Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Mazon.
Joy, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was always “that girl with the camera.” Whether it was a point-and-shoot camera in high school, a camera phone or an old school Fuji disposable, I was always fond of taking pictures of everyone at parties and events and seeing them use my photo of them as their social media default picture. That excited me. Around 2008 was when I discovered my love for astrophotography. I didn’t take photos of the stars back then, because I didn’t have the proper gear, the confidence or the thought that I could even create something that incredible. I didn’t do anything about these feelings for a long time. Photography was just a past time to me, or a hobby I partook in every once in a while. Being a photographer was never introduced to me as a long-term thing, as a stable career, or even as something I should be doing, so I neglected it.
It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Grave’s Disease in 2014, and coming out of it three years later on remission, that woke me up and taught me to pursue the things that I love. I currently work in the medical field. Everything was planned out for me.
I went into the medical field thinking I’d just work with this job for a few years to gain experience, then return to school to get a BSN. Grave’s Disease showed me how unreal those goals were. I got to know myself better, so much better that I couldn’t pursue those goals anymore. I wasn’t being true to myself and I was pursuing those goals for all the wrong reasons. Life isn’t about security, money, benefits or a white picket fence… it’s about being happy with whatever you have, and doing the things you love while being your best self. I chose to pursue photography because I was ill for years, and came out of it loving myself. When you love yourself, you can’t fake your life for others. You just can’t. It isn’t worth it. Having an illness taught me how to silence the noise and societal pressure around me, and listen to what I needed in my life to be happy. And I choose to create. I choose to evoke emotion from others and capture it. I choose to put love in the things that I do and create. And I choose to photograph the world for what it can be for those who don’t see the beauty in it.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a photographer who seeks adventure, love stories, breath-taking locations, epic sunsets, and personal treasures. When photographing people, I goal is to capture their inner light with a single image. No matter the heart ache, the drama, the pain or the joys they’ve experienced, I find complete fulfillment in trying to exude their inner self through an image. I live for troubled stories that turn into happy endings and a place with a past. When I photograph landscape and epic sunsets, my inspiration stems from creating a bright, colorful and vivid imagery. Life may not be perfect at that moment for some, but my landscape photos serve to show you that life IS in fact beautiful, and that everything can be okay. My landscape shots tend to take the vivid and whimsical route, while having an overall moody feeling to it from the deep shadows I like to accentuate, and my portrait shots are darker and more washed-out in color to highlight the people themselves in the overall image.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
The biggest challenge for artists, in my experience thus far, would have to be the lack of appreciation for what we do. I don’t believe everyone takes photographers seriously because of how easy it is to take a picture these days. Everyone has a camera on their phones. Everyone does. Even 14-year-old have access to camera phones. I think the majority believe that what we do as photographers is just that, snap photos. The majority aren’t willing to pay for photographers because they think anyone can just do it with any camera. They aren’t aware of the work we put in to one photograph. Heck, one photo of the Milky Way could have easily taken 8 hours of post processing, but not many know about post processing, except photographers. I enjoy educating my social media followers about what photographers do. I think raising awareness in that sense AND helping other photographers creates a positive, and appreciative community. One that recognizes photographers and artists as hard working individuals, and not just people with talent.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am very active on my Instagram; from recording behind the scenes stuff on my stories, to posting sneak peeks and before and after’s of my work. My website is where you can view my online portfolio, and my Facebook page is where you can find albums of my portrait work.
People can support me simply by following my photography journey and providing meaningful interactions on either social media platforms. Booking a photo shoot, a wedding, purchasing landscape prints or just recommending me to friends and family if they ever needed a photographer.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joysauce.net
- Email: bookjoysauce@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/joysauce
- Facebook: Facebook.com/
joysaucejustshotme
Image Credit:
JOYSAUCE Photography
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