Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan “Jonjon” Ibero.
Jonathan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Hip Hop has always been a part of life. I’ve always been a fan of Jonathan Mannion and Estevan Oriol through The Source and XXL magazines. I loved the street style of photography and the vibe it gave off. I thought photography was expensive. However, I purchased a Canon Rebel and was using it to document my daughters growing up. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon Tumblr and the reblogged photos and artists now, such as 13th Witness and Stephen Vanasco aka Van Styles, that I found out about Instagram. I started researching it and found that people were taking photos with an iPhone since it was an iOS app at the time, and incorporated that into my photography. My Canon broke and ultimately I shot with the iPhone for a year. It wasn’t until Instagram that I started learning the different aspects of photography – composition, DoF and editing. I eventually purchased another DSLR and began learning how to shoot in manual mode with different focal point lenses to shoot my city and it’s people. With all the knowledge I’ve accumulated, thus far, I began having an eye for what I really enjoy shooting and that’s- street, portraits, landscape, and cityscape photography. However, my favorite thing to shoot – is still my twins Emily and Sophie.
Photography has enabled me to capture them growing up in a way that I never thought possible – it has become a medium through which I can bond with them and create memories that I can look back on for the rest of my life. I feel I have definitely tapped into a hidden talent I didn’t think I had and it has made me a creative individual with a style I can call my own.
Has it been a smooth road?
People will say money hinders them from achieving their goals. I disagree. You are your own obstacle. The business aspect of photography has been a challenge for me, but I keep learning something new every day and continue to apply myself. Nothing we love doing is ever a smooth process. It’s the struggle that keeps us going. Staying hungry is a daily struggle, with the way the social media landscape has evolved, but you gotta stay hungry, focused, and continue to evolve. I do this by pushing myself day and night creating something of my own.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m known for my street photography and portraits. The street photography allows me to explore my backyard, see things I never would. having a different perspective in the same spot. You always find something new. Portraits allow me to be creative. Whether shooting an individual and incorporating the environment the person is in to create something out of nothing. Also, catching unique individuals in the street and asking to have their portrait taken; listening to their stories. As a photographer, what I’m most proud of is that photography has allowed me to explore different parts of the world and have a perspective I never thought I would have ever imagined. Whether it’d be street or portrait photography. What I feel sets me apart from everyone else is having a unique sense of being able to capture something ordinary and flip it to something that leaves one saying to themselves – damn!? I never would have seen it like that.
Is there anyone, in particular, you would like to recognize? Mentors, etc?
First and foremost, my daughters have inspired me the most to be out there and not give up on any of your dreams; no matter how old you get. Basketball was my first dream, but obviously, photography has taken precedence. Definitely gotta go with Estavan Oriol and Jonathan Mannion, who I got to meet at Basel and NY; picked his brain a bit. Stephen Vanasco is another photographer and someone who I consider a friend. Anytime he’s in Miami, we link up and someone else’s brain who I get to pick. My lifelong friend, Paulo Shishido a.k.a. 1005Photography inspires me every day, in the same way, I inspired him. He keeps me going even when I felt uninspired. He keeps the inner fire burning since day one. The fact that we both have the same passion for photography and get to travel around the world with my best friend is the icing on the cake. Marcus Wells, another long-time friend inspired me to get out of my comfort zone. He owns his own business – Custom Made Miami, to which, he says I’m one of his inspirations for. Crystal Ramkissoon, the owner of Habit Activ, also serves as an inspiration. She pushes me to continue to be creative and come up with fresh ideas for her brand or just listening to my ideas; she doesn’t give up on me.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonjonvisuals
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jonjonvisuals/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jonjonvisuals
- Other: http://500px.com/jonjonvisual
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