recently did a full body glitter shoot
that was insanely messy and difficult to orchestrate, but it was really well
received which was pleasant. So at the moment anything textural is my favourite
genre to shoot! But it’s forever changing when I discover new things.
(2CW) How do you find your models? Or do
models find you?
A lot of my models are friends of friends or through instagram. It’s
about 50/50 when it comes to me approaching models, or them coming to me. I
don’t have the capacity to photograph everyone who applies to shoot with me,
but I can always be hired for personal shoots. Models can come from anywhere!
(2CW) Any experiences of models behaving badly? J
Mostly my models I work with (well, continually work with) are very
well behaved and we are often friends behind the lens. I haven’t had any real
horror stories apart from a few models who have shown up to a shoot drunk &
disorientated, or one who just had an awful and unreasonably mistrusting
attitude about the whole thing. For the most part I only like to work with
lovely people so I’ve developed a pretty good judge of character by now. My pet
hate is when anyone uses photo filters on any of my content. That doesn’t make
me very happy.
(2CW) Have you had a shoot just implode and did
you have to just stop it? Or was it salvageable?
From memory I’ve never cancelled a shoot halfway through. I’ve had
shoots where I simply haven’t been feeling the concept and have gone in
unprepared though. Everything is salvageable to a degree unless someone is
injured, whether I’m happy with the end product is another story!
(2CW) Are models usually well behaved?
Yes as I mentioned before, most people are lovely to work with.
(2CW) How do you plan a shoot? Is it driven
by the model or do you have a plan for your shoots before the model shows up?
I often just do basic studio shoots with a lot of models that don’t
require a great deal of planning. For anything more conceptual, I do plan it
out usually weeks in advance and then scout/select models which suit the
specific concept.
(2CW) Who is easier to shoot? Males or
females or is this a silly question lol?
It’s very subjective. I think it’s down to experience and attitude,
not gender.
(2CW) You have shot nudes. Does a nude
shoot differ from others and, if so, how?
I rarely shoot frontal nudes as I have little use for them unless a
particular commission or exhibition demands it. However, that being said, I’ve
started doing a few more and I can definitely say that my nude work is always
the most popular amongst people who follow my networks. Process wise, it’s very
much the same as a regular shoot. Between photography and burlesque, most
people in my life are naked to some degree all of the time so it’s not really
anything out of the blue for me to be around. With Facebook and Instagram’s
ridiculous rules regarding female toplessness in particular, I still have to
censor a lot of my more revealing work.
(2CW) I imagine that patience is a key thing for
photographers, yes?
It can be. I work very quickly when I shoot so other things that take
time such as makeup and hair, I’m not particularly phased with. I’m impatient
with my creative process, but not at all with my shoot process.
(2CW) You have also done shoots in both Sydney
and Melbourne. Are interstate models/customers different from the local
models/customers in Brisbane?
If so how?
Not particularly. The vast majority of my interstate work is for
burlesque artists. I’m mostly known amongst that community so I’m quite
fortunate to have clients in most states that I visit so I can make the trip
more worthwhile.
(2CW) Any outrageous request for a shoot and can
you share a few?
I haven’t had anything too outrageous unfortunately! People tend to
stick with work similar to what I’ve already done in the past. Usually it’s me
approaching models with outrageous requests and such.
(2CW) You exhibited this year in Brisbane.
Tell me about that showing and how it went.
I was the featured visual artist for the MELT Festival hosted by
Brisbane Powerhouse. I presented HYDRA, which was an alternative vision of
isolated masculinity. It was very well received which was a nice feeling. I
become extremely self-conscious around an exhibition space full of my work, so
that was something of a new sensation. I was also presenting work that I had
photographed 6-7 months prior as ‘new’ to the public, when I think I was in a
completely different creative frame of mind when the exhibition opening came
around.
(2CW) How did it differ to previous exhibits?
It was my first solo exhibition so that was an experience for me.
(2CW) How much preparation goes into an
exhibit? Do you, for example, plan an exhibit from a group of shots, or
do you plan shoots for that particular exhibit?
I accompanied the exhibition with a book, so the exhibition itself
didn’t take up that much time in the grand scheme of things. The exhibition
idea stemmed from the book concept, so many of the shots omitted from the
exhibition can be found in the book. I shoot specifically for individual exhibitions.
(2CW) Anything planned exhibit wise in the future
you can tell us about?
At this point, I have no plans for any exhibitions in the near future…
but that could change at any point!
(2CW) Some of the men you photograph are just
absolutely … um….. gorgeous and delicious and sexy and hot (too much?).
Is that ever distracting lol?
My work doesn’t really come from a place of sexual desire and I don’t
consider the vast majority of my work deliberately sexual. I’m not opposed to
people interpreting my work in different ways; I just don’t like it being
reduced to coming from a place of sexual intention as such. Photo shoots aren’t
very sexy places at all either, but I suppose that’s part of the illusion I
allegedly create!
(2CW) You photograph in both colour and
B&W. Is there a different technique to photographing the two?
Or does it have to do with the look of the shot? Why colour sometimes and
why B&W?
I’m a huge fan of B&W it’s no secret. I shoot everything in colour
and convert to B&W in post-production. It just gives you more processing
options shooting in colour. I tend to enjoy more shadows in my B&W work,
whereas less so in my colourful work. My work with burlesque tends to be more
colourful too, whereas I like my boys in B&W!
(2CW) You also are a photographer on the gay
scene here in Brisbane. What’s that like?
I’m enjoying it! I’ve only very recently started doing social
photography and it’s a good experience so far. You get to know the people who
are there every week and it becomes a little sober party for me, as I don’t
like to drink when I have my gear.
(2CW) Okay – for the photography keen readers I
have – and I have a few – can you tell them what your camera currently is?
I currently shoot with a Nikon d610 and I’m potentially looking to
make a small upgrade in the future. I also tend to shoot with prime lenses over
zooms. I love the Sigma Art Series.
(2CW) If people wanted to purchase any of your
photos, how would they do that and do you have art for sale?
I can be booked for personal shoots via www.joeldevereux.com and my book HYDRA is also available there. I currently do not have
any prints for sale.
(2CW) Now for the 2 Cents Quickies……
Favourite Drink…
I’m a big white wine boy. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Pino Grigio!
Favourite Food…
Anything Japanese. In particular Okonomiyaki or ramen.
Favourite style of music/artist…
I’m very into Björk, Lana Del Rey, Marina & The Diamonds, Lady
Gaga, Janelle Monae, Robyn, and other popular alternative pop artists.
Favourite movie/actor…
La Vie En Rose is my favourite film.
Day or Night person…
I’m far more creative at night.
Fave Sunday Morning Activity…
I’m usually working or asleep! If I’m not, I’m photographing.
Sweet or Savoury…
Definitely sweet, but I love all food.
What sort of man do you like…
Someone with interests and ambition, who can hold their own in a
social setting. Otherwise, no real other criteria... that I’m wiling to share…
;)
(2CW) Joel thank you so much for your time.
This was a spur of the moment request and I’m so grateful for you for spending
some time here at 2CWDU with us.
I wish you all the success with your career.
Thank you very much for having me!
OK Folks. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.
Enjoy Joel's amazing art and watch this space for more of it.
Shalom
D
xox
1 comment:
That last one is niiice! :D
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