Picture This - A Candid Interview w/ Tyler Moncrief
A few weeks back I was browsing the net and checked out an amazing display of art. The photos were simple, yet vivid. Minimal, but so detailed. Of all the different layers they all shared the same aesthetic which i would later discover was curated by Tyler Moncrief. I was gifted with the opportunity to chop it up with a cultural genius. This guy does it all. Photographer, Stylist, Creative Director and now, Author (YOUNEEDYOURSELF.COM support the arts and buy that). Read this quick Q&A and get inspired.
Sect25: How much of a shoot is premeditated, or on the whim?
Tyler Moncrief: Man, That's a good question. For the most part, as of late, none of my shoots have really been premeditated. I'm a crunch time guy. I work better when time is the pressure. I'll have an idea of what props I want to use, but never how I'm going to arrange things
25: With that in mind do you prefer a controlled setting (indoor/studio etc) or outdoors?
TM: To be honest. I would love a controlled setting. I pray to God that one day I'd get one, but as of late, outside the studio has been in a lot of my work. I started off doing home studio work, it taught me how to use light better when I am outdoors
25: So, in regards of your subjects is there a certain tone you try to maintain during the shoot?
TM: As a visual artist on my end, I feel as if you should be able to take ANYONE and make them into a piece of work. So when I'm working with an everyday person, I keep the tone open, and I talk to them about things they like to talk about. Now if I shoot someone that wants to do modeling professionally, I talk to them with their interest and brand in mind and keep the shoot all about them tone wise, giving praise and what not.
25: Lets compare your art to basketball coaches… Would you say you’re Phil Jackson with a meticulous game plan that you orchestrate shot by shot? Or would you say you’re more of a Gregg Popovich where you have a pretty thorough outline of your game plan, but also let your subjects work their own magic within those lines?
TM: Most Def Gregg P! [laughs] I love when I can catch people off guard while they're acting in their natural content state. A lot of my best shots were right after people stopped joking around. I know what I want out of them, but I love spontaneity most.
25: When and how did you realize that the pictures you take are capable of telling stories?
TM: I figured that out about 4 years ago when I started filming music videos with Damarkis Carroll. I always knew a picture was worth 1000 words, but I just didnt know how to create depth with it. As time grew, I figured out my style. I knew I wanted to spark conversation. So each one of my shots that I decide to release can create a topic of conversation
25: How important is it for you to have a message that connects with the public?
TM: Very Important. Its the utmost important thing to me. I never wanted to be a high fashion, or family photographer. It pays the bills and whatnot, but my purpose here on earth is to make something that people can appreciate and think about. Id like my images to be embedded into a persons memory.
25: One of your pictures captioned “Justice is Blind” was very captivating. (I’ll either post it below of above) It depicts t a masked black man perched on what I interpreted to be courtroom steps. Care to elaborate?
TM: You called it, That was the War Memorial in DC, but I wanted it to be depicted as courtroom steps. I created that shoot for someone else actually, but they bailed on me at the last second so I had to place myself there in order to get it done. The photo represents everything that happens to us.
The Composition Breakdown :
1. Im wearing a black mask to emphasize that "Justice Is Blind"
2. Body Gesture 1: From far away, its perceived as "Nonchalant", as if justice doesn't care that all of this is blind
3. Body Gesture 2: When Looking Close Up, its perceived as "Patience", as if we are awaiting change
4. The Sliver Of Light : There's a little bit of Hope somewhere in all of the this darkness and injustice that we live in
5. Brown Skin : "Black Lives Matter"
6. Clothing : The Mask Represents "Urban America", The Nice Clothing represents "Corporate America" meaning that anyone can get it and no one is safe from injustice
The Color Breakdown :
White Marble Steps - *Segregation* - This i'snt the land for all colors, even if you make it to the top (of the steps)
Red Pants - *Opportunity* - Although this land my not be for all colors, all creeds walk this earths surface with the same blood types
Blue Sky - *Equality* - We All Breath The Same Air
25: How vital is it to you for your views to shine through in your photos?
TM: Very vital. Its hard to speak your point of view to a lot of people because people seldom read if they don't find you "popular", but its a whole lot easier to SHOW your vision to the world today. Visuals are more prominent than words now due to the internet and now the "meme", so I use my social media platform to showcase my visuals. Everything I create, I try to give it an mystic flare or an optimistic flare to it. We as human being love to see what we don't normally see
25: Is any of your art based on personal experiences?
TM: To answer that question fully, I would have to say that its not based off of personal experiences, BUT IT IS derived from personal experiences. My past fuels my present very much so. I take all of the old ideas and bad energy, and I turn it into renewable creative power (so to speak). But everything conceptual that I've done this year was actually created for someone else. I wrote it down in my notepad and just added to it as time progressed. I haven't even started on 2015's ideas yet.
25: If you could shoot anybody anywhere…. Give me the run down of that shoot.
TM: If I could shoot anywhere, it would be the Uyunni Salt Flats in the country of Bolivia. Google it! It is amazing! I have a few ideas that would really make that place pop. My 2nd place to shoot would have to be Tuscany,Italy as the sun sets. The shits beautiful!
As for a person? It doesn't matter to me. I don't put people on pedestals at all because a lot of people character is flawed by popularity and\or materialism. So I'd probably pick a native of the location and shoot them. They really deserve it, its their turf
25: Are there any photographers or any artists in general that inspire you?
Inspire? No
TM: Are there any photographers that I appreciate their contribution to society? Yes! There are a few. Kanye West inspires me at times by what he's stands for. You really have to be in his shoes in order to appreciate his contribution. I face those same walls he broke through a decade ago. I can definitely say he encouraged me to be who I am. Dom Kennedy gave me my shot of confidence many many times. His principle is solid enough to stand on 100 times. Jay-Z influences my thinking patterns when it comes to using ideas, and also marketing and carrying myself and my moral code. His music (post Black Album) taught me not to break character or my code of conduct for nobody, no matter what they're offering me or what affiliation they may have, or any chance at possible "relations" with a woman. You don't break code, and you don't break your word, and if they break the code of conduct with you, then you cut them off. That has helped me out a lot in the last 4 years of my life
As for photographers? Bre'Ann White is my favorite photographer. She makes me want to put out better work. Everytime I see her post something I just say "Damn Man! Thats Queen!!" I let her know I praise her, its cool to know that she respects me as a person and as an artist.
25: What came first for you, Photography or Cinematography?
TM: Photography came first, but I didn't pursue it at all whatsoever. I shot a few things here and there, but I wasn't open for business, nor did I promote myself as a photographer. I dabbled in Cinematography mainly because its something about a motion picture that has always captivated me. I'm a huge 007 movie enthusiast, so those experiences drove me to dabble in cinema more. But as time developed, you learn that you need to know photography and lighting before you can direct a film. If you ever notice, in all the ending credits, you see the title of "Director Of Photography" Those are the people that really matter! So I put the filming down, and started working my eye more to learn how to place subjects and light them to give my viewer a feeling that can possible spark a reaction
25: What would you say takes more effort, the perfect video or the perfect photo? If there can be a perfect anything.
TM: The Perfect Video takes 23 times more effort because there's 24 pictures in one movie second, and it takes a great skill to utilize that composition. Its the placement and lighting and a great subject to make those individual frames really something that creates an emotion. Plus you have to cut different angles and scenes together to make it. The photography is the hard part, but the recording is the a craft worth perfecting. Its like 2D vs 3D. Video adds that extra depth. There isn't a Photoshop with video, and using a flash only works for 1 frame. So you need REAL MONEY to get the same results lighting wise
25: What do you look to connect with when approaching a project?
TM: I create projects based on what I have accessible to me. About 96% of ALL my projects have came out of my own pocket at my own expense. I'll spend between $50 to $300 just to bring 1 idea of mines into fruition. I didnt make very first dollar with my camera until August 2015. I'd get the materials, clothes, artifacts. I'd location scout, I'd arrange the session. So what I look for to connect is one common denominator. What do I want to portray to my viewer with my idea. I look for WOW factor. That's how I connect with my audience.
25: In a lot of the things that you do you’re very instrumental in the execution, but publicly it seems as though you prefer the background. Any of this true?
TM: Man, that's 100% true. I'm not around for the fame, or the money, or the women, or anything of that nature. I'd do this all for free if my life was taken care of. So, with all of that fame, money, popularity, comes bigger responsibilities that can take you away from your aesthetic. I want to give out my most pure every time I make a project. So I don't put myself in positions to allow my mind to be tainted very much. Plus, later down the road, I still want to be able to go grocery shopping by myself hahaha. I enjoy privacy.
25: What do you have in the works now, or active projects/businesses that you’re a part of?
TM: I have the entire Moncrief brand on my back. Which hosts a variety of projects. Moncrief.co (not dot com) which is my personal portfolio for and pf myself. I'd like to break into commercial modeling one day for a menswear brand. UnityDesign, that's my personal business website for photography services. The Model Workshop is a partnership business that I help structure. It's made for aspiring people that want to see what an actual real photoshoot is like. Pure Zeal is my online lifestyle publication that I started that will dabble in Life-Style-Views & Art. Its to help people see the world in a positive angle, vs all the mess we're force fed in our social media timelines. The Aspired,.... well, you just have to see what The Aspired is all about in Quarter 1 of 2016.
25: Whats your artistic and business vision for yourself?
TM: To make "Moncrief" a name and brand that people want a piece of. I cant stop until I reach that goal. I want people to say "That's A Moncrief" and actually be proud to have that piece of work in their home, no matter the medium
Tyler also released a book entitled “You Need Yourself” (more than likely from his 2015 plans that he hadn’t tackled yet, ha.) and you can purchase it here.
