@funkvantan
In the past couple of years, shooting photos on 35mm film has made a bit of a comeback on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Many Photographers actually prefer the format instead of digital because film offers a warmer look than the coldness of digital. People also like the look of film for its old-school aesthetic. However, no other photographer on Instagram manages to take 35mm photos that are as unique as Evan Tan’s (@funkvantan).
Tan is an 18-year-old photographer based in Los Angeles, California who takes most of his photos on 35mm film. His work mostly consists of raw and unedited portraits of the youth who inhabit Los Angeles. His photos often feel like a quick peek into the eyes of Tan due to the intimate nature of his work. Most of his subjects involve his friends and each photograph feels like a warm, nostalgic memory from the past. Tan has also taken photos of many budding artists in the Los Angeles music scene such as Jaden Smith, Steve Lacy, and Kevin Abstract.
I recommend following Tan because not only is each photograph is extremely pleasing to the eye, but each picture feels like a moment in a developing artist’s portfolio. As an aspiring photographer myself, I find Tan’s work to be very inspiring due to his young age and DIY attitude towards photography.
Kendrick Lamar
Very few artists can handle rapping about conscious topics such as race and poverty while also being commercially successful. Kendrick Lamar is one of the few to join that lucrative group of rappers with his most recent album “D*MN”. With his latest album, Lamar has cemented his status as one of the best rappers of this generation.
Despite the provoking nature of the album’s content and lyrics, it still rose to Number one on the Billboard Charts. Following the record’s release, Lamar came out with an electrifying performance of the new tracks off the album. The album is also Lamar’s third album to be nominated for multiple Grammys, such as Best Rap Album and Album of the Year.
Besides his contributions to hip-hop, Lamar is also a stand-up act. During a tour stop in Dallas, Texas, Lamar helped fund a quadriplegic fan’s GoFundMe page to help her get a new wheelchair accessible van.
Lamar had an excellent year and left his mark on 2017. He’s established himself as one of the greatest rappers of this generation and his album was the punctuation point to his legacy. Lamar still has plenty of great years left in him and I look forward to seeing what else he has in store.