Skateboarder turned photographer John Carbis opens his first exhibition at the Bokeh Gallery. “2015: A Phoenix Odyssey” was captured during the last two years as Carbis skateboarded around the downtown area. His photographs capture the gritty underbelly of Phoenix and all are taken within the last 20 minutes of daylight creating spectacularly rich and intense colors. He also doesn’t utilize post-production software and instead captures two to three images at one time to make for a very unique finished photograph. His work is on display until August 30th.
TED SIMONS: Tonight's edition of Arizona Artbeat looks at a young photographer with a unique look at the streets of Phoenix. Producer Shana Fischer and photographer Langston Fields introduce us to John Carbis and his Odyssey.
SHANA FISCHER: Photographer John Carbis has put his heart and soul into his work.
JOHN CARBIS: this is basically about the last two years of my life and my exploration through the city in striving to create artwork that is original and different than anything else.
SHANA FISCHER: His journey has culminated in his very first exhibition. 2015 a Phoenix Odyssey captures the raw and gritty underbelly of Phoenix.
JOHN CARBIS: I'm inspired by the city, being in the surroundings of the city. That's where I feel at home with everything happening around me.
SHANA FISCHER: Carbis was discovered by Bokeh Galleries curator Nicole Royse. Royse says she loves to feature up and coming artists because while the work is good it's not as polished as more seasoned artists.
NICOLE ROYSE: I love that it's showing that raw beauty that Phoenix offers that people don't know about because he's looking a little bit deeper.
SHANA FISCHER: Carbis's photos are all captured at the Golden hour and create a pallet where you could almost feel the heat of the sun.
JOHN CARBIS: In order for me to get the - achieve the color you're seeing in these images the lighting is very important and basically all of these images are created within probably the last 20 minutes of sunlight, and that is incredibly important to bring out the color that you're seeing.
SHANA FISCHER: he's also employing a technique most photographers are not, leaving the image untouched by a post production process.
JOHN CARBIS: my camera has multiple exposure functions so I can basically put it into this mode where I can take either two or three photographs in succession and they are combined into one image immediately.
NICOLE ROYSE: using that double exposure, that triple exposure option in your camera and really working with the current light situation, his subject, what's happening in the landscape and he's able to do that successfully because the pictures are showing excellent color, shadows, pattern, texture. They're really well done photographs.
SHANA FISCHER: Carbis is self-taught and much of what he photographs are buildings he would see while skateboarding around the city. He purposely looked for areas most people would avoid. Another way Carbis is making a name for himself is through social media.
JOHN CARBIS: Instagram is a good way to just show my work without anything else. It's just very image driven as opposed to maybe Facebook where there's so much going on. It's very blunt and to the point. It's just your images. That's what I like about it most. It's a good way to get my work out for other people who I might not know to see my work.
SHANA FISCHER: Royse says it's easy to connect with photographs because they show what's around us at that moment and Carbis adds it's the uniqueness that makes the photo relatable.
JOHN CARBIS: When I think about the art that moves me the most it's something different and original, music, painting, photography. What moves me is originality. I think that speaks volumes to a person's soul, really.
TED SIMONS: Carbis's work is on display through August 30 at Bokeh Gallery on Roosevelt row.
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TED SIMONS: Thursday we will find out how police have helped clean up a crime ridden Phoenix area. That's at 5:30 on the next "Arizona Horizon." That is it for now. I'm Ted Simons. Thank you so much for joining us. You have a great evening.
