92101 ROOFTOPS COLLABORATION VOLUME 1

WRITTEN BY MIKE CIAMPA:

92101 Rooftops has become one of the most anticipated Art Shows in San Diego this year. This incredible project was born out of a collaboration of two long time friends; Justin Lee of Justin Lee Photography and Mike Ciampa of 92101 Urban Living. Each individual is professionally accomplished within the industries they represent. Together in collaboration, each individual would bring their unique set of talents and experience to create a perfect combination of art and business/promotions. Professional photographer Justin Lee had just recently moved his home and successful Photography studio to the Gaslamp District in Downtown, while Mike while has been embedded in the developing Downtown community for over 9 years as a successful real estate broker. Justin would provide the artistic talent and eye for a unique perspective, and Mike would "open the door" by getting Justin in the right place to connect with the Cityscape. Without the equal contributions of both professionals, the 92101 Rooftops project would certainly not be a diverse in scope or unique in perspective. This first installment of the collaboration blogs will go into more description of the artist and photographer....Justin Lee.

If you spend 5 minutes with Justin, it is easy to pick up on his charismatic charm and his eye for photographic art. The 92101 Rooftops project was an opportunity for Justin to capture a unique urban perspective that had never really been represented with the Downtown San Diego Cityscape. Justin has recognized that many iconic Skyline shots of other cityscapes appear to be too polished...and, as a result they are often unapproachable for the observer. In his presentation of a more "contemporary or current" urban perspective, Justin wanted to put a twist on the images in order to make them approachable from the viewer. Image, color, and a unique framing of the photographs would provide the style, while including the "experience" of the shot would allow approachability. Justin's intention of providing a location and time stamp is done in an effort to personalize the experience for the viewer. Additionally, including the location in which the photo was taken suggests to the viewer...They too can experience what the artist saw thru his camera. In this sense, the photographs are no longer static, but alive in the viewers perspective. "The original nature of trying to emphasize "the experience" results in the images evoking an emotion...or, quite simply "the story" of the photograph." (Taken from the 92101 Rooftops Article in the Downtown News). As a means of creating this emotion, Justin uses aspects of the environment all around him. These influences are turned into the focus and feeling of the photographs, and can consist of light, shape, cloud cover, perspective, etc. This aspect of photography that Justin utilizes helps make his "candid" wedding shots come alive. The same is true of the cityscapes in the 92101 Rooftop project, as the skylines are "in movement" and alive with activity.