“I think that one’s art is a growth inside one. I do not think one can explain growth. It is silent and subtle.” Emily Carr
Growth is a fascinating mistress; ever elusive, difficult to court, hard to understand; She is, however, easy to spot when she enters the room.
As I have watched Kevin Titus grow in his photographic journey over the years, I suspect that growth has come in spurts and stumbling lunges, a mixture of conscience grasps at new techniques and fumbles into successes. But his blending of wide angles and great welding of color makes each of his images brilliantly subtle and clean pieces of work which cause the pausing of scrolling fingers in appreciation. We recently sat down with Kevin to explore his process, his way of thinking, and his philosophy behind his art.
Follow his work on Instagram, Facebook, and his website.
I have been following your work on Instagram and within the ICP group for quite awhile. It has always amazed me to see the before and afters of your work. You do an amazing job of maximizing your camera’s capabilities. Where does your inspiration for all that great coloring come from?
A lot of my inspiration comes from the communities that I’m a part of — mainly on Facebook and Instagram. Seeing the stunning work of talented individuals inspires me to constantly experiment and push past my comfort zone with my own creative process.
Style is something many photographers struggle to obtain. How did you develop yours and how do you describe your style to others?
The only way to develop your own style is to constantly experiment, both with shooting and editing. Even then, I think most artists would agree that their style is something that’s always evolving.
Sometimes if I’m feeling like I’m in a rut with my images, I’ll draw inspiration from mediums outside of photography. Music, film, paintings, even video games! The beauty of art and life is that everything is interconnected in some way. No matter how many times something has been done before, it’s always possible to put your own unique spin on it.
On your website you talk about your background in mental health counseling and how that has helped you infuse two things you love into one with the addition of your camera. Can you tell us how having this background has assisted your photographic journey?
I consider myself to be an extremely empathic person. I’m always in-tune with how other people are feeling at any given moment. I think this really helps people feel at ease and comfortable when working with me, because I always value and respect where their heart and head is at in the moment.
You once posted your second grade report card on Instagram to discuss your journey with mistakes and self-confidence; many of us don’t talk about this struggle often, why did you feel it was so important to open the dialogue on this topic?
Not enough people out there are willing to discuss their setbacks and challenges. Being open and truthful about who you are is an incredible opportunity to make an impact on people who are experiencing the same things you are. That’s such a gift!
I hold transparency in such high regard because it’s what brings as humans together. Being raw and vulnerable with your audience is how you form connections, gain trust, and earn people’s respect.
How long have you been using ICP? How do you use it to help you build your imagery?
I’ve only been using ICP for a few months now, but it’s already been transformative to my post-processing workflow. I generally make basic adjustments in Lightroom before moving to Photoshop for retouching and color work. ICP is the final step in my workflow — I tend to stack two or three layers of ICP at around 25% opacity, but sometimes it’s hard to stop there because there are so many pleasing color harmony variations!
What are your goals for your work moving into 2019?
2019 is the year I double down on creating more personal and commercial work. I’m also going to be prolific with creating content that documents my journey along the way. My mission is to encourage and inspire others who are on their own creative journeys.
Have you tried the panel yet? We’d love to see your creations! Get in touch on Instagram @infinitecolorpanel or the Facebook Infinite Color Panel group and show us your work.
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