The New Media Collective

I met Reza Mazaheri at the NYC Photobloggers presentation at the Apple store in NYC on February 10. I was intrigued by the fact that he was from the Middle East (Iran, to be exact) and that his work reflected something so different from what mainstream media allows us see from that part of the world. Here was just a regular guy capturing everyday life. How refreshing is that?

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, and how long have you lived in the U.S.?
I was born in Tehran, Iran. I came to the U.S. in 1985 at the age of 12.

What's your photographic background? Are you a professional photographer? If not, what do you do to support your picture-taking habit?
I'm not a professional photographer. I've been taking photos on and off for many years, but have become more serious about it in the past two years. I'm a second-year law student at Seton Hall Law in Newark, NJ.

How did you get into digital photography and photoblogging? What made you choose this medium to display your work?
The biggest problem with traditional photography for me was always cost. I could not afford film, chemicals, darkroom, etc. Digital photography has helped me develop skills with very little money. Photoblogging has changed the art by allowing anyone (including me) with access to the internet to show their work to the whole work.

You bring out the beauty in the most ordinary, mundane things through great lighting, composition, and color. What catches your eye when you're shooting?
Photography has helped me slow down and look around. I see things now that I never bothered to look at. So, naturally, by paying more attention to things that make up my world, I've been able to expand what is there to photograph.

Continue reading "REZA MAZAHERI, Photoblogger" »

Posted by Melanie Morgan at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Jimmie Yoo was among the photographers presenting their work at the NYC Photobloggers event on February 10. I was taken by Jimmie's images because they were so beyond the ordinary. Night photography is always intriguing and Jimmie's work really captures the essence of the city that never sleeps. Night stalker that he is, I just hope Jimmie gets some sleep from time to time.

Tell us about yourself, Jimmie. Where are you from, and how did you get into photography?
Aside from the 6 months in Seoul, [Korea] after I was born, and a 4-year stint in the city, I'm pretty much a Brooklynite. I take great pride in NYC and all it has to offer. It's sad sometimes how New Yorkers take our city for granted…but I digress.

My father had purchased a cheapie Pentax K-1000 student camera shortly after we arrived in the states. My curiosity had taken over and eventually it became mine. I was hooked. I was borrowing tons of books from the library on photography—mostly on technique and trying out what I learned on the streets and in school.

Are you a professional photographer? If not, what do you do to support your picture-taking habit?
Like so many other photobloggers, I am in the "tech" field. Mostly online related stuff at a rather large media company. In a nutshell, I "make sure computers run and run well."

Continue reading "JIMMIE YOO, Photoblogger" »

Posted by Melanie Morgan at 02:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

Zadi Diaz is someone I've heard about and seen online since I discovered videoblogging almost a year ago. In addition to her own videoblog, Karmagrrrl: Tales of a Karmically Challenged Life, Zadi contributes to websites like Rocketboom and DVGuru, and creates media for her own company, Smashface Productions, based in Los Angeles, CA. This very conscious and committed young lady is definitely representin' in the vlogosphere, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon!

Who is Zadi Diaz? Where are you from, and how did you find your way to the blogosphere?
I'm a New Yorker. I was born in Harlem, lived in the South Bronx, Upstate New York, Brooklyn, and now Los Angeles. Back in New York City I worked closely with the Independent Media Center along with other independent broadcast channels documenting cultural life in the city and interviewing people in the activist community. That was really my formal introduction to video. Through my work I learned how to shoot, edit, and compress video all on a tight deadline. We were broadcasting a weekly show and had to make sure we had 28 minutes worth of good content to deliver to the local channels on a regular basis.

When the Republican National Convention was held in the heart of Manhattan, there was a lot of documenting to be done. I still have tons of footage from that year capturing the political climate of the city. What an event! I'm a registered Independent, so I think there are positives and negatives from both sides, but to see people exercising their right to express their opinion was an amazing experience I'll never forget. I took that spirit with me into video blogging. I think it's a perfect way to give people back their public voice.

Continue reading "ZADI DIAZ, Videoblogger" »

Posted by Melanie Morgan at 01:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (1)

To launch NMC's interview segment, OUR VOICES, we're featuring podcaster and blogger, JW Richard. I discovered this prolific brother in a search for African American podcasters about a month ago, and was immediately impressed by his sincerity, openness, and allegiance to his community. After checking out his various websites: Mandrake Society (blog), Mandrake Society Radio (podcast), and Digital Drums (podcasting community site), I knew he'd be the perfect person to kick this thing off with. Considering how much Mr. Richard's got going on, I'm just glad he agreed so readily to bless us with this interview.

Who is JW Richard? Where are you from, and how did you find your way into the blogosphere?
I’m originally from Dallas, TX. However, while singing in a band in Houston, TX, I found out about Blogger from another band and planned the site as a part of our band’s website. Then, in December of 2003, I felt like I wanted to share some personal thoughts of my own. So, Mandrake Society began on Blogger. I also enjoyed reading other blogs such as Terrance Heath’s Republic of T and George Kelly’s Negrophile.

On one of your shows, you referred to your blog, Mandrake Society, as your "thoughts between the podcasts." So, which came first, the blog or the podcast?
Definitely the blog came first.

Continue reading "JW RICHARD, Podcaster" »

Posted by Melanie Morgan at 01:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)