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INFO: Ralph Giunta.22.South Florida.
http://www.flickr.com/ihatewetsocks
http://heyisthatralph.blogspot.com/
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The Photo Coterie: What is the story behind this photo of Jesus?
Ralph Giunta: Okay. So my good friend David Newton and I went to our local skate shop, Shred Shed, to pick up some things. As we got out of the car, I noticed an older man wearing an outfit in which seemed to be mimicking the style of none other than, yours truly, Jesus Christo. David already had the door of the shop open as I was walking towards the barefoot old man in a white garment.
I just asked him point blank if I could shoot his photo because I wanted to and he happily agreed. We started talking about things and I asked what his deal was. Obviously there was more to ask about him then him to ask about me. He explained to me that he had traveled to every single state in the country with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, understandably, considering his travels have been by hitchhiking and walking only. And he never asked for rides. People would just give him rides. He just lived the OG Jesus life and he was still so humble and willing to explain himself in full. He spoke of 2012 being something amazing to be alive for. We didn’t really get much further than that.
TPC: What is your favorite memory of a time when you were taking pictures?
RG: There are far more than one, as most would say. One that came straight to me was of this shoot I did back in March. It was of my old manager (but still good friend) Nicole’s daugther, Madison. It is an amazing thing how people can connect, no matter what age difference there is. There is always something. I was shooting with a Canon 1d, which is a pretty heavy camera to begin with. We were sitting underneath her jungle gym in the backyard when she picked up the camera and started taking pictures of me. It was funny to look at this seven year old’s expression as she got the almost instant feedback from the small lcd screen. She wanted to take over the shoot from there, but I somehow got the camera back.
I realized on that day how much I enjoy being around kids. Their energy inspires me.
TPC: What do you think about how people act in front of the camera?
RG: There are people who absolutely hate the camera. They will do anything for you no to shoot their photo. Including blocking all of their face with their hands, which is so damn annoying. Then you have a photo of motion blurred hands. Awesome. Haha.
There are those of course who absolutely love the camera and if they know me, sometimes they will use the best non verbal communication techniques they know to get me to shoot their photo. Flipping hair for the ladies, trying insanely way too hard of a skateboard trick for the guys. Even my one year old brother Vito will just pose like a model for my Olympus.
TPC: What is the meaning of your short film “Twilight at Carbon Lake?”
RG: Well to understand it, I think you should definitely watch it. I would much rather ask you the meaning of it than to answer that myself. Naturally, your energy goes into every single thing you do. So, through my photography and film, you get this image of me, I guess you could say. So the meaning of it, is kind of a snapshot of where I am right now in my life. That which to me, is so many places.
For those that make films or just understand the beautiful marriage between a musical piece and film; you can really grab that in this. I mean, the words lined up with my footage in some parts that were perfect happy accidents. I just laid down the track to raw 16mm footage, as it was filmed.
TPC: Do you have anything going on in your life right now that you want to talk about?
RG: Thanks to this amazing girl Kelsie I recently met, I interview for a job teaching English in China, tomorrow. I have not stopped thinking about how huge that could be for me. Nine months in a village teaching orphans English while they live on this organic farm. Wow.
So many people feel lost so much of their existence. I think it’s really important to realize how good we really are at knowing what we have to do. I guess you could call this intuition. It always surprises me how perfect everything always lines up. The right people always being placed before you, in your story, to play parts.
Thank you to my family and friends who have been asked to go stand in front of that tree or lay down on that mountain or hold the wheel as I photograph a disappearing sunset or to hold my metal insert from my Hasselblad and just for being there. Thank you.
