Sky’s The Limit

Photography By Fradin Louis

Photographer Fradin Louis talks about capturing real life and how being in quarantine has made him look outside the box.

Long Island, New York, USA

What is your history as a photographer and artist? Why did you choose photography? How did photography change your life?

I worked my first job at 17 to buy my first camera. I bought it with intentions of filmmaking. The image is the building block of film, so I figured I ought to get familiar with creating captivating images, and the love grew from there. Photography definitely got me out of the shell that I placed myself in. All of a sudden, I had a reason to be places and interact with others.

How would you describe your style?

As someone who studies the styles of others so closely, it’s ironic that I don’t really know what my style is. I'll definitely have a style in mind for specific projects, but I don’t really know if I have a clearly defined style, per se. It’s always fun hearing people describe what they think my style is though.

Who are your subjects? In which situations do you mostly shoot them?

I would say that they’re everyday people. Occasionally they’re models, but they’re mostly the people in my orbit, or people who’re just passing by it. I love shooting people in their “natural habitat”, much to their disdain haha. People love looking photo-ready, understandably so. But to me, I feel like it’s my job to capture real life, and in real life you’re not always photo-ready. I love that honesty.

Is there anything you want to say with your photographs?

I would like my photos to tell the story of what it was like to be alive, at this period in time. I love consuming media from various periods in time because it’s a primary source of what it was like to be alive at that time. Someday I hope some young kid could look at my work and get that feeling.

Has your perspective changed while being in quarantine?

It has. I had a conversation with another photographer, and I told him I felt stagnant (not because of the quarantine, but in general). He essentially told me to look at what all we (my @wm20s crew and I) have accomplished in the time that we’ve been active. Now that I’m not doing as much, it gives me time to appreciate the progress that’s been made and more importantly, it’s given me the chance to think outside the box that we're in.

Where do you want to take your photography? Or rather, where would you want photography to take you?

Definitely would want the photography, the filmmaking, and the other creative endeavors to reach a greater audience. Next is establishing myself as a creative personality, because people tend to gravitate to someone that they could recognIze and identify with. Once you establish yourself as an individual, moving into different professional venues become easier than it would be starting from ground zero. I humbly and wholeheartedly believe that the sky’s the limit, as long as you’re willing to put in the hours.