Whenever I tell people I’m a twin, I’m often asked, what does being a twin feel like? Well, that’s kind of a difficult question to answer, as I’ve never known anything different. But I will say, for all those curious, that it’s like having a built-in best friend. At least, it’s that way for me. My 21-year-old brother, Alex, is one of the most artistic, creative, and chill people around. He expresses himself through photography, and maybe I’m biased, but I think his work is incredibly special. His photos seem to capture something very raw and beautiful about life, so I set out to understand his worldview a little better. Alex was kind enough to sit for an interview with me, so, here’s an in-depth look into the mind of a photographer:
Q: When did you start taking photos? What made you pursue it as a hobby?
A: I had to have been two years old, around there. My mom had an old VHS camcorder I’d play with, and getting a little disposable camera was always a real treat. So when I was a kid, photography was to have fun, but taking it more seriously as an art form…that came, like, early teenage years, around 13 years old. A lot of family members let me mess around with their cameras and trusted me with them. And then I did some research and found photographers I liked on Instagram because that was starting to get big at the time. Then, right after my 14th birthday, I bought my first camera.
Q: How did you learn the necessary skills for photography? How to use a camera properly?
A: Reading. Just reading. The internet was such a helpful resource for me, with countless blogs, YouTube channels, books, and magazines; just soaking information up, wherever it came from.
Q: Do you have a preferred camera? Film or digital?
A: I’m almost always shooting digital. I don’t really shoot film, it’s expensive now. So, yeah, I definitely stick to digital. It’s fast, y’know? Right now, I mostly use my Fuji x100v, I call it my “daily driver.” It’s digital, but if you were to look at it, it looks like a film camera.
Q: What’s your favorite subject to photograph and why?
A: People. They don’t have to be the driving force, but I’m drawn to people.
Q: What inspires you to take photos?
A: Any kind of experience is some sort of inspiration, and I know it sounds super artsy, but when I’m out and about, anything is game. When you take the freedom as an artist to let certain experiences sit with you, it manifests itself in your work, and then you can provide a very raw account of how you see the world. Taking advantage of new experiences gives you this incredible view of different perspectives and I think that’s why I’m so inspired to take photographs. There’s just this pure vitality behind it.
Q: What do you think makes a moment worth capturing? In other words, how do you know when to pick up your camera and snap the picture?
A: For me, it’s not any one thing. It’s one of those things that’s like, you know it when you see it. And that can be different for everyone. If you see something you like, take a picture of it.
Q: You seem to gravitate towards depicting everyday life, particularly in NYC. Is there any specific aspect of New York that inspires you?
A: I spent a lot of time in the city as a kid, and in my teenage years, I got to explore it a little bit more and take photos. It’s incredibly diverse and influential and there’s so much going on; I’ve always had this fascination with it.
Q: Does traveling play a significant role in your photography? How has traveling influenced you and your photography?
A: Oh, yeah. Whenever I’m traveling, my camera is on me. When I travel, it’s kind of the same thrill I have in New York; I just get very excited to learn about a new place and I can digest those experiences through photos.
Q: Are you trying to convey a message through your photographs?
A: Hm. I try to push, somewhat of a narrative, but uh — I think I take photos more for myself.
Q: So, do you believe it’s important to create for yourself and not only for an audience?
A: I think it’s important to create for yourself, yeah. When it’s for yourself, it doesn’t have to be as polished; you can really play more freely.
Q: Is it hard to stay motivated? What do you do when your motivation is lacking?
A: This is still something I’m kind of figuring out how to do. It happens to all of us in different situations, y’know? I don’t have a clear-cut answer for how I do it, but I think it’s really important to be open to learning from anything, regardless of how you’re feeling, because doing even that much will spark creativity. I would say, though, don’t let it piss you off [laughs]; if you’re in a rut, be in a rut.
Q: Do you have any advice for beginner photographers or artists in general?
A: Just keep an open mind and keep your camera in your hand. If you want to get better, be open to criticism. And be excited about it, just be excited about your craft.
Q: Finally, and maybe most importantly, why do you create?
A: [Pauses] … I create because something, somewhere, tells me that my perspective is worth sharing.
Thank you so much, Alex, for letting me interview you and for trusting me to write this piece about you.
If you’re interested in seeing more of Alex’s work, please feel free to check out his Instagram (@alexngross) and website!
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