We call it the #ICMEETSERIES and thought it would be interesting to find out a bit more about the people behind the disposables. We asked a few IC contributors to tell us a bit about themselves and this is what we got in return…

IC MEET SERIES – Q+A with…

Abbey Barnett
INSTAGRAM

Who are you?
My name is Abbey Barnett, I am a free-spirited, independent 21-year-old driven by new experiences and all of the human connections I make along the way. I am a black sheep, and sometimes a very lost sheep, but I am loyal to my herd. Constantly motivated by the need to create and inspire, I surround myself with those whose creativity inspires me. I am at home in the woods, and I spend hours getting lost in them. I am also a freestyle rapper, and I perform sporadically with local Long Beach bands.

Where’s home?
I moved to Long Beach, California in January of 2014 from a small town in Georgia. I have not yet hit the two-year mark, but I know for certain that I have found my tribe, so I have made my home here among the inspiring creatives of Southern California.

What do you do for a crust? (How do you make money/where do you work)?
I work in the restaurant industry as a fine-dining server/bartender four to five days a week. Currently, I am working at a restaurant in downtown Long Beach serving the wealthy with a smile :).

Can you tell us about your creative background?
As a child, my absolute favorite thing to do was to play outside and kind of create my own playground with the nature that surrounded me. I would spend all day outside in the woods behind my house, only returning when it got too dark to see. I pull a lot of ideas from the structure of nature and my long-term connection to it.

Best advice you’ve ever been given?
This was not given to me as advice but more of an outside observation, but it really stuck with me. An admirer once told me that I only take photos of what I truly love.

What do you do with your free time?
On my days off from the restaurant, I usually scroll through my favorite hiking website, find a new trail and take off! I bring a few disposable cameras with me and spend hours in the mountains or coastal areas exploring new and beautiful landscapes. I also frequent live music events whenever my friends are playing the local bars and venues of Long Beach.

Tips for making your ideas and dreams come to life…
Go out into your city and explore! Get into a different physical space, so you can get out of your own headspace! Don’t compare yourself to others, just keep working towards your goals whatever they may be!

What inspires you to shoot film?
I would say, above all, the noise and the warmth lying beneath the layer of reality that we see with our eyes is what inspires me to shoot film. I want to expose more than what I can see in front of me and encapsulate that in a special way.

How did you come to connect with Indisposable Concept?
I found the Indisposable Concept instagram page while looking through other disposable camera galleries about six months ago.

How did you find the experience of using the disposable camera? Enjoyable or painful?
The experience of using a disposable has always been enjoyable for me. I love taking my disposable with me whenever I go out, especially when I attend parties or shows where all of my favorite musicians flock to. I always make sure to slip a camera in the back pocket of my jeans before leaving my apartment! When the moment is right, I slowly move my finger into my pocket to charge the flash, secretly wind the film, swiftly pull the camera to my eye, and take the shot before the moment is lost forever.

How did it make you feel not being able to see the photos as they were taken and not being able to edit or know what the photos turned out like?
Honestly, after I take certain shots I will daydream about them until they are developed. I close my eyes and picture the hues, the position of the sun or the expression of the subject, and I get giddy with excitement!

Analogue Vs Digital?
I prefer Analogue because it captures exactly what I see in the moment. There are no do-overs, so I only get one chance, one click. I am in love with the feeling that gives me.

It seems film photography and disposables are making a comeback, why do you think that is?
These days, digital photography is available to almost everyone. Anyone that has a smartphone can press a button and take a clear 8-megapixel image of what they see. I think film photography feels a lot more special for those who want to experiment with their images. Not everyone can pick up a film camera and do a great job capturing one specific moment in time through a small fixed-focus lens.

If someone destroyed all the disposable cameras in the world and you had the very last one, what would you capture?
I would capture images of my friends and the shared moments of love during this young enthralling era of my life.

How has 2016 treated you?
2016 has treated me well, truly carving a path for my creative soul to run freely. I have gained confidence and acceptance by setting a slow and steady pace of improvement within myself. I had my first photo show, and I have two more coming up next month. Oh yeah, and I met a girl at the beginning of this year. I fell in love, and I am inspired by her every day.

What does 2017 hold for you?
2017 holds many possibilities, I want to keep producing and showing my work in my community. I have set a goal to release a mixtape by next spring and to continue improving as a rap artist. I plan on traveling internationally and exploring more of northern California. Overall, next year is going to be a continuation of growth and exploration.

How would you describe your photographic style?
Stylistically speaking, I would say I take a lot of candid photos. I like to capture intimate moments and those raw glimpses of exhilaration.

Who or what influences you creatively?
I am influenced by the creative output of my peers, the collaborations that conspire between us, vast landscapes by the sea, the tall mountains of my dreams, the circle of open-minded friends that surround me, and their love that is eternally returned, back to me.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find my inspiration in the melody of my favorite songs, the artistry of nature, my partner’s creative vision, and the prolific music/art community of Long Beach!

What’s the biggest issue facing the world right now?
I believe the biggest issue facing the world right now is the lack of communication between the communities that belong to different nations, cultures, government systems and religions.

Worry less about….? Focus more on….?
Worry less about what others have accomplished, and focus more on your vision and what you can accomplish with the tools you have.

Fave place to shoot?
I love shooting at house shows or any kind of local music show or event in Long Beach.

5 at 5… (For lack of a better name)

5 Instagram accounts that inspire you?
1. @catchgriefwithme
2. @the_days_in_between
3. @ceethreedom
4. @coroebus
5. @createdbylimms

5 things we need to watch on Netflix?
1. The Artist is Present
2. The Burbs
3. BoJack Horseman
4. Lost
5. Black Mirror

5 blogs/websites we need to follow?
1. indieshuffle.com
2. birp.fm
3. hikespeak.com
4. yourintimatenoise.com
5. postsecret.com

5 favourite places to eat/drink?
1. Dean’s Thai Curry Pizza
2. Louis Burger
3. El Sauz
4. Que Sera
5. Hole Mole

5 places on planet earth you’d like to capture with your disposable?
1. Amazon Rainforest
2. Ethiopia
3. Rural Japan
4. Yosemite National Park
5. Zion National Park