[piano music with a beat]
MARIA: Hey, Eric! [camera shutter]
Hey there, Maria! How're you doing? Welcome to Queens!
M: Thank you! I heard you were out here shooting,
and I wanted to ask you 21 questions. Do you have some time?
Let's go! M: Awesome! So, let me get right to it:
What type of photographer are you?
I'm a fine art and commercial photographer,
with a niche in levitation photography.
M: Cool, and what got you started in photography?
It's so funny because when I first started photography,
it was basically to shoot a t-shirt brand
that my best friend and I had just created in about 2013, 2014,
and we needed some photography for it.
And so, I bought myself this cheap camera and got right to it.
And I immediately fell in love with the art form.
M: Cool, and what was your first camera?
It was a Nikon D80 with a 50mm, I think.
M: Nice, and what's your go-to camera and lens now?
My go-to camera and lens now are the a7R III,
packed with a 16 to 35, 2.8 G Master lens.
M: Nice, and so you're also a Sony Alpha Collective member, right?
ERICK: Proud M: What does that mean to you?
Well, I owe them a lot in my career, honestly,
because they've allowed me to share my vision with the world a little bit more extensively.
We used to co-host--before the pandemic--
about one or two classes a year focused on levitation photography,
but also on the business of what it's like to be a full-time photographer.
So they've really allowed [me] to speak a little louder when it comes to my niche.
M: For sure!
And so what drew you to commercial and fine art photography, specifically?
It's so funny because the first 2 years of photography, I was shooting street photography,
and I realized I really wanted to do this full time,
but I couldn't really sell any prints at that moment,
and I knew that that wasn't enough to make it a full-time career.
And so I was lucky to be DM'ed by this one brand called Palladium Boots,
and they sent me 10 pairs of shoes-- M: Wow!
and they said, "Do whatever you want with them."
And so I took them, and I did something that I've been doing for a while
which was levitation photography, and they immediately fell in love with it.
And so I became a full-time photographer for them,
and through that, they incorporated a lot of, obviously, campaigns
and back-end commercial photoshoots
that just kind of like gave me extensive amount of just experience, I would say,
and I immediately fell in love with that, and then eventually....
I'm now at a point where I want to do more with with my career,
taking everything I learned in commercial and just applying it more into fine art
into the meaning of what makes the photograph powerful.
M: Yeah! So that's my vision now.
M: And I love the way you use angles, depth of field and unique composition
for your shots. How did you come to master your own style?
Through a lot of practice... [Maria chuckles]
A lot of practice. Um...
Obviously, I think commercial photography gave me parameters to work with,
and there are certain ways you shoot a product,
so that gave me the base to understand what people like to see,
but also how can you maximize the storytelling of something like an object.
And then eventually, I started incorporating my street photography and levitation
into ways that kind of create a surrealism within reality.
That's my whole thing. I love creating things that look surreal or look photoshopped,
but it's actually done in one image.
And so, by incorporating both that commercial experience into my fine art,
I think I really found that niche
and just creating different storytelling with the angles and shapes.
And I'm very lucky to live in New York,
So I think that's helped a lot as well.
M: Yeah, for sure! I mean, look at this background.
E: Oh yeah! [both laugh]
M: And, so, tell me about We Levitate.
So, We Levitate was created around 2013 or '14,
and it was made because we had started this levitation technique.
And we started seeing a lot of these photos pop up.
And they were so beautiful, but they didn't have a home.
And, so, what I wanted to do with We Levitate--
me and my co-founder, Connor, we actually met through levitation photography,
and we realized "You know what? Let's make it a home."
And so, we created We Levitate to basically share
some of the world's top levitation photography,
all done without Photoshop.
And now we have about 11 members from around the world,
and all of them are dancers or creatives
that are just at the top of their game when it comes to levitation.
M: Wow
And, so, everybody's wondering how on earth
do you get objects to cooperate in the air? [both laugh]
Practice, as well! I actually brought a shoe.
M: Okay! E: Let me show you this.
So...
Um, you know, the key here is trying to maximize
the storytelling of your shoe and the background.
So I love to, both...
The way I tell this to people,
but it's like you see the image, and that should be an image by itself.
It should be good enough.
All you have to do is pretty much add the product in there.
And then, all you have to do is, pretty much, high shutter speed,
and then just find the balance of the shoe,
and then one, two, three, and then--
That should be... M: And over and over and over [laughs]
E: And over and over and over again, yeah!
[laughter]
M: And, so, tell us where do you draw your inspiration from.
It's so funny because most of my inspiration comes from opera singing!
I went to music school since I was eight,
and now, I've been doing professional singing since I was--
I mean up until I was 20,
and then I retired to pursue full-time photography. M: Wow
But, um...
classical music has this mathematical element to it
that just really helps you construct colors and storytelling,
and once you study the pieces, you're able to tell that there's a storyline to it.
So, when it comes to photography, my goal was to implement--
you know that part of the song that just really makes you feel a certain way,
and you're like, "G-d, I can't wait till I get
"to that bridge" or "that aspect of the song"?
That's what I want you to feel when I look at my images.
So whenever, you know [searching for the words]
You know, the sneaker could be jumping,
But the minute that it gets to that point
where it's just, like, the best.
Like, that's what I want to capture,
and that's what I want to eventually translate to the audience
and see my work.
M: That's so awesome-- E: And see in my work
M: --and I'm sure a new tip that nobody's ever, like, heard about you!
So, switching up a little bit:
Tell us, for somebody who's looking to create unique shots like you
and trying to find their own personal style that stands out
what is some advice?
It's going to be a different advice
because I've realized people go for the differentiation's sake to be different,
and the goal here is not to be different, but it is to be true to yourself.
I know it sounds a little corny, but no one can be an Erick.
No one can be a Maria. M: Right
No one can be whoever's looking at the screen. No one can be you, you know?
And so, what I essentially tell all photographers
is to go out there and shoot all kinds of photography
because I understand that all these different elements.
Like, I've shot editorial. I've shot concert. I've shot portraits.
I started with portraits.
All these elements eventually led me to become
the levitation photographer that I am,
and all of these different forms of photography
helped me navigate and craft my own DNA to my vision.
And, so, what I recommend is actually go out there,
really explore the depths of uncomfortable situations in photography
because one of those uncomfortable situations might actually end up defining your career.
M: Sure, that's amazing advice!
And, so, what has been one of the coolest shoots you've ever been on?
The coolest shoot I've ever been to was, uh--
It was two years into my career,
and I got this one call for one of my friends.
We had done this levitation--actually not too far away from here--
in which he was jumping in the air,
and I had thrown the phone in front of him, as well.
So, the phone and him were in the air.
And Swatch loved that image, and so they hit us up,
and they invited us to shoot the campaign.
Now, the problem was it was in Vegas,
and it was three days from then.
So, I actually missed my college finals to fly out to Vegas for this major shoot,
and we landed there. It was land, eat tacos and go shoot the shot.
And it was due that day, so I had about an hour and a half to get this one peculiar shot,
which was so difficult to make.
You know, I was a newbie in this situation,
so, like, I didn't know how it all worked.
TIFF images and all that, so I learned a lot in that campaign.
M: Wow, that's amazing!
And, what has been one of the most challenging shoots, if it's not that one?
That one was pretty much top two.
The other one is this Converse shoot that we shot in Chinatown,
and they blocked, like, the whole street.
This was, like, my third year into my career,
and it was extremely difficult because I've never really worked with 50 people behind me,
and it was nerve-wracking.
And, so, I went home thinking, like, "I didn't get this shot. I overshot it."
But we ended up actually missing the night shots
because I didn't expect us to go into the night,
and, as you know, levitation photography requires high shutter photography.
And, so, I had to bring in a lighting expert
to help me do the lighting for a night shot
meant to pretty much showcase water in the air
with these shoes in the air
in the middle of the night, which was basically impossible,
but I think we did a decent job.
M: That's awesome!
And, okay, favorite place to shoot?
Actually, welcome to Queens! This is Gantry Park.
This is my favorite place to shoot. Actually, let me show you my favorite spot!
M: Yeah! Let's go! Okay... E: Awesome!
So this is my favorite part: Gantry Park.
It's a mix of architecture, city views and just Queens,
and I'm a Queen's boy, so...
M: Awesome! Alright, I'm coming up there!
Favorite New York City building to incorporate in shots.
Can you see it? Because I see it! [Maria laughing]
It's the Empire State Building. M: Awesome,
and you've shot with a lot of prominent people and brands.
Is there somebody or some brand on your bucket list?
100%. I think Jay Balvin is top of the top of my bucket list.
He happens to be one of the most humble, humble, humble artists,
and he speaks with his work, you know?
So, if I can shoot him, it will be an ode to his vision.
M: That's awesome!
And, if you weren't a photographer what would you be?
If I were the photographer, I would probably...
Uh, well I studied opera forever,
and so I think I would either be an opera singer
or I'd like to think--I really love architecture.
I just don't know how that would have worked out,
but I think that would have been [chuckles] something I would have aspired to be.
M: Yeah, we could definitely see your love for it in your images.
E: Thank you.
M: And what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Thinking about it. It's very hard because I think advice...
You take certain advice, but then you understand it years later.
And, at times, it makes no sense until you go through something.
But I think one of the things that has always been with me since I was little is
my mom used to say, just, "Work so hard to be good enough
"so that people can't ignore you,"
or the market can't ignore you.
She always told me, "if you work really, really hard in something,
"all the blessings will come your way."
So, I think, just work really hard to be good at what you do,
M: Yeah E: and let the work do the talking.
M: And, aside from your camera, what's your favorite piece of gear?
Interesting...
My favorite piece of gear, I think, would be my B2's
Profoto B2 lenses--I mean strobes.
Very compact.
Carry them anywhere, and it's fun to play around with them.
M: Yeah!
And, tough question, if there were to be a movie about your life,
who would play you?
Interesting....
I don't think there's that many characters that look like me, unfortunately,
but I would say Antonio Banderas on his good year.
[both laugh]
M: Awesome, and, last question, who should we interview next?
Kartson Tannis, aka Skinny Was Here.
One of the most passionate, humble visionaries I know.
M: Awesome, alright! So, I'll let you get back to it,
and thank you so much for answering all of my questions
Thank you for bringing me on!
Alrighty!