I had the pleasure of interviewing photographer @escapistmist, who is now based in Berlin, Germany. We talked about their background, their creative processes, and ultimately why they gravitate towards youth and dance culture

Tell me about your background.

Born and raised in the north east of England; I was a small town countryside kid for 21 years. I was brought up to believe that ‘pursuing your passion’ would result in a more fruitful life, and chasing your dreams will be more valuable than chasing the money. This mindset was strongly influenced by my parents throughout my upbringing and they still play a vital role when it comes to my personal and character development.

I discovered my passion for visual arts in the summer of 2018 - I taught myself how to use a proper camera while solo travelling Europe for 3 months, sharing some of the content through the  ‘escapismist.’  instagram account (which I only created to share my backpacking trip with friends and family back in the UK. Little did I know when I started posting, that  ‘escapismist.'  would later become my very own brand - and I would soon dedicate my life to the concept as if it was my religion. The trip inspired me to escape my homeland, so I relocated to Berlin in April 2019 to pursue my passions in the art and creative industries.

What inspires your creative process?

Escapism - the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realties. It's the driving force of my brand and a subject I have always been interested in. Inspiration comes from my uncontrollable desire to delve into the many realms of escapism - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Every day I try to open my eyes and mind to new perspectives that others might never (or even want to) experience.

Why photography?

I bought my first camera back in 2018, I remember it was an Olympus OM-D E-M10 mkII - Its funny to look back on because I never really had an interest in DSLR photography, I was more drawn to shooting on 35mm film. At first I fell in love with the warm tones, heavy grain, and that sweet ass halation you get with Cinestill film stock. Before I knew it I was hooked on the uniqueness of analogue photography - mostly because it's out of the hands of the algorithms, with no guarantee that your photo will be perfect or even usable. I have many stories of accidental shots, bad cameras or expired film ended up producing some pretty dope shit that could never be replicated by a digital camera. 

Sure, you can smash a preset on all your ‘edgy’ long exposure files and add a few light leaks here and there, but it’s just not the same. Deliberate manipulations will never beat authentic effects created unintentionally. My passion for capturing precious moments that surrounded me grew stronger, and soon the camera became a permanent accessory; a simple tool I chose to accentuate my message formed into an extension of my being  - I refuse to go anywhere without one.

And what about youth culture. Why have you gravitated towards Berlin?

I've lived in Berlin for 4 years now, fully immersing myself into this ever changing fuckfest of international creatives. Berlin street culture really hits different. I love the vibe of this city as it radiates freedom and the coming together of people through their differences, and that’s what its all about right!? Exploring the many subcultures keeps my mind open to new and exciting influences.

My style and approach varies a lot within these different groups, sometimes I shoot because I can imagine a certain visual aesthetic - like kids in masks spray painting some trains or some shit. But really I’m just trying to document the many forms of escapism I see lurking within street culture on a global scale.

Tell me, what makes you different to everyone else?

My attitude, especially towards escapism. I've worked with high profile creatives, celebrities, companies and brands in both the music and art worlds - striving for the absolute best whilst maintaining an individual and down to earth approach with each and every one of my clients and collaborations. Love your fucking life! Take pictures of everything that interests you. Tell people you love them while you can. Talk to random strangers that intrigue you. Do things that you’re scared to do. Because so many of us die and no one remembers a damn thing we did. Take your life and make it the best story in the world. Don’t waste that shit. Risk is much more valuable than regret, and it’s better to regret what you did rather than what you did not. 

My network includes a lot of local creatives in Berlin, and gathering more talented artists from around the world who are regularly involved in some of my creative projects. As an experienced Videographer / Photographer & Model with variety of styles, always looking to create incredible visions with my clients that will change the paths of our minds and careers in the future.

If you want to find out more about me and my business you can visit my website - www.escapismist.com

@escapismist on instagram and Facebook.

@m0pheademo for my personal endeavours.