Getting Creative with Brooklyn Photographer, Rob Lundberg

Conducting a series of interviews with artists and creative individuals based in New York City (which is always flowing with passionate work), one of my main focuses is to speak with those who bring a unique and insightful look into the world. Drawn to Brooklyn-via-Boston photographer Rob Lundberg's work, his passion for photos struck me in a series of backstage and live portraits for an upcoming New York musician named Baby Yors. His shots, often candid and in the moment, are filled with an intensity that cannot be staged. Whether it is a lively moment of a stranger, or a shadow placed delicately on the wall, his unique vision and creative flow comes into play. With his photos catching the eye of many, he was also be featured in the Clio Art Fair this coming October in Chelsea. Lundberg stopped by The Patch to share his love of the art form with the world.

Follow Rob Lundberg on Instagram to see more of this work:
https://www.instagram.com/r_lundberg/

When did you become heavily interested in photography?

Well, growing up with a mother as an artist and educator, I was drawn to a variety of mediums including paint, pencil, charcoal, writing, and photography. Out of high school I was leaning towards forensic investigations, during my studies I was exposed to documenting techniques such as photography. I found the process of photographing crime scenes fascinating, though, never picked up a serious camera outside my studies. After college, I started experimenting with point and shoot hand me downs capturing mostly landscape and urban environments, while working in the private security sector. Though, my creative path started to form while attending a certificate program for graphic and web design, which exponentially grew my interests in fine art and honed my knowledge in understanding graphical elements, composition and communication systems. While, venturing in design over the past few years I constantly photographed travels, sights, interactions, relationships, and patterns. However, it wasn’t until I picked up and moved from Boston to NYC, where I met my two friends Jas Singh and Dre Vince Sanders, two amazing creatives starting a production agency named 4iC Agency in which owe much gratitude. I had barely any cash and both of these guys strangers at the time, paid for food, but more importantly lent me a Cannon Rebel T3i with 50mm lens. From there I engrossed my self in the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan observing and documenting a range of humanity I never experienced before. Now it’s kinda surreal after finding out I was recently accepted into this Oct’s Clio Art Fair.

How do you describe your photographic style?

Generally I go out to discover and explore, kinda wonder aimlessly for a bit observing peoples behaviors and interactions with each other, and if I see a beautiful moment I attempt to capture the exact moment when the action occurs. So more freeform most days, though I’ll go out some days saying lets shoot shadows, or reflections, or people…though in a few short words: raw, organic, candid, free, gonzo, avant garde, documentarian, observational, curious.

When shooting, do you have a theme in mind?

I guess an underlying theme I’m highly attracted towards is how humans interact within an urban environment. Since the human collective has decided to create such sometimes harsh circumstances I’m very curious on how diverse communities thrive and survive within the realms of an architected setting.

When it comes to final product, do you generally prefer black and white or color?

I lean towards black and white, it accentuates the purity of the moment one captures through the lens, giving it a more cinematic look while adding depth, additionally activating the negative space thus, altogether creating a beautiful composition.

Do you have any influences when it comes to photography?

In general, I like to keep an open mainframe when it comes to influences, I respect the masters of the craft such as Robert Capa, Henri Cartier Bresson as documentarians along with Bob Gruen, Janet Beckman, and Pennie Smith as rock photographers for example, however, I don’t attempt to create a certain style. There’s certainly a confluence of previous studies, ideologies, subject matters such as science, sociology that meld into my work. Though while studying the masters and understanding how they crafted compositions is important, I think its even more critical to cultivate your own style without the restrictions. Evolving a unique technique, a unique process will help one stand out, and with luck will leave behind an identifiable artifact one would call a footprint in time.

You do a lot of street photography in Brooklyn; is their any neighborhood that you favor to shoot in?

Living in Crown heights one sees gentrification on the front lines, one sees new living spaces designed by developers to drive out residents whom dwelled in the neighborhood for generations, conflicting ideologies one that is profit driven while under minding a certain group and the other fighting to keep there neighborhood while seeking positive community change. I’m not sure most people notice the effects of such a sociological phenomena, thus, I think the most important neighborhood in Brooklyn at this moment is Crown Heights. However, a photographer must keep in mind the residents sensitivity to outsiders taking photos, so its a bit difficult to capture certain subjects on the street.

Do you enjoy shooting more candid photos of the local people, or scenery and details instead? Which is your preference and why?

I do a mixture, at times I may be walking at a certain hour in the day notice a beautiful shadow casting on a wall creating an intimate relationship with the wall balancing the intangible with solid matter, or I may notice a beautiful moment between a family, or a powerful scribbling on a park bench, I’m constantly on the look out for interesting artifacts left behind from humanity. Though I do truly enjoy capturing people on the street in more candid moments, the secret moments most don’t notice, however, there’s a careful balancing act of capturing a beautiful scene to being intrusive and that’s the art.

New York City is one of the greatest in the world for creative inspiration. It has inspired a lot of minds and cultivates unique artistry. What is the best thing about being a creative mind in New York? How does it drive your passion for your work?

New York has an energy that no other city in the world has to offer, a constant movement of people all hyper energized to survive and to thrive, it’s this flow of humanity that I find fascinating. With such a diverse population, comes a plethora of experiences, ideas, concepts, rituals, and with that art forms in which as an artist one can draw from. It’s this energy that pushes me harder, along with having an understanding that the market in New York is hyper competitive and the talent pool so large, it forces me to produce my best work constantly, conversely this energy can work against you at times, so one must find balance.

What do you want people to take away from your work?

I’d like for people to understand that as a race we are all going through the same struggle, I’d want people to enter moments of the human experience that they themselves may have never experienced and place them in that moment. With that, hopefully evoking a bit of emotion.

Do you have any tips or words of advice for upcoming photographers in New York City like yourself?

Find the right people to surround yourself with, don’t try to be anyone else create your own style, be persistent and resilient, work hard and work harder. Constantly learn, have a thirst for knowledge, discover, and experiment. Most importantly find your own voice, express it, and never give up…