InstaFocus is a weekly Q+A curated by @astrodub.
This week on InstaFocus we feature a Q+A with street art and graffiti photographer Luna Park (@luna_park_nyc) from New York. She has been documenting the local urban art scene, as well as major international hubs for many years and is one of the most known photographers among the genre.
So, of course the question everyone wants answered is what took Luna Park so long to get on Instagram?
Ha, I only just recently replaced a 2.5 year old phone with a fancy, newfangled smartphone capable of running Instagram!
Cropping an image to fit the app’s square format. Blessing or a curse?
I like to think of it as a challenge. Not everything can be easily squeezed into a square, so it’s been fun trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. It’s good to get out of one’s comfort zone and mix things up!
A common question that our audience has about other Instagrammers is if they are pros or hobbyists. Tell us a bit about how you got into photography.
I am a passionate, hobby photographer. After a long period of inactivity, I fell in love with photography all over again around 2005, when I discovered street art. Seeing all of this amazing, ephemeral art all over the city really inspired me and all of a sudden, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the house without a camera.
What cameras and apps do you use to edit your photos?
I normally shoot with a Canon 7D, but so far, I’m mostly only using the camera on my Android phone for Instagram. I like the Pixlr-o-matic app for editing. And I just downloaded the FxCamera app to mess around with the symmetry functions.
You have been documenting the local and foreign Urban art scene for many years, as well as run a very thorough blog about it – thestreetspot.com. What other subjects do you like to photograph?
I like handpainted signs, shadows and stripes, rust and decay, trains… and cats.
What inspires you to share your photos with your followers on Instagram?
It’s fun to be on a new-to-me platform on which I can share my enthusiasm for urban art. For those that already know my work, I’m excited for the opportunity to offer a new take on old favorites. And for new followers, I promise a daily dose of colorful, creative, artistic mayhem.
Finally, I know this is all new to you, but tell us whose IG feed tickles your fancy. Any favorites yet?
I’m happy to finally see what my friend and überInstagrammer @samhorine is getting up to. And @discobryso is pretty thorough in his coverage of graffiti.
Big thanks to Luna Park for taking the time to answer our questions.
