Crush Reviews - Norwayseries

Yet again PageCrush has had the fine opportunity to interview another PageCrush fan and Featured Hot Crush, 5ive of the NorwaySeries project. 5ive is your prime example of somebody with the deep passion for design and photography and does it with perfection. 5ive resides in Paris and amongst his busy schedule, he finds time to divulge in his love for art and design. As a freelance designer and gifted photographer, his interests have lead him to an array of travels where he has captured some of his best photo works yet. PageCrush is proud to have the fine opportunity of asking 5ive for a bit of his time in sharing his passions and work. NorwaySeries is now labeled within PageCrush as a featured Hot Crush and we're excited to represent 5ive's work.
With this said, we’d like to grant you the time into 5ive's world as we had a few questions in regards to the NorwaySeries project.

 

Q. Where are you located?
Paris, France.

 

Q. Are you considered a company or freelance? And what is your purpose of the work you do?
I am a freelancer. I do flash illustrations as I work for online advertising agencies, or other kind of clients creating websites and identity, so it's often an art direction way. An example is…http://norwayseries.online.fr/total/total.html (Note: load time varies)

 

 

Q. It seems your highlight project is NorwaySeries, what is the purpose of this project?
In fact NorwaySeries was not a real project, that was not the thought originally. Not minded like that before the 1st series online. I wanted to just use my new camera, and try to improve techniques in photography. The subject was simple to choose. I got my camera just a few days before Christmas and we travelled for the holidays to Norway with my lil family (my girlfriend/"wife" comes from Norway). So I shoot much, and when I came back to Paris, I enjoyed my shoots. Some friends of mine too, and they "pushed" me to prepare something with the shots. I was shy and don't often want to show my "business", maybe the fear to not be on top. It's like a mix of requiring fastidious.

PageCrush says, the theory is keep doing what you're good at!

 

Q. How many series do you plan on creating for this project?
Now I don't know. Norwayseries for me is a personal project which follows after me for a long time I think... I want to improve my techniques, and I have to do it... I don't consider myself to be a real photographer. Too much respect for them. I'm more like a "photographiste" as I like to say in french. It's a mix of photography & graphic designer...I go to Norway one or two times a year. So I shoot often.
I have to finish the 3rd series, which is almost finished (I call it : The summer act) and I have a 4th to prepare too (Fredrikstad area is one more). But I project to make more down the road. I hope to move when money and time will be available to the west coast. This part of Norway is so amazing. (Bergen, Stavanger...) and a dream. Taking in the northern lights.

 

Q. When did you start working as a designer or photographer and what jump started your passion for this?
Well, I did a strange education cursus. I was always attracted with art. (Art with its many facets such as music, design, drawing), I loved to draw, on school tables and my personal booklet. But my cursus was not really arty. I learned and followed the course of accountancy, trade and services and marketing. I hesitated to follow an artistic education, but my parents were not really encouraging for this kind of study so I did marketing/trade studies. Worked a bit in this environment instead, but that was not me! It was so boring. So I decided to take time off, to teach myself and discovered the Internet, Photoshop, viewing tutorials and trying to understand basic techniques. I made cd covers for friends as well as flyers, posters and websites. I learned like that and I searched for a job. But that was not easy, because in France it's tough to get your artistique diploma. (now it's a bit better) but usually french companies don't trust and have confidence in people without it.

But I was lucky, one person trusted in me. He was the art director of a famous french internet company : allocine.com (it's like a imdb.com, but with a lot of interesting services, like "times" of film shows? (schedules))...so I learned my basics at this company. For 4 years...after this I decided to leave the company and try the freelance experience.

 

Q. What is your biggest project(s) to date in addition to Norway Series?
For personal projects, not much. But I like to take part sometimes in the "global" friends project. Like Luvgalz project, it's a Stenkat's project who is a friend of mine. www.luvgalz.com. I also take part in an exhibition, I made "Sweety Rascal" a stylish girl in the pure luvgalz way (oh it's my personal vision)
The evergreen project (photographs/graphic design project) (http://evergreen.colorease.net) I'm also involved in another exhibit with good friends, the Tema was rock'n'roll. Other than this I remain, busy with my work, my daughter and I practice drums in a band. The days and week end are not enough. I need often 72 hours a day.

 

Q. What is evergreen.colorease.net?
Evergreen, is a fresh project proposed by Ease. (A friend, and a great graphic designer) to celebrate summer and the color of green, a photographic project where photographers and graphic designers could take part, not a purist photographers project but just a cool project with friends (Bastardgraphics, Melkaone, Ease, Twixtop)

The series is just 10 creators. The website was made by Melkaone proposing 10 "photos." Works will be the best word.
So Evergreen is a website, friends, an exhibition, party, beers (green beers of course... how is possible? (green M&M's) That's Evergreen. (I forgot to mention, Melkaone coded the website and ease made the art direction)

 

Q. What gives you the greatest inspirations towards the designs you work on?
Travel / Music / Internet … But "all" is full of inspiration... I have just to be aware of my surroundings.

 

Q. How often do you really get to travel and how is traveling in itself an inspiration for your designs and production?
I used to travel at least 2 times a year... and often going to... Norway. That's helped me to be inspired. I like to travel, and meet people, share a beer or two.
Another place where I like to go is Biarritz, Anglet (South west of France, "Basque Land") , The ocean is a great inspiration and invigorates with its big curls and waves.

 

Q. What is your biggest achievements that you are proud to make mentions of?
Hmmm, "Proud" for me is a big feeling, so I don't know really if I am proud or very happy. Usually I only show my work I'm really happy with... If I was not happy, I would not show it. So maybe I'm proud every time ? :))

But if I were to indicate a work I've done more than other, I think that would be "Sweety Rascal". Cause I loved to work on it and that was a cool project.
Oh in fact I when I think of other work...

You know a fan is usually proud to get some stuff from an artist which they love so much. I'm a great fan of FISHBONE, a fishbone soldier.
Recently I had the chance or I should say luck to get an accreditation to make a photo shoot, during a live show in the Parisian venue... over 60 pictures. It was a great moment, and apparently, the manager and the band decided to used some photos for the new CD, a US Release called "Still Stuck in Your Throat" released on April 24th, 2007. I'm still waiting for the release, but what a honor for me. So yes, I'm proud about that if they did that!! lol
http://www.5ive.biz/FISHBONE

 

Support FISHBONE, and run to buy the new release, great sounds and great photos, LOL.

Free plug?! :) J/K

 

Q. What do you hope to achieve in the long run with your work?
Celebrity and money, LOL. No, it's a passion. So I'm happy to do that in my daily life. I just want to improve myself in graphic design techniques, skill levels and photography too. As well as meet and work with other artists. I'd like to get some interesting professional projects... this is a passion I would like to keep. I always enjoy what I do and if people appreciate my works... jackpot !! :)

 

Q. What are your toughest challenges?
To start working in the web industry. That was difficult because I was to show to everyone that I had capabilities... without diplomas and it's a bit still like that.

 

Q. How do you think digital multimedia will be in the future?
I have some difficulties to project this in the future... When I was a kid I thought and was pretty sure there would be flying cars (you know like in Star Wars) for 2000... :)

What a disappointment!! No flying cars yet! Of course the advertising industry will evolve...and the industry will grow more and more, with new kinds of jobs and new opportunities. We will see.

 

Q. Any advice you'd like to leave inspired artists and designers with?
Just, trust in yourself, If you have a dream, do it! Do it with passion and doors should open. For newbies, just watch great artists work and ask yourself, how they do 'em, what they use for their techniques. Try to educate your eyes, your eyes are a tool. Just follow your inspiration, feel your heartbeat and do it!

 

Q. Do you have any closing comments?
Just some dedications to friends with which I evolved and learned with… Bastardgraphics, Ease, Melka, Fredo, Joël, Stenkat, May, Monsieur Deez, Judith. And to some great people, Ursula Rucker, Angelo Moore, Jeremy (Fishbone's Manager), TKSH****, Lysergid, Elroy, Bao, Cheeky, Carole Guevin (Netdiver) and many more :)

Thank you Tim & Melissa for your support.
Long life to PageCrush!
One Love
++
5ive

 

It was a wonderful pleasure to talk with you. You've shared inspiration and success in what you do. Other designers should look up to these talents and be inspired to help them do what they do best. You are truly an inspiration. Keep up the fantastic work 5ive! PageCrush thanks you for your time and dedication.

For more of 5ive's work, please visit: www.norwayseries.com and www.5ive.biz