This episode of “IN HYPE WE TRUST” goes in depth with justalilhype!’s Photography Director. Nico describes photography as a form of art for displaying and portraying memories. Furthermore, he talks about his inspirations on photography, what he believes and his views on HYPE.

Please describe yourself

My name is Nico Mak. I love photography but I would not say I really like it completely. However it’s something I cannot stop doing; some people might see me as picky because I am for perfection in my art. I have grown up half my life in Hong Kong and half in Vancouver so it’s hard to say where I grew up from. I am opened minded and sociable.

I see photography as an art that tells a story of different individuals. That’s why I don’t like studio work but that’s where the standard lies. I don’t like the studio because I like to go  out. I like to go where real life is. Nevertheless, the studio is one of the pathways a photographer needs to go through and eventually, I would have to experience and learn the techniques used in studios.

I especially enjoy the art, design, and fashion that are focused on in London and Paris.

Overall, I appreciate different artists all around the world. I like to observe my surroundings and watch films. People say a picture represent a thousand words, I say a picture represents a thousand memories.

Describe your style of photography

My style of photography is very cinematic.

Some photos look very good at first. People would say “WOW” when they see them. But after further reflection, the photos don’t really tell them a story. I would have to say cinematic because…I care a lot about framing and composition; it’s all like watching a film. Some say my pictures are as if they were taken from a movie, a cut from the frame. The color effect I use for my photos is very raw, like vintage films, to capture the essence of emotions of loneliness and love.

As being part of the staff team of justalilhype! what makes you an important contributor to the crew?

As one of the admins for justalilhype! we are the front line soldiers. Without any one of us, we won’t succeed or make up the essentials of the team. It’s like a tripod: without any one of us, the camera will fall. Specifically, my position and role is directed towards art, in photography.

Where do you see yourself and justalilhype! In a few years?

For myself, I hope eventually I would become a cinematographer because of my passion in film. This will definitely be in the future when I have felt that I have mastered or have learned enough with photography. I believe good cinematography comes from good photography.

In a few years, I want a lot of people to know about justalilhype. It’s going to be a legacy…I want to make it a legend, make it part of history. It can be part of history because we record events and people. We allow people to see how things evolve and change over time in the state it is to mankind.

Through justalilhype!, teenagers could imply one of our crew’s style of work as “don’t think, just do it”, especially as we are just at the starting stages. Right now we are doing everything that follows our instincts and our belief.

Why should people read justalilhype!?

We are different. We capture moments that are around us every day. From reading about us, people can relate to what other individuals in our city are trying to fight for in terms of their dreams and their careers.

People can definitely reflect and recognize each other while reading our magazine. It’s also good to know local people are chasing their dreams in various ways. justalilhype! tells people’s story behind their ambition and goals.

What inspires you? Are there any people that you look up to?

In terms of people that inspire me, I would have to say Christopher Doyle and Wong Kar Wai.

Doyle is a cinematographer and Wong is a producer. The films I love the most from them is “In the Mood for Love” and “2046″ and “Days of Being Wild”.

These two individuals influence my art work.  I really like pictures that tells a story; photos of cinematic moments. I really enjoy their work because their films incorporate pictures of important cinematic moments. Doyle is very good with angles, colors, and settings. He is able to capture the mood of “loneliness” very well.  Wong’s film is very enjoyable because of the love stories. Everything behind the stories is something I can very well relate to in my life. They are both experts in their relationship with the mood of “love” & “loneliness”.

What is HYPE to you and why “justalilhype!”?

HYPE is badass. HYPE is do whatever the f*** you want. Be yourself; life is short so don’t even worry or care what people say about you. HYPE is also a very teenage moment. As teens, it’s important to live for your dreams. I see HYPE and dreams related and I am also a dreamer. If I like something, I would like to do the best of it.

justalilhype! because since Vancouver is so small, nothing big ever happens here. But it’s also constantly changing positively. We can see major brands and names migrating to our city. The market is definitely here. People see Vancouver as a good possibility for exposure. I think the name isn’t saying how Vancouver has no hype. It’s saying that people outside think we have no hype but in fact, everything that happens within us is full of hype, people all of their own bold dreams and goals.