The MOOD Podcast

Photography as a Catalyst for Creative Impact and Social Change, Kevin Mirc, E063

• Matt Jacob

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How can photography sustain cultures while leaving a lasting creative impact?

Kevin Mirc is a French-Madagascan photographer known for capturing breathtaking images from some of the world’s most stunning destinations. With a background that combines a love for adventure and storytelling, Kevin’s work reflects his deep connection to nature and culture and his commitment to responsible travel.

In this episode, Kevin shares his creative process, talks about balancing commercial work with personal projects and offers advice to aspiring photographers on how to break into the industry while staying true to your vision. He also discusses the evolution of his style and his views on the future of photography in a world where AI is playing an increasingly significant role.

What you'll learn from it:

  • Kevin’s journey to become a professional travel photographer
  • The challenges of capturing images around the world
  • How social media and AI are impacting the photography industry
  • The role photographers play in conservation and sustainability

Find Kevin’s work here:
Website: https://wanderskyy.com/
Instagram: @wanderskyy 
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Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work.

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Kevin Mirc:

Sometimes you don't know what's real or what's not. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming social media. How do we make ourselves unique? I try to stay consistent, I guess.

Matt Jacob:

How do you beat the competition?

Kevin Mirc:

There's enough work for anyone. So instead of comparing yourself with others, maybe it's better even if you help them.

Matt Jacob:

Do you have any advice or strategies that can put you in a place where you try and have a steady stream of income, have a steady stream of income or a steady stream of clients that you're working with?

Kevin Mirc:

I think you need to.

Matt Jacob:

That's a great tip. What do you think the future of a photographer looks like?

Kevin Mirc:

The future?

Matt Jacob:

I'm not sure, but Welcome to the Mood Podcast, where each week, we bring you inspiring conversations with top artists and creative minds from various fields, exploring their personalities, purposes, processes and philosophies. Whether you are a seasoned photographer, an aspiring artist or simply someone who just loves to learn and be inspired, this podcast is certainly for you. I'm your host, matt Jacob, and thank you for joining me in today's conversation. And today our guest is Kevin Mirk, a travel photographer who has captured wonderful images from some of the most incredible destinations around the world. Kevin's work is characterized by its vibrant colors, dramatic compositions and a unique ability to evoke a sense of adventure and wonder.

Matt Jacob:

In this episode, we dive into his journey as a photographer, exploring what first inspired him to pick up a camera and how the online persona of At Wondersky came to life. Kevin shares his creative process, from scouting locations to capturing the perfect shot, and we discuss the philosophy and vision behind his work, how he uses storytelling to convey emotions and messages through his images. We also touch on the challenges of travel photography and the industry as a whole, the evolution of his style and the impact of social media on his growth as an artist. Kevin offers valuable advice for aspiring photographers on balancing content creation for social media, with staying true to their artistic vision. True to their artistic vision. Additionally, we explore Kevin's thoughts on adventure and sustainability and the responsibility that photographers might have in promoting responsible travel and conservation. So now I bring you Kevin Mirk. Kevin Mirk, welcome to the Moo Podcast.

Kevin Mirc:

Thank you for having me.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, it's great to have you and great to have a fellow Bali resident with us. So I wanted to start with before we kind of get on to kind of who you are and what you do. One thing I've seen you talk about is how photography is a window to the world. Can you explain that a little bit more in terms of your insight?

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah. So photography window to the world, window to the soul. I see it like it's a way to express, to show the world to people that maybe don't, will not go places, don't travel. How would they know If there's no people like you or me that will? I guess document Photography for me is more like a documentary Show different angles, different perspectives and I see it also like a superpower, like it's time travel. You freeze a moment and people can see it in 200 years and then remember oh, this guy took this picture and that's what happened at this time. If we're not here to document, then it's almost like it never happened. So it's like it's a window for people pretty much.

Matt Jacob:

And it's a window that is very subjective, right, it depends on your perception as a photographer and we'll talk about this a little bit later, about what makes you different and what makes photographers different from others. But you choose to document landscape cultures. Why are those kind of two main genres important to you in terms of your perception of the world?

Kevin Mirc:

Um, I guess because it's how my journey started as a photographer. First with landscape, because of traveling, getting out of the comfort zone, out of the country, learn english and I guess the the more accessible first approach to photography was landscape and culture. I guess it comes with travel you experience different people, different way of living from other people. Maybe you might not understand and you want to understand, so you try to capture it, you try to get their point. Yeah, I guess that's it.

Matt Jacob:

And we're living in a place that is full of culture and landscape, right? Was that something that drew you to Bali initially? I guess?

Kevin Mirc:

not mainly, I guess with most of the people here, they don't know how they ended up here, so it became one of the reasons that made me stay. I guess maybe not the reason that made me like come here in the first place, but then discovering the island, the culture, all the variety of landscape you can get here you can get within one hour. You have a luxuriant jungle and then you have a freezing volcano, then you have like black sand, beach, white sand, like you can get everything here and like it's all like compact kind of so and, yeah, culture definitely is one of the main thing that made me stay.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, I think Bali is is is a microcosm of Indonesia in general in terms of the diversity that you can get here. It has a predominant culture, but certainly the landscape is diverse. Like you said, within an hour's scooter ride, right.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah.

Matt Jacob:

You can get pretty much anything you want, apart from snow. Yeah, not yet.

Kevin Mirc:

Maybe it will come. Then you have Bali, but you have also so many different islands in Indonesia you can just fly one hour and then it can be similar, but completely different also, and different still, rich in culture, but different culture than here.

Matt Jacob:

Wondersky, tell me about that name. Why that name?

Kevin Mirc:

um, uh, it came from uh, two, two things. So wonder came from wanderlust, like spirit of adventure. When I started traveling, it was like 10 years ago now, and Sky came from In my dreams. I'm always flying. I ended up flying. I grew up with Dragon Ball Z. With what? Dragon Ball Z, dragon Ball Z, the anime.

Matt Jacob:

Oh, I didn't know that.

Kevin Mirc:

This guy, son Goku.

Matt Jacob:

Ah, okay.

Kevin Mirc:

So they are flying everywhere and like it's like a dream, like if I would have to pick one superpower, I would be like flying. So I just combined the two words Wonder Sky and then I put double Y because the other one was taken.

Matt Jacob:

And you named your dog Sky yeah.

Kevin Mirc:

And then I just uh switch sky wonder, that's uh your style.

Matt Jacob:

I mean, we're gonna get on to that in a minute. I'm interested to know how you cultivated that style and why it might be important. But let's rewind a little bit about your beginnings and kind of the point in your life where you felt photography was kind of your calling. I know travel was a big part of it, but tell us your introduction into photography, how that all became so photography, uh, it has been a huge part of my life in even before I.

Kevin Mirc:

I started like when I was younger, or like I was looking at a national geographic magazine or any travel magazine. I was always like in, oh, like, wow, like whoever took that picture is like master, and I always wanted to be that person that can do the same but never put like purpose or time to pursue this when I was living in france, and then, with traveling, this came more naturally, I guess. Traveling okay, pick up a camera and then just shoot whatever, even if first it was just shooting automatic, everything, yeah. And as a hobby it came with the travel. The travel brought the photography into my life, but as a hobby.

Kevin Mirc:

And then at the one point in my life was after the wedding of my best friend in Lebanon, but as a hobby. And then at one point in my life it was after the wedding of my best friend in Lebanon I basically spent all my money. I spent all my money and I was living in Australia at that time and doing any kind of work and it was fun, it was a great lifestyle, but not doing something fulfilling, not something I like, just for the sake of money. So on my way back there I was in the Philippines and kind of like backpacking but like hardcore because no money left. And then I was in the hotel room and I was thinking like what do I like to do? I like to take pictures, and maybe there's a way to make it like people would pay me for it and this was what year that was in 2018 or 19.

Kevin Mirc:

So that was in 2018 or 19. So then I was in the hotel room and I was on Facebook still using Facebook at that time.

Kevin Mirc:

And you have a lot of Facebook groups French in Sydney, french in anywhere so I just put a message on this group French in Sydney, french in anywhere. So I just put a message on this group French in Sydney, just with a few pictures I took and saying, okay, this is what I do, this is what I can do for you, and I didn't expect so many answers from people. That's awesome.

Kevin Mirc:

So that's how I got the first job there, and then I shifted slowly from all those jobs like construction, removalist everything, flyers in letterbox, anything Slowly shifting to more photography work. And then one year later I moved here and did the same.

Matt Jacob:

How has the we talked about travel? I resonate with that because I was a traveler before. I was a photographer. You just kind of came with the territory almost. How has travel itself impacted your view on life and your kind of outlook, on how you want to express yourself?

Kevin Mirc:

uh, I guess the main thing first is that I learned english, like in high school. We learn english in france, but I think the high school system there in the school system, is not the best for for languages. So I was really average, like below average, in english. And then I moved to australia and three months later I was already kind of fluent. Like, just like that, like all those years in school, you don't get anywhere, you just move abroad, you stick with english people for a few months and that's it. Then you dream in english and then you sold it. So, yeah, I guess, uh, travel impacted with, um, yeah, with english first, and then just like discovering and learning all those new culture, because you don't know about it unless you go and see for yourself.

Matt Jacob:

So, yeah, and you having a kind of mixed origins. Right, You're half Madagascan, half French. They speak French in Madagascar, right?

Kevin Mirc:

A lot speak French. Yeah, either good French or broken French, but still yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Tell me a little bit about Madagascar. I haven't been. I'd love to go Madagascar is. Tell me about how your roots there impact you, so my roots there.

Kevin Mirc:

They're coming from my mom and um. It's a beautiful and wild, huge Island. A lot to discover there. Uh, my parents actually now they live there like half a year pretty much, so I try to go every year and I was living there for one year when I was younger also, and there and also there is a french island one hour from there. It's part of france but it's not in france, it's called Mayotte, so I was living there for eight years. So I guess I had this kind of travel, uh lifestyle already like from ages ago does it influence?

Matt Jacob:

do you think your roots in Madagascar? Oh yeah, definitely influence. Yeah, yeah how?

Kevin Mirc:

because when I was younger I was, uh, living there and experiencing experiencing already like different, uh culture than when then western, and as I grew up then I guess I wanted to see more of it. Like madagascar was kind of like, um, something I knew already, so something else like asia, austral, and still need to go to South America. But, yeah, made me want to seek more of different culture everywhere.

Matt Jacob:

And did you have inspirations at that time, you know, when you started to travel and you started to kind of pick up a camera with traveling was? Were there people that you looked up to in that space and were kind of inspired by, or did you just kind of focus on your own thing, on your own style and creating that?

Kevin Mirc:

Uh, no, definitely there were some, some people, uh I think, yeah, on Instagram that I was looking looking up to, like mostly in the travel first, and then uh, more in the like culture, like I love what you do, for example, like amazing and um, maybe not only people, but also places, like there's like people based in some places and then like people based in iceland, or like in, uh, africa or australia that they made me like that's how I went to australia in the first place because of, um, people there and also because of a movie wolf creek all right, okay, interesting.

Matt Jacob:

Um, tell me a little bit, like as you're kind of creating your way in the photography world, especially with the aesthetics and style and we talked about uniqueness earlier like when you're trying to be, I guess, competitive, whether directly or indirectly, with other other photographers and you're trying to pitch for jobs, and it all becomes it starts to become quite overwhelming sometimes. How do you think that us, as photographers, are able to stand out from the crowd? You know there are more photographers than there have ever been before. How do we do that? How do we make ourselves unique? How do we make our work unique? We're using the same gear most of the time. We're using the same software most of the time. How do we? What's the secret recipe?

Kevin Mirc:

uh, it's definitely a um interesting era now, I guess, mostly post covid. Everyone just popped up from nowhere and people can take amazing picture now, even with the phone, you know, and but I use, stand out, I think. I think you need to stick to to your style, develop your style and, uh, stay true to it. Don't try to like because there's new people out there that doing something different and maybe you think you have to do something similar to to success. Don't try to like because there's new people out there that doing something different and maybe you think you have to do something similar to to success. I think you need to keep your own, your own style, your own recipe and improve it without trying to compete or to um, conform, I guess.

Matt Jacob:

How do we do that?

Kevin Mirc:

How do we do that? That's a good question.

Matt Jacob:

How did you create your style? I mean, your style is unique, it's not. I mean, I talk about this all the time. I think it's impossible to be original these days, but it's unique. You can still find your little unique box, right?

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Was that by accident or did you think? Okay, but this is what I want to create and this is going to be my style throughout.

Kevin Mirc:

I think it was a little bit by accident and I didn't notice it myself until people told me about it. Like, for example, I would sometimes get posted in one places because people share your stuff all the time Even sometimes they don't ask but and then people would send it to me and say, oh, I knew it was you, even before I checked the tag Right. And when you get that a few times first, I guess because of imposter syndrome thing, you don't think you're good enough or something, or you don't think you stand out. But when then a few people show it to you, then you start to believe it and to have more confidence. And so I don't know what is the secret thing in my style, but I try to stay consistent, I guess.

Matt Jacob:

Hi everyone. Just a really quick break in the podcast to tell you about something that's been a game changer for my own work. You know I'm all about creating content that's impactful and visually stunning, and a big part of that is thanks to Artlist. I use Artlist for all the dramatic cinematic music you see in the trailers and that brings all my other videos to life, and their massive library of high quality stock footage and sound effects is honestly a lifesaver. Whether you're a filmmaker, content creator or photographer, artlist has everything you need to take your projects to the next level.

Matt Jacob:

What I love most about Artlist, though, is how easy it makes finding the perfect asset. I'm super lazy, and their platform is super user-friendly, and the quality of their music and footage is just top-notch. It doesn't matter if you're working on a big project or just something small. Artlist certainly has the range and the quality to make your work really stand out. Plus, everything is royalty-free, so you can use it however you like without worrying about the legal stuff. And because I believe in sharing the good stuff, here's a little perk for you Use the link in the description to sign up for an annual plan and you'll get two extra months free. It's a great deal to keep your creative juices flowing even longer. All right, let's get back to the episode. I think I can tell you the secret but having spoken to many, many people in your position is practice. The more you do it, the more.

Kevin Mirc:

You kind of learn your own style, yeah that's true.

Matt Jacob:

There's a million different avenues you can go down, but you can only find those avenues if you actually walk down them. Right oh no, that doesn't work. Come back oh no, that doesn't work. I don't really like that. And then you end up finding what you like and what you're good at, and then what you can be recognized for, which I think is is super important. Something else that I really wanted to ask you about that I saw on some of your work is how you can have an impact with your photography, and you talked about sustainability and working with brands that don't promote, you know, negative impacts on the climate, environment, on animals, which I am in full support for. Can you elaborate a little bit more as to why and how? If that's been quite successful for you, does that limit the people that you can work with, or do you find that, you know, a lot of brands are open to that kind of philosophy?

Kevin Mirc:

find that, you know, a lot of brands are open to that kind of philosophy. Uh, yes, I think it limits a little bit, but uh, there's still brands out there that that will prioritize photographer like us that want to make an impact, but it's hard to find them like as in less and less so, or do you think that it's growing a little bit?

Kevin Mirc:

there's more um, I think it's growing, it's better, it's more than in the past. For sure, like before, you would never hear about those brands, and now there's more and more that recycling things to make new, to make new, um, uh, new products, like, uh, even like for sky, like this, this brand, uh, cali cali dog wear is all from recycled stuff. The that's, that's the main. Um, how do you say a module? Or or business model model? Yeah, yeah. So this kind of brand before I think it was really, really small. You would never eat about it, and now I guess we start to care more about the planet. Now I hope it's not just a trend and you know, I don't think it's even a trend yet.

Matt Jacob:

I mean, I wish it was. I don't think it's as trendy as a lot of other things, but you know, I wish more people would care, More people would. Certainly photographers I think a lot of artists think they're excluded from having to have any responsibility in that sense. But you know, we could certainly do more in the industry. I don't see many people doing work with brands that have that share the same philosophies and same brand values. What I see is a selfish nature in what people want to get with likes and follows and money. Right, and I get it. Because people most photographers, most filmmakers are self-employed. Right, they don't know when the next job's coming, so they need to pay the bills, et cetera, et cetera. But I think if we're able to showcase a culture or a landscape like you said, window to the world right, If we're able to do that, then I don't see why we shouldn't be showing a window to these more important, Like a voice for them.

Kevin Mirc:

Absolutely yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Uh, but the brands have to be responsible as well, that there aren't enough. If there aren't enough brands to be wanting to do that kind of work as well, having the budget, then what can we do?

Kevin Mirc:

right, we have to do our own personal stuff, stuff which we don't get paid for and then sometimes the brands they just pretend, they just just put this label, but then if you do some digging, then you realize that yeah, they don't it's just a quota and it's just for show, right? Yeah, it's just for status so it's hard also even for us when you start working with someone that how do you know if it's legit?

Matt Jacob:

you know are there any specific causes that you feel very strongly about that you want to do more work in?

Kevin Mirc:

I think here for the local issue, I guess it would be the plastic yeah like I would really want to, like maybe reach out to like some guy watch, or something and help them with any project they have. Um then in the past I was uh working helping uh rescue 2000.

Matt Jacob:

a rescue 2000 charity and non an ngo ngo.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah. So I put a little pause to that because I was doing it for like one year straight, every month, so I had a little break, but I think I'm ready to get back to it and help the island again. Any way to give back to this island is good.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, it gives so much, we just take, take, take all the time.

Kevin Mirc:

Especially now we see this over. Developing is like insane, oh my goodness it's.

Matt Jacob:

It seems to be getting worse daily and I don't want that to put people off from coming to bali, but I also do want to put people off from coming to bali. But you know that it's so. It's so, um, it's so focused on, you know, essentially the changu area, that it's so focused on, essentially the Canggu area, that it's insane. You go out on the road any day and it just seems to be more and more construction and more and more roadworks and more and more queues. But you go 20 minutes outside to the north or to the west, you're just in paradise right, it's so weird.

Matt Jacob:

But yeah, bali gives so much and I think it's so. I mean, even if it's a selfish endeavor to give back, because it is like we feel more fulfilled, feel like we have a purpose. If we just give something back, whether it's just helping a local family or rescuing 20 dogs or whatever, it might be right um, I think if we can find that type of purpose in our hearts, it can help just so much. But in the photography aspect, like I, I mean, I don't do enough either.

Matt Jacob:

I'd like like to do a lot more when it comes to photography, because it's so powerful yeah, and when we start to grow on social media and we have more eyes on our work, then I mean, I'm going to put this question to you with someone who's has over 50 000 followers on his instagram. Do you think there's a point where the responsibility now shifts like, okay, I've got a lot of people looking at my work. That means now I have an element of influence where I can essentially shape or affect people's opinions and awareness and education on matters that I believe in. Do you think?

Kevin Mirc:

that's fair to say for people. It shouldn't be mandatory for them, but they should have this purpose on their own, like if they have many people looking up to them and following them. It could be even kids. You don't like, uh, the, the future generation, so you, you don't want to. I mean, I think you have a purpose or like to show the good example yeah, it's almost like celebrities.

Matt Jacob:

Take a football player, right, you know that a lot of people are divided. You know, once you become a famous football player and you get paid millions, do you have a responsibility to be a good role model? You know, do you have a responsibility to behave well and show a good example to the younger generation. It's difficult. I understand kind of both sides. But in the footballers example, they got into football because they love football. Right, they didn't get into football, I mean 99.9% of the time. They didn't get into football to be famous. Yeah, probably a lot of them kind of like that side of it and the money of course, but they love the football, that side of it and the money of course, but they love the football.

Matt Jacob:

I don't think we can say that about photographers or filmmakers and social media. Like I don't. I think most photographers film, me included, use social media and put a lot of effort into growing on social media because they either want to be social media famous. They want that validation, that dopamine, like oh, people love me, right, get likes and follows. Or they want to make money, right, they want to get exposure from brands and things like that. So I don't think they're kind of the same, um.

Matt Jacob:

So therefore, I think that if you are going into the social media world with the purpose of getting likes and follows and people and an audience, then that intent is very, very different. You, your intention, is to get an audience. Therefore, once you get that audience, for me it should be integral that you have a purpose and a responsibility to to do something good, right to either. I mean, it's why education is good. Education inspiration kind of comes with the territory, hopefully once you get an audience, but like offer something back, like try, and you know, try and do something good with that audience that you've worked so hard to garner, right? I don't know what you think about that.

Matt Jacob:

If you agree with I, I agree, yeah, definitely have you felt that in your own, with your own work and with your own social following?

Kevin Mirc:

yeah, yeah, for sure. Like I try to stay and be genuine as possible, not to show someone I'm not. I try to stay and be genuine as possible, not to show someone I'm not. I try to say the same in my daily life, like on my social media. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming social media, for sure, but I agree that we have a purpose to educate and document and try to do the right thing. I guess.

Matt Jacob:

That's why I have an issue with influencers. I don't mind influencers, but influence for the right things.

Kevin Mirc:

When people call me an influencer, I'm like no, I'm not, I'm a photographer.

Matt Jacob:

It's different. People come here on influencer holidays, right where they just go to the, to the main spots around bali, just to get their you know the, the stupid influencer shot of behind looking up and but with a waterfall behind or something ridiculous like that. If they have that audience, use it for good. I'm not saying do everything for a good cause, but just like, if you have an audience, then like, do some good, like, do do something useful for it, don't just do the next thing, the next thing, just for more likes and more followers yeah yeah, yeah, um, anyway, I digress, I've gone to the social media topic again.

Matt Jacob:

Talk to me about business, of photography, because I'm, as someone who's who doesn't do photography full-time and kind of pursue that business side of working with brands and doing photography projects and stuff. Tell me a little bit about that world and how you balance the personal art with the commercial pressures.

Kevin Mirc:

Difficult, that's difficult, but I guess, like everything, everything you need the balance, like I found out. Like every time you ask yourself some question about uh, should I do more of this or less of that? It's all about the balance for everything. Everything in life is the balance. So for commercial and personal is the the same. Sometimes you get a lot of similar jobs that they don't fulfill you, like it's not something you enjoy doing, could be like anything like shooting couples or like I don't know, like some sometimes just basic real estate thing, like you don't feel you can add your creative touch. It can be, yeah, it can be a bit stressful because you feel a bit caged, yeah so, but then at the end of the day you have to eat. So, but, um, if you like, um, you love your craft and you love getting out there and you can find project that will align with you, with your values and with your art. It's hard to get, but it's possible. Or you can even do like a project with no money intent, just to be creative.

Matt Jacob:

Do you have any advice or strategies that can put you in a place where you try and have a steady stream of income or a steady stream of clients that you're working with, especially if you can be a little bit selective with those clients?

Kevin Mirc:

I guess for those, it's the one you have to seek those clients, because it's rare that those clients will come to you. You have to get out there and show your work and have a portfolio and send hundred thousand of emails which I'm really bad at it, but yeah, um, I guess the best way is to get out there and show your work. Uh, show you the work you're proud of, mostly like uh, your favorite project, your favorite pictures, favorite video anything?

Matt Jacob:

how do you be the competition, or do you not worry about that?

Kevin Mirc:

um, it's an interesting question, um, especially now with all the the new, the new competition. But I guess I was a bit uh the new competition, but I guess I was a bit uh, scared and um, feeling threatened by that before. But with time I understood that, uh, there's no really competition like um, I see it more like uh, I see it more as like we're all doing something we love and there's enough work for anyone. So, instead of comparing yourself with others and try to compete and try to beat them, maybe it's better, even if you help them.

Kevin Mirc:

I guess you, me, we have a lot of creative friends as well. If there's something, sometimes you try to get all the jobs, even if you it's not your expertise, you will try to do it. But sometimes it's better, maybe to give it to someone else, like, oh, maybe it's better fitted to do this job, or she's better, and then, uh, maybe even we can work on it together, you know, yeah, so so I try not to see too much the competition now, and then I feel better like that that's liberating, because if you think too much, then you will get in a spiral and it's not good that's really important for us to remember, and I think that there is enough work to go around.

Matt Jacob:

There's enough abundance in this life for people to take their piece of the pie on.

Kevin Mirc:

So even with so many photographers these days, it's um, it's still out there still there's still brands with budgets right and if it's not this one, then it's the next one.

Matt Jacob:

Exactly, it's fine yeah, say that to the guys. It doesn't have any money in his bank account. Tell me about your attitude to storytelling with images. It's a very difficult subject because it's not very clear cut. Everyone has their own way of doing it, and with still images it's even more difficult. Right, I want to focus on still images more than films, but how do you tell stories?

Kevin Mirc:

How do you tell stories? So for me personally, I try to show different point of view, different angles. That's why I like using different lenses, because you get a close-up, you get a wide angle, you get a drone shot. It's the same story but different angles. So I guess that gives a bit of perspective for the watcher, the one seeing the picture. And then I guess with Instagram, when you do carousel, it's easier to tell a story because you just slide and then you see from the same, even, like I don't know, I can get you portrait and then a close-up of you with the glass maybe of your notepad, and then they know pretty much what we're talking about. I guess that's what I do the most is showing different angles and different perspectives, and I guess the caption as well.

Kevin Mirc:

Like words, story like for culture, for example, story like uh for culture, for example, um ceremony. Then you want to tell people, not only show the picture but say what is it about? You know, like a Galwungan festival or anything like that coming soon. Yeah, I guess, uh, any tools you have to tell the story camera, uh, words, any tools you have to tell the story camera, words, voice, if you want to add voice, anything.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, yeah, a lot of it is technical, isn't it? Um, portrait is a little bit different because you can help with the person and if you, if you're into directing or posing, then you can help with the expression. But, yeah, I think I love your take on the different angles, um and how to, because I love doing environmental, like an environmental angle and a close-up as well, and that's why I like flying the drone. You know people don't think portraits and drone, but I think it's really important to provide context. Yeah, and that's where it's.

Matt Jacob:

It's a double-edged sword with you talk about carousels. I love showing series of images because for me, that tells a story. I think one image can't really tell a story. It's only like you can provide context, especially if it's an environmental shot. It can. You can get other things in the frame, right, but you can tell us a story. I think that gets thrown around way too much. But when it comes to series of images, like Instagram have screwed us again, because it's great that we have carousel option and that we're kind of forced into doing carousels no one really posts one image anymore, but that means we've got to take like five times as many photos and edit five times as many photos just for one post, right, but um, yeah, first of all, problem, I guess. How do you see, um, how do you see us moving forward in in photography world and what do you think the photograph, the future of a photographer, looks like over the next five to 10?

Kevin Mirc:

years. I guess we have to give a definition about photography because now it's evolving a lot with the AI. But it's like the question do you consider AI photography or is it just art? The AI photography or is it just art Like? For me, I guess it's more art for the AI because it takes away a bit the process of the to making a picture Like it takes away the thrill. So I think photography will still evolve and we'll still be there because we need photographs to show people in a thousand years how it was in our generation, people in thousand years, like it was in our generation. But I guess with the AI coming the future, I'm not sure, but I guess it needs to be a balance.

Kevin Mirc:

Again, like you can use AI for small things like removing something on the picture, removing people I think it's fine. But when you change completely the photograph for example, like me, I love the process on creating a picture there's a full story behind the picture. Usually people who scroll on social or go on your website see the picture say wow, nice picture. But they don't know the process Like, oh, I woke up at 5 am, 4 am for this shot, maybe one week in a row, because I didn't get the right condition, and then now people with AI will just go there in the middle of the day and put some stars or put a nice sunset, and it takes away the magic of it.

Matt Jacob:

I think that's important of getting BTS as well. Again, it's something else we have to think about and add, but that's the challenge, I guess, and I think that will help with kind of separating the good from the great photographers. A lot of people won't necessarily want to do that. It's a lot of extra work, but I think certainly the professionals are the people that have come up before. You know the real rise of instagram, the real rise of ai, then, I think, to stay at that level and to to show that they are real images and it's the real process, like you said. Um, important to get BTS, important to, I think, legislation to catch up with how we're going to authenticate real images. You know, even Instagram now you have this made with AI level is super weird. I don't. Yeah, I haven't.

Kevin Mirc:

Sometimes you don't know what's real or what's not. Yeah, Even like even videos, you don't know if it's the right face the real face of someone.

Matt Jacob:

if they put someone's face and then I'm more scared for people using like the way I'm talking now, and people you know could easily use these clips to just either use my voice or my face to just completely generate something artificial.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Which scares me. It's scary, yeah, like my mum getting these people, these old people, getting taken advantage of. I mean, I don't know if you've heard any stories like this, yeah, yeah, yeah, when their daughter or their son's voice has been cloned and then they get sent this message saying I need some money.

Kevin Mirc:

I need some money, yeah, yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Like how fucking scary and screwed up is that? And that's just the tip of the iceberg. So yeah, I mean photography is kind of a luxury, but you know, in the real world it's we've got to prepare ourselves. It's getting a bit out of hand. So yeah, we just stay in a little bubble. Stay in a little bubble.

Kevin Mirc:

It's in a little Bali bubble.

Matt Jacob:

Where do you think? Oh sorry, why do you think people follow you? Follow me, why should they follow you? Two questions Okay.

Kevin Mirc:

So why they follow me? I think they probably have a love for photography, I guess, and as I live in Bali, maybe they've either been here before or want to come here, and then maybe they're looking for inspiration about Bali in general or travel, or maybe it's their dream to travel also or to escape the office life. I don't know. Maybe that's one of the reasons If they love travel and photography. That's my main thing. My goal is to travel as much as possible, as long as I can, because it came late, I think, to my life. Then I realized that life is short. We have only one, but I don't know why. Before we don't realize it, it's like, oh, we need to work and make money, and then then you wake up and you're like, oh, all the past 30s. So, yeah, yeah, I think, if they they like genuine and so yeah, yeah, I think. If they like genuine photography, travel, culture that's my main thing. If they like dogs also.

Matt Jacob:

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Matt Jacob:

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Kevin Mirc:

I guess it's with what you said before, with practice, like practicing, evolving, like practicing. Maybe, when you get really good at what you're doing now, maybe then try something new. Sometimes we are a bit forced to like video, but I guess it's not a bad thing also to add something to your, to your, to your skills, to your skill set. So, yeah, try something new, get good at this and then again something new, but always something that you enjoy doing.

Matt Jacob:

don't do something because you feel forced to, but then it's always balance again yeah, yeah, I feel like that's part of the, you know, being able to enjoy the process right rather than it's sick. Do you think about success being an end goal for you, something that you want to achieve, or are you just more focused on the practice, the evolution, the journey?

Kevin Mirc:

uh, I guess it's always in the in the back of my mind like success. But it's like, uh, success is like maybe at the end or in the in the process, but when you fix one goal and then you reach it, and then you reach, uh, you fix a higher goal, yeah, yeah, always non-stop.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, what? What does the? If you think about success right now, what does that look like to you?

Kevin Mirc:

success right now I guess. I guess it would be more jobs, um be. More jobs, curated, I guess, is the word with what I enjoy, more doing like culture and travel, not really commercial, but more travel and culture oriented, a bit like National Geographic, I guess yeah, to give an example. So shift those, um, not only like projects but like, I guess, get uh, I don't know how to say that to like main projects in this field instead of commercial and things that sometimes you don't enjoy doing.

Matt Jacob:

Having that freedom of choice.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah.

Matt Jacob:

Let's start wrapping things up and I want to kind of end with a little bit of takeaways maybe we can give to the audience. I want to hear from you. I'm going to give you the chance to give me three tips and tricks that you've kind of learned over six, eight, 10 years travel, photography, business, social media, art, creativity, kind of all of that rolled into one. And speaking to those people that are wanting to do what you want to do right, People who you say should follow you or do follow you, what advice can you give to them that you've learned along your journey?

Kevin Mirc:

I guess one advice I get a lot from people that they want to do this but they don't do it. They don't start Like they're scared, they're like, oh, you're so lucky, oh I wish I could do this. And then I'm like, but start Even something small. Like if it's photography you want to do, then get even an entry camera is enough to start and practice, and then maybe later you get something else. But these days it's enough to start and just practice. So I guess that's one tip. It's kind of like I guess it's taken a given. This tip people need to hear it more like they just need to start somewhere even small.

Kevin Mirc:

Then another tip is yeah, because people are asking about how do you edit this, how do you do that? But I guess the best is practice. Yeah, practice. Guess the best is to practice. Yeah, practice is the best, yeah. And third tip I'm not sure.

Matt Jacob:

That's enough.

Kevin Mirc:

I can ask you the last one.

Matt Jacob:

Third tip would be I think it's easier said than done, but being true to yourself. I think it's more important to know who you are than it is to go and create amazing work. I don't think they're mutually exclusive. I think, to create a body of work that you're proud of or to you know, look back at some images or films or whatever type of art or creativity you're into and be proud of that. I think you can only do that when you truly know yourself and are able to you know, know. Therefore, be true to yourself in terms of what voice or what style or what you're trying to do with, with everything that comes across in work and communication, and certainly with brands, clients, your audience. So I think that would be. I'd certainly agree with your first two. I think you know, just start it's. You know so many people, um, and it's it's more accessible than ever right now, like you have a phone, you can start if you got well, you've got.

Matt Jacob:

social media is free, you know, so you can go on there, garner some inspiration, start posting, send to your friends and family and just just just go out and just shoot. Learn YouTube's free, learn the basics there's so many free resources these days, um, so, yeah, I definitely agree with that. And then practice. I think people used to say that to me and like nah, nah, I got it. No, you practice, whether it's edits or the most common. I've just built an online course around this question. Most people ask me or they stopped asking me now because I think they know me better but what camera did you use, what lens do you use or what settings did you use for that shot? Right, yeah, no you're asking the wrong.

Matt Jacob:

you're asking the wrong question. You're asking the wrong question. Um, practice and um, just go and figure out what does work, okay? Um, it's not the, it's not the gear and it's not not most of the time, it's not the setting.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah, I wanted to say something about that, about this not only the gear is like so many factors that will affect one shot, or like the I guess ability or capacity of one photographer to take advantage of of the gear. Like it's not only the gear, but, like I was always thinking, like even just the breathing. Like if someone has more steady hand than someone, then they can take more advantage of a slower shutter speed and get more light than someone else, for example.

Kevin Mirc:

Yep, just like, oh, maybe if you work on your breathing, or, uh, if you have, yeah, more steady hand, or that's a great tip like someone, because when you shoot in low light, okay, you can use maybe the flash or something, but some people maybe don't like to use the flash and someone with a more steady end could shoot more in the blue hour than someone else. I don't know like so many factors.

Matt Jacob:

Yeah, I drink too much coffee to shoot. Blue hour, no, but you're totally right, because people rely on image stabilization. They buy the most expensive camera and they go, it's got, you know, image stabilization. I'll be fine, but it's, you know, it's, it's kind of defeats the the point, the point being, if you're mindful and thoughtful enough and you're able to, to be in that moment and be relaxed and people don't talk about breathing enough, but it's so important, especially if you're shooting maybe wildlife, or you're shooting people, right. Landscape is a little bit different, shooting on tripod, but even then, like just to be able to breathe, be in the moment, make sure you get it capturing the right moment, all these little things. That's so much more important than the gear. It's not the gear that makes the photographer right, it's the photographer that makes the gear.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah, sometimes people tell you, oh, your camera takes good pictures.

Matt Jacob:

And I'm a guy that loves buying good equipment. Oh, yeah, me too, but that's not the same point, it's just a bonus. Yeah, it's a bonus, exactly Like if you know, you've got to know how to use that equipment and get the best out of it. And yeah, obviously the better camera with the better sensor and the better lens is going to get you a better quality image, but you've got to know how to get that image in the first place to then get the best out of that quality right.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah, it's like, for example, in paddle you buy the best racket doesn't mean you're going to be a great player.

Matt Jacob:

It's analogous to anything like that, right? Anyway, speaking of paddle, we've got to get you off to your paddle tournament. Thank you so much for joining me today.

Kevin Mirc:

Thank you for having me. It was great, great conversation.

Matt Jacob:

Really enjoyable and I know it's a bit of a Thank you for having me. It was great, great conversation, really enjoyable, and I know you come here a few times before for coffee, so make sure you keep coming back.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah, of course I will.

Matt Jacob:

Hopefully I'll see you again.

Kevin Mirc:

Yeah, thanks so much, you will.

Matt Jacob:

Cheers.

Kevin Mirc:

Thank you.

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