Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Pontarelli.
Jack, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Growing up, my dad had a Film SLR camera that he would always take on family vacations and other various trips and he would let me take some shots with it from time to time. So, I was exposed to photography and a pretty young age. I had always been interested in taking photos with my phone and trying to be creative whenever possible, however never really got serious about it until about a year and a half ago when I was on a trip to La Jolla, California. The first night of the trip we stayed at my mom’s cousins house which was on a bluff overlooking Clairemont and Mission Bay. It’s kind of cliché to say but the view was so beautiful that no one would quite understand how breathtaking it really was unless you were there. It’s funny, it almost made me frustrated that I couldn’t portray what it really looked like to anyone because no iPhone photos would do it justice. It was on that trip that I decided I would put some research in on some DSLR camera’s and about a month later I bought my first Nikon DSLR and have been shooting ever since! My dad actually passed away my senior year of high school, so It’s been pretty cool learning about photography and knowing that it was also something that interested him as well. I hope in some way that I can kind of carry on his love for the art of photography and can only think every time I go out and shoot on any given day and a flock of birds fly across the sky on a skyline shot or some unexpected subject walks into frame to make the shot that much more interesting, that he has a hand in it somehow!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a photographer, mostly shooting urban landscapes and the streets of Chicago. The best part about living and shooting in Chicago is that the city has so much character and is one of the most photogenic cities in the country.
I would say the most enjoyable aspect of what I do is that I can allow myself to walk around and actually take time to observe everything that’s going on in everyday life. It’s pretty awesome, a commute to/from work, or an L ride to a friend’s place now becomes more than “just” a commute or “just” an L ride, it becomes a constant visually stimulating activity. That’s really what motivates me to continue to go out and shoot, I try to create visually stimulating images of everyday life. It sounds kind of cheesy, but I hope my photographs give other people the enjoyment to see every day “normal” life as not so normal. And as I said before about the view we had of Clairemont/Mission Bay, I try to allow people to see something beautiful without having to physically be there. Everyone loves a beautiful sunset, an aerial view of New York, or a Chicago sunrise over Lake Michigan, but obviously, you can’t be everywhere at one time. So, part of me feels like sometimes it’s photographers (myself included) that can allow us to be everywhere at once and, in a way, experience those extraordinary moments that occur every day.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Honestly, in my opinion, it’s got to be easier than ever for artists now. We’re in a technological age where you can transfer a photograph taken on a DSLR to your phone, or a take a photo on your phone of a piece of art you just created and with the click of a couple buttons that photo can be shared with millions of people anywhere in the world via social media. Chicago does a pretty good job networking with photographers, I can’t speak to other creatives, but I think cities and establishments should start/continue to use local creatives for whatever task they are trying to get done instead of going out and maybe hiring someone outside of the community.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I wish I had a website for people to visit, one is currently in the works but not quite finished yet! For now, I post to Instagram pretty frequently and use that as my on-going portfolio, so don’t be afraid to hit that freakin’ follow button if you enjoy what you see! I also sell prints of most of my images! So, if you see something you like and would love to hang on the wall or give to someone as a gift, hit my email and we can friggin make it happen!
Contact Info:
- Phone: (1) 847-863-2569
- Email: jack.pontarelli@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack.pont/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Jack Pontarelli
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