Let me introduce my good friend and extremely brilliant photographer, Phillip Baker! They’re a twenty-two year old free-lance photographer with extensive experience in the field. They’ve been shooting since they were strong enough to push down the capture button on a camera.

Follow their instragam, @warmstreetlights, and their twitter, @nikontherapist

Short Vine: What motivates you to shoot, how do you know what’s worth shooting?

PB: I like slightly ugly aesthetics, I’m constantly motivated by things like fog, rain, and dark lights. I try to do what everyone else ignores, everything in my opinion is worth shooting but that doesn’t make the shot good.

Short Vine: Do you actively seek out adverse or abrasive subjects as well? Are there locations you keep in your head for potential spots to shoot during those environmental conditions?

PB: Yeah city life is something I’m trying to incorporate more going forward because I value the rawness of it all. Sometimes I keep photos of interesting spots to go back to but most of the time I just wonder when the conditions are right and just shoot whatever evokes the feelings I’m going for.

Short Vine: Do you use film or are you digital only?

PB: Digital only rn, I wanna get into film but I’m poor so I mostly just do dslr shots.

Short Vine: You’ve been shooting for a long while, what pushes you to continue shooting? I know a lot of people have been burnt out on art – myself included – due to the pandemic, how do you keep moving?

PB: New places, new people, new ideas. I find myself wandering around a lot nowadays, always being in a fresh spot helps keep the flood flowing as well as the idea faucet. Always wanting a different perspective on something will always keep me coming back to a certain spot, whether it be lighting or something else all together.

Short Vine: You are quite active on social media, have you ever submitted your work into a publication? If so, how has that gone in the past? If not, have you thought about it prior?

PB: No, I have not. I had the chance to in High School but never really went through with it but honestly I’d rather do all the heavy lifting myself. Publications kinda scare me.

Short Vine: What are some tips you’d give to someone just starting out or trying to build their confidence up to share their work?

PB: Posting a lot definitely helps you get over the fear of releasing work out in the open, that’s always been my moves anyway.

Short Vine: Anything you’d like to tell the audience reading this interview? Anything as an artist you wished you heard sooner or any cornels of knowledge you’ve accrued?

PB: I wish someone would have told me sooner to try different angles, it’s really easy to get stuck in the same positions but really worth while once you begin to switch things up.