FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER TOMMY KWAK
New York City photographer Tommy Kwak has been photographing the art deco pastel coloured lifeguard towers of Miami Beach since 2019. Tommy is bringing these stunning visuals together in a new hardcover book, you can help to successfully fund in the kickstarter link below.
I studied graphic design in art school and have worked as designer for the past 20 years. However, about 10 years ago, I started to get into photography, shooting mostly street and documentary when I moved to NYC in 2006. A few years later, I made my first of 12 trips to Iceland, and like many others, I fell in love with the country and from then on shifted my focus to landscape and nature photography. I am still shooting this type of subject matter, but I also like to experiment with the medium incorporating analog effects to create more abstract photographs. Currently, I'm represented by Clic Gallery, and I produce work as both fine art prints and NFTs.
Tommy thank you so much for joining us today, we love your work so much, please tell us about your inspirations and influences
In the 90's when I was in high school and playing around with Photoshop, I was obsessed with David Carson and his design and typography work for Raygun magazine. His handmade, analog experiments influenced my design process and aesthetic throughout art school and after. This curiosity to experiment and push the boundaries of a medium is something I continue to work on in my photography.
i am also a huge fan of Wolfgang Tillmans. When I first saw his still lifes, portraits, and especially the abstract darkroom experiments, I felt a deep connection that I couldn't explain. I think it was something about the ethereal and quiet qualities of the work and also exquisite light and compositions that attracted me and which heavily influenced the way I viewed the world through the camera.
Tell us how innovation and technology affects your creativity and work.
Having been in the NFT space for a year now has changed how I approach a new body of work especially if I intend to mint it on the blockchain. With a new series of work, I now try to ensure the pieces are visually cohesive as a family, but different enough to stand out from each other, and by also embracing "rarities" in pieces, which are all important aspects in a successful NFT collection. I'm not sure if this is for the better or worse, but it is a small part that has changed in my practice.
Tell us about your creative process
I love to be outdoors and near water, so traveling to Iceland, Faroe Islands, Miami, and other coastal areas became natural subjects for my photography. Before any trip, I will do a lot of research on potential locations of interest and all the associated travel logistics. So there is a lot of pre-planning. However, when I'm at the location, I try not to think so much and just be in the moment and let my eye and intuition guide the camera. After the photos are taken, then it's time to hunker down in front of the computer for editing and sequencing to finish the body of work.
Can you tell us about some projects your working on
Yes! I am working on my first photobook "Lifeguard Towers: Miami" which will be published by Brooklyn-based Blurring Books. This book contains 40+ images documenting all the 38 colorful lifeguard towers on the 8.5 mile stretch of Miami Beach. The Kickstarter to fund the printing and distribution of the book is now live! If successfully funded, the book will ship this holiday season.
What does wellbeing mean to you and what do you practice?
I think balance is important for wellbeing, like not overworking so much and trying to balance with times of rest. I'm not very good at this, but I try. One ritual I do that helps keep me centered is each morning thinking of one thing that I'm grateful for and meditating for 15 min.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about me and my work!
Photography: www.tommykwak.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tommykwak
