newvisualcollective

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Interview with Photographer Jessica DeVenuta on More Garlic Pls

Hey Guys! 

As photographers we have the blessing to utilize our cameras to explore other passions and or creative outlets. The limitless possibilities of creating with photography can take us on new and exciting journeys, breaking any and all borders to our potential. Photography is one of my biggest passions along with travel and food. I'm a serious foodie! So of course when I linked up with Jessica DeVenuta from moregarlicpls.com, I had to get the inside scoop on her process. More Garlic Pls is a visual movement! Knowing that Jessica has always been a photographer, I was curious to see her in action. Sure, I was also trying to become her taste tester, but that's besides the point lol!  Below, Jessica shares a little bit about her journey, passions and photographs! 

Make sure to follow Jes for more mouthwatering photos, food styling ideas & recipes! www.moregarlicpls.com 

Instagram and Twitter: @moregarlicpls

How long have you been cooking for? 

I’ve been cooking (or trying to cook) since I moved out at age 17. Living alone, you’re forced to either learn to cook or eat fast food everyday… I chose the former, however, there was a point in time when my recipe testing wasn’t always successful (I apologize to anyone who had to go through that). I can honestly say that I’ve been cooking completely edible meals for only about the past five to six years. Practice makes perfect, right?

 Why more garlic pls? 

“More garlic, please” is a phrase that I genuinely must’ve said upward of 100 times. I’m a firm believer that there really isn’t such a thing as too much garlic. Are you familiar with the phrase, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best”? Well, if you can’t handle me at my garlic breath, you don’t deserve me at my minty fresh.

Why not call your movement a blog?

Because it’s not a blog. There’s no blog aspect to the website. The vision for moregarlicpls.com was never that of a food blog. In fact, I feel that if a blog was added, it would take away from the main focal point… the photos. What I want for my website is for it to be solely visual. In essence, it’s the beginning stages of my online portfolio and a virtual tour of my journey into the world of food photography.

 What are some photography tips for food?

Shoot in natural light. Learn to embrace imperfections. Focus on color. Always make sure you’re using the right exposure. 

 How do you curate your shoots?

Depends on what I’m cooking. There are so many moving pieces. I would say that the most important factor, and the one majorly out of my control, is time. Since I only shoot in natural light, I have to constantly be aware of the sun’s activity throughout the day to ensure I’m making use of the best available light. From there, I usually decide what props to use based on the colors of the meal; the mood needs to be set & it all has to just feel right. There are times when I’ll spend a full day cooking & shooting, then never post anything because it didn’t come out the way I envisioned it. It’s all trial & error. I’ve just recently taken more control over curation, and am excited to show you guys what I’m working on, and explain what that really means, once it’s ready.

 What inspired your journey?

My interest in several different art mediums began at a very young age, but I didn’t develop a love for photography until 7th grade. I had the opportunity to take free classes at a program operated by a local college, where we were provided with equipment and given free reign over our assignments. From there, I took photography classes throughout high school, and my love for the art grew. I strongly believe that when you’re passionate about something, you should pursue it… despite any and all obstacles that may interfere.

If you were on a cooking show what would be your go to meal signature dish?

Probably some type of pasta in a tomato cream sauce. If I needed to beat Bobby Flay, that would be my “signature” dish.

 On a scale from 1-10 how much do you love garlic 

Eleven.

Photos by NVC's Jasmine Matos (@mjasz_)

Much love,     

Jasmine

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Jordan Bratton: This is What We Made

Part of our collective identity stems from individual personalities and talents that we believe complement one another.  While we each possess a skill set which is our strength, we simultaneously seek to improve the areas that could use work.  Slowly but surely New Visual Collective is finding a voice within a complex art form and we are loving the process.  This photoshoot was an experimental one for myself but I believe the subject made it incredibly easy to work with and helped me grow within portraiture & personal branding.

Jordan Bratton is an incredibly talented musician and multi-instrumentalist currently signed to RCA Records.  He is currently touring the US on his Fallin Up Tour.  You can check out his upcoming tour dates here. 

Interestingly enough, I ran into Jordan while working at an event at Webster Hall and his music captivated my attention.  I shot him a few of the flicks from that night and he made sure to reach out and connect.  I hope you guys enjoy our photo series, "This is What We Made."  Make sure to comment & share, if you'd like. 

For more of Jordan's music check out:

JordanBratton.com

Soundcloud

Peace, peace! 

-AD (@illogicaltruths)

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PIZZA LAND

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New Visual Collective || Open Studio Dos || 3.28.15 || Part II

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A huge thank you to every single one of you who took time out of your Saturday to come and support us at our second Open Studio event! Our collective success is yours as well.  We look forward to continuing to build community and culture. 

New Visual Collective || Open Studio Dos || 3.28.15