Kai Diaz
I shot with different film stocks to experiment with different looks… I also wanted to shoot the artists in their natural environment, so that means no special lighting equipment - no manipulating the light - just using whatever light that was available…. With exception to the portraits, I didn’t direct the artists - it is all candid and just talking and shooting….
For this project, I did an “at home” developing process. I wanted to appreciate the “imperfections”… Once developed, my scanning process was to achieve the colors that I saw, when I shot it… No digital removal of the characteristics of film.
I am a student of creativity and I’m currently working on a few film photography projects.
I’m currently based out of San Diego, CA in a little town called Solana Beach. Living in a wellness and surf town, definitely influences what I want to create or express. At times, it influences my creative decisions to go the opposite direction of what I see and experience daily.
My creative process usually starts with acknowledging a “problem”… then finding creative solutions to remedy it. It usually involves lots of conversations with myself, loud music, and uninterrupted movement.
The piece I’m currently most proud of is… Me.
Let me explain, as not to reek of arrogance. I feel that if you’re working hard to make yourself a better person, the world a better place to live in, or making a better day for someone else - you should be proud of yourself. These days, it’s easy to be hard on yourself… As long as you’re not hurting yourself, others, or nature - I say F it, be the piece your most proud of. Everything else will fall beautifully into place. After all, we’re all a work in progress aren’t we?
Success to me is when I love the work I put out. The bonus is when my creative peers feel something from my work. The extra bonus is when the audience feels inspired from my works.
