Meet Nashelle "Nash" Brown, a photographer, videographer, director, musician, and overall multi-talented San Diego music/art community member. Local to Vista, Nash has been into photography since a young age. Working with many up-and-coming artists within the San Diego music scene and being a part of the visual team at Amplified Studios, Nash brings an overall unique and out-of-the-box approach to the visual arts realm. Let's learn more about this San Diego local and look at some of their work!

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY?

"I have always had an interest in photography. I started off with disposable film cameras. Then, in high school, when I took a photography class, my interest grew. Although I didn't have the DSLRs I used in my photography class, I turned to my handy dandy GoPhone. It was fun challenging myself to take interesting and captivating photos with the only available camera I had."

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATIONS?

"I'm inspired by so many amazing photographers. Local photographers (@palomalouise, @tyfoxphoto, @modern_egocentric), fashion photographers, documentary photographers, etc. The current photographer that I am highly inspired by is @adeoluosibodu on Instagram. His photography is gorgeous and cinematic. I love work that captures a moment, a feeling. It's true when they say a picture is worth a thousand words."

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN/WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER CREATIVE INTERESTS?

"Some of my creative interests include playing and writing music, dancing, drawing, and more!"

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOOT YOU HAVE DONE?

"I have a lot of favorite photoshoots. One that I did this past weekend was an artsy beach photoshoot. My goal was to not get wet while trying to capture shots of my friend submerged in water. Despite my efforts, Mother Nature won, and I ended up soaked. It was exhilarating submerging myself in the water in order to create captivating art. It was also a lovely bonding moment between me and my friend."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

"I can't truly define what my favorite style of photography is. I just know that it is artsy. I enjoy anything that challenges my photography skills and creativity."

TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE PHOTOS YOU DECIDED TO FEATURE IN THIS ARTICLE.

"I decided to share a variety of photo projects I have done. Some are more studio-style, while others are cinematic or documentary-style. I love exploring a variety of styles as it's creatively stimulating, and it allows me to grow within my art."

WHICH PHOTOS OUT OF THE ONES WE ARE SHOWCASING HAVE THE MOST SETIMENTAL VALUE TO YOU?

"The photo with the most sentimental value to me is the black and white photo of my friend Andy holding up a hat in front of their face. That photoshoot, along with two more photoshoots, was my first attempt at making a zine. This free digital zine I made in 2020 was called Queer in Color. This zine showcased my queer POC friends. It allowed viewers to see that Queer people of color are more than their labels and have personalities, values, dreams, and goals. Essentially humanizing a marginalized demographic."

IS THERE A CERTAIN PROCESS YOU HAVE IN ORDER WHEN IT COMES TO EDITING/DEVELOPING PHOTOS?

"In my photo editing process, I first make a digital tag for every photo I want to edit. Next, I do a first pass of editing on Lightroom. This usually means adjusting exposure and picking a preset that best fits the project. Then, I go in with a second pass of editing that is more thorough for each individual photo. I look through and delete any photos that are too similar or ones that are not as quality as another photo I have taken. Finally, I do one more final look-through of the set of photos. When I am satisfied with all the photos, I export them and upload them for the client to view."

HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO TAKE PHOTOS BUT ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED?

"Just do it. Whether you have a GoPhone, Nintendo DS camera, iPhone, or a DSLR. Take the photos! You don't need to have a fancy camera to take great photos. When you overanalyze and over-critique yourself in a new artform, you'll never get to the point where that artform is actually fun."

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

"For me, art is about self-expression, challenging yourself, and most of all, having fun. I hope at the end of the day you are having fun and growing within that art form you have chosen."

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