Our last issue of Spectacle was a love letter to the vibrant, diverse, and creative communities of Los Angeles — communities which many of our contributors who brought those stories to life are also part of. Between their work, style, and philosophies, the photographers and writers we collaborate with are a steady source of inspiration and worthy of being the feature as much as the creators. We hit up nine collaborators from Spectacle 12 with various questions that have been on our minds. Check our their answers below and pick up the latest issue here: Spectacle Vol. 12.
Gideon Tsang, Photographer, writer, model, consultant, & creativity and mindfulness coach
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Silent solitude, deep human connection, & an experience of beauty (art, nature, or environment).
2. What does your Meyers Briggs say about you?
Extroverted introvert. Frustrated idealist. Grounded gallivanter.
3. Preferred time of day to create?
Mornings for the brain. Blue hour for the eyes.
4. What do you hope others take away from your work?
As David Whyte says, anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.
5. Preferred method of zoning out?
Winter Zone: A looong bike ride in the Hill Country outside of Austin. Summer Zone: Jumping into Barton Springs, a natural 68 degree cenote in the middle of downtown Austin.
6. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
Joshua Spencer, Photographer + Videographer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
A bit of silence, outdoors, and my wife.
2. What does your Meyers Briggs say about you?
I see potential in others, I like that bit.
3. What do you hope others take away from your work?
Connection with whatever story I’m telling.
4. Preferred method of zoning out?
Driving solo, Action movies, or complete silence.
5. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
Hampton X Sun
Kate Berry, Photographer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Boxing session, rosewater mist, banging playlist.
2. Preferred time of day to create?
When the sun is at its lowest, or just after it sets.
3. What is your next project?
I fly to the jungle in Mexico mid-Jan and will be taking it from there!
4. What do you hope others take away from your work?
Motivation to be true to themselves, to be curious, to connect with other humans and parts of the world.
5. Preferred method of zoning out?
Meditation or the K-spa.
6. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
Some other UK photographers I adore: Adama Jalloh, Jack Davison, Sam Gregg, Lewis Khan, Lauren Maccabee. I also love Mous Lamrabat's juxtaposition of Western iconography and North African stereotypes and culture.
7. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
The Clare V. collab!
Sean Hotchkiss, Writer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Good water. Incense. A notebook and pen.
2. What does your Meyers Briggs say about you?
INFP - I'm a giant puddle of feels.
3. Preferred time of day to create?
Usually first thing in the morning, but the book I've been writing has been coming out more at night!
4. What is your next project?
An addiction memoir.
5. What do you hope others take away from your work?
I hope they say: "If this idiot can do it, so can I."
6. Preferred method of zoning out?
I have a daily napping routine that's based around this app called Nucalm. It involves placing an electromagnetic disc on your inner wrist, choosing some binaural beats from the app, and then lying back with an eye mask and letting the process go to work on your brainwaves, calming your nervous system without drugs. It's all very The Matrix. One of my friends calls it a "robot nap."
7. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
I think it's pretty cool George Saunders teaches a writing class via Substack. He seems like a really interesting dude.
8. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
Wilson. John Lennon all day.
Allen Daniel, Photographer
1. What does your Meyers Briggs say about you?
Sensitive, creative, idealistic, perceptive, caring, loyal. Value inner harmony and personal growth, focus on dreams and possibilities.
2. What is your next project?
Making a series of music videos for a mixtape I produced with my great friend Jason.
3. What do you hope others take away from your work?
See everyday things in a different light.
4. What are you listening to now / watching now?
I’m listening to Knocked Loose, Yüth Forever, Westside Gunn, Nardo Wick, The Weeknd.
5. Preferred method of zoning out?
Going into my studio and playing drums.
6. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
Always & forever studying Virgil Abloh’s practice.
7. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
I’d have to either go with the Hanalei S frames or the Kinney X Sun frames.
Fanny Chu, Photographer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Coffee, hot yoga, eating breakfast meals anytime during the day.
2. Preferred method of zoning out?
Watching the sunset on the hill top.
3. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
Currently I'm obsessed with Nadia Lee Cohen's work, she's an artist, photographer and filmmaker. I love her 70's style and very surreal cinematic looks.
4. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
Clark Sun in Pure Glass.
Alanna Hale, Photographer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Good sleep (such a rarity!), sunshine, at least one hug from someone I really adore.
2. Preferred time of day to create?
The late afternoon.
3. What do you hope others take away from your work?
Like they've been let in on a secret.
4. What are you listening to now / watching now?
Listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen; laughing while watching Pen15.
5. Preferred method of zoning out?
Glass of vino and a foot rub. Any takers?
6. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
Diana Markosian, Mark Mahaney, Rachel Cusk, Shannon and the Clams.
7. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
Wilson sunnies. Always and forever.
Elliot Aronow, Writer, Editor, Creative Director, and Life Coach
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
French fries, dipping sauces, and someone beautiful and kind to share them with sounds pretty damn perfect.
2. What do you hope others take away from your work?
On the creative side, I just want them to connect with the emotion and energy of the work and hopefully smile and get inspired. On the coaching side, I want all of those same things and I want people to see for themselves that most "problems" can be solved through humor, creativity, and community. There's no shame in struggling sometimes, it's the best fuel for growth! No one can do The Work for you, but you never have to do it alone.
3. What are you listening to now / watching now?
My good friend Timmhotep is one of my favorite music heads so I religiously check out his Spotify playlist "Wrap Caveat". He's on top of so much dope rap it blows my mind. My wife and I are late bloomers but we just got into Succession last week after I was doing research on the show for GL! Last night I listened to Youth Of Today while swiffering my house, pretty cool stuff!
4. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
I love these Harding X frames! I dig the vibe of a stronger, bigger frame but I have a pretty small face so most statement frames just wind up eating my punim. The Harding X strikes that perfect balance between presence and flow. The clear frame reminds me of a Dan Armstrong lucite guitar, which is pretty dope too.
Molly Steele, Film photographer and creative nonfiction writer
1. Three necessities for the ideal day?
Breakfast, marine layer, and an encounter that inspires vitality.
2. What does your Meyers Briggs say about you?
I’m an INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) which manifests in me being driven by what’s inside and having the courage to take calculated risks based on my gut.
3. What is your next project?
I’ll be spending the month of January in Europe for an art residency where my hope is to focus on writing and portraiture, as I prepare for a much larger project on the horizon about which my lips are sealed.
4. What do you hope others take away from your work?
Wishing not to sound like a broken record, my hope is that people are reminded that another world is possible, beyond the confines of work and capitalism.
5. What are you listening to now / watching now?
Lately I’ve been on an unending Harold Budd kick and watching a lot of drone footage over the Everglades, don’t ask.
6. Artists/writers/photographers/musicians you’re digging right now.
More recently I’ve gotten into the writing of Sally Mann as she so creatively discusses her work. I’m also studying the portraits of Imogen Cunningham and the writing of Murray Bookchin.
7. Favorite pair of GLCO frames?
I’ve owned and loved several pairs of the years, but always reach for the Wilson's, which have been to several countries with me, on trains, over mountain passes, and driving up and down the coast.
