Inspiration Series: Jerry Hsu
Photographers take inspiration from other photographers, that’s not a new hot take for you. With that, I wanted to take a step back from the live music world and start a series highlighting the photographers I find most inspiring or just generally like what they do.
Jerry Hsu would be known by most as a professional skateboarder. The accolades and accomplishments in that field are top tier, with Jerry having his distinctive style and technical precision. His ender part in the 2006 Enjoi video “Bag Of Suck” is always mentioned when considering some of the better video parts of all time.
Jerry’s Wiki states, “Hsu's photography career has gradually developed since the commencement of his professional skateboarding career.” And also, “Hsu identified photography as a vocation that he would like to eventually transition into. In 2013, Hsu explained that his body is constantly thrashed and admitted that he is broken."
I first became aware of his photography during the early days of Instagram with his account @internetfamous. Which then led me to his older Tumblr accounts, both active today. Nazi Gold is all blackberry and phone photos starting from around 2006. Low-quality images that make up for it in context, mixing in a variety of emotions, the photos are mostly humorous. A big chunk of the photos from the blog would eventually turn into the book, The Beautiful Flower Is The World. I’m stoked I have a first issue of this book and it’s one of, if not, my favourite photo book to flick through. Tongue-in-cheek photos on the very simple but often missed obscurities of the world.
The other blog is Table For One, and as it suggests, it is photos of people eating alone. Seems simple at first, still you will find yourself scrolling through the large number of photos. Is it sad? Maybe, though, like most of Jerry’s photos, there is always more going on to make you stop and think.
What pushed me to write this was a recent interview with Jerry on YouTube. Other camera, film and photography enthusiasts, such as myself, who consume a lot of videos on YouTube would be aware of Willem Verbeeck. Who just recently released an interview with Jerry about his photography. It’s a terrific video, and one I have already rewatched a few times now. Jerry’s process is pretty simple; he drives to a new area, then walks around looking for amusing and strange situations or things. As someone who likes to do similar, it’s very refreshing to hear his opinion on how many good or “keeper” photos you may get.
Chasing these chance moment photos is only fun when you can find them. Jerry speaks so well on a variety of photography topics, and it’s great to hear his thoughts on this thing so many of us call a hobby.
With photography you know I think a lot of people they don't understand how much like it's awful and how much you don't really you don't really get anything that you want. Like you know, someone said the other day, it must be so fun to go out there and shoot photos, and I agree with that, but also it's some days from start to finish it's pretty punishing, you know.
Others of you who have attempted or those hitting the streets trying to take similar chance moment photos know that it comes with difficulty. With one hurdle being the time consumption that many just don’t have. Jerry also mentions in the video that he usually expects two meaningful photos after getting 10 rolls developed. So 2 out of 360 isn’t great numbers if you're looking for consistent success. I think this makes the photos that Jerry takes even more impressive, there is obvious time and dedication that went into finding them. While also attributing his eye for finding them.
Another thing that makes me appreciate Jerry’s work and style, as mentioned in the video, is his focus towards the content of a photograph. Rather than abiding by the “hierarchy of photography” in terms of the camera used or the professional composition of a photograph. In a world where photography can become toxic at times, I love that Jerry’s photos (particularly the phone photos) are purely, how does this photo make you feel?
As quoted, “ I never wanted it to be like anti fine art photography, but I did want to see if I could make something interesting with something that photographers really like turn their nose up at, you know what I mean”.
The film photos that are shared on Hsu's Instagram really show how versatile and brilliant he is as a photographer. They still manage to hold a few of the humorous or poke at life undertones while now venturing into an artistic side. Comments and views are not the be-all end all though there are some notable names in the photo community sharing praise on his posts. It was also a real treat to hear he has a project on the way with his 35mm photos.
It goes without saying that Jerry has a fantastic eye and talent for finding chance moment photos. A style of photo that I enjoy looking at the most. Looking at Jerry’s photos over time has been so influential that it has begun to change how and why I want to take photos. Jerry does an amazing job creating a unique perspective that finds beauty in the banal and the bizarre. Like a spontaneous irony.
He has a large collection of car crash photos, and when I started to notice this everywhere, I started my own collection. I would always notice similar things in the past when out and about, but would never take the picture. Seeing Jerry’s photos changed that thinking for me. Photos of Jerry’s are very contextual, and that would translate into how I would start looking for my own to take. Even bridging that same style and photo hunting into my concert work, you can read a post on that below.
Street Photography At Concerts
Before actively pursuing live concert photo opportunities, I would have in a very generalised term, categorised my photography exploits as street photography. That was what I was mostly doing when out and about with a camera. For many years, not even knowing what “street photography” was I would say that’s the style I have done most of my life.…
To summarise, in a time where there are a lot of “street” photographers or photographers hunting for a chance moment style photo, I think Jerry is one of the better ones. His style is unique, and his photos always provide so much emotion and are thought-provoking. What’s also so great about Jerry’s work is hearing him speak on the topic and explain his process. Making him so intriguing in many forms. If you have yet to see his work, I would highly recommend it, he may just start inspiring you as well.
3 of my top 5 photographers are skaters. I’ve also watched that Hsu video a couple times, it’s so great. I grew up idolizing these guys as skaters and now as we all got older and moved on from it and into photography, I can relate to them in a whole different way.