♦ Art Appreciation Monday ♦

Hello, and welcome to another Art Appreciation Monday! 

Last week I was honoured to spotlight musician and singer Phildel, and so...while you've been enjoying her music all week, I hope you will still be listening to her music as you read and enjoy this week's Art Appreciation Monday! 

This week we have artist who is (for a change) a little closer to home. This week, I'm proud to spotlight an amazing photographer, Logan Houchens!

This is probably one of my favourite pictures that Logan Houchens has captured. Not just because it has a glimpse of Italy's endless beauty, it is also because of the adorable little Volkswagen Beetle, I love old cars and this picture just wouldn't be as awesome if that little car wasn't in there. 

Ariana: What's your name?
Logan: Logan Houchens

Ariana: Are you human/boy/girl?
Logan: I am a guy, and also a human.

Ariana: What Country/Planet/State are you from?
Logan: I was born in Indiana but I have lived in Kentucky for most of my life.

Ariana: Do you have brothers/sisters/only child?
Logan: I have four siblings. My brother is the oldest, followed by two sisters, myself, and then another sister younger than me.

Ariana: Do you have any pets?
Logan: Yes, our family has many pets but my animals are most definitely my two dogs. Beau is an old Border Collie and my new puppy is Simba who is a Border Collie, German Shepherd mix.

Ariana: What is your favourite colour?
Logan: Hm, I would have to say its a tie between green and blue.

Ariana: Favourite movie?
Logan: Oh boy, this is a three way tie, my favorite movies all tied for first are... Into the Wild, Fight Club, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. All of them are great movies with something to learn built within them.

Ariana: Favourite song?
Logan: I like a ton of different music so again I will have to build a tie between songs of different sections. Julie-O by Mark Summer, Free Falling (John Mayer's cover), and Ben Rector's And Then You Love Someone or his song Making Money. I know that's a lot, (oops!) but they are all lovely songs, so go check them out.
Ariana: Favourite book?
Logan: All of the book versions of my favorite movies, and also a political thriller called American Assassin by Vince Flynn.

Ariana: Currently reading?
Logan: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, also Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Ariana: Guilty pleasures?
Logan: You know, I don't know if I do have any guilty pleasures. I guess I watch too much Netflix.

Ariana: Birthday?
Logan: May 29

This photo not only captures the end of a beautiful day with all its radiance intact, the bright pinks and light blues are like a farewell gesture. The bird flying towards its nest for the night symbolizes the urge for all of us to turn homeward at dusk. I'm utterly fascinated by the colours in this picture and the softness of the pinks! ♥

Ariana: What inspires you most to take pictures?
Logan: I think I really am always inspired. I have always wanted to look at the world from a different perspective and appreciate every little thing I observe. But if I had to pick something that inspires me to go out and take pictures over my regular amount it would be when I listen to music. Music puts me into a mindset to just simply think (or not think I don't know). It puts me into a state of calm and my photography flourishes from that.

Ariana: How do you cope with lack of inspiration?
Logan: Like I said, I think I am always pretty well inspired, but if I am in the rare case of not being inspired being around close friends that just make me laugh truly inspires me.

Ariana: Talking about munchies... do you have a favourite food/drink?
Logan: I have always been a meat and potatoes lad so lets just say steak and mashed potatoes.

Ariana: Do you have a favourite thing to photograph, landscape, portrait, etc?
Logan: I must say I do not have a favorite thing in particular. I love to photograph people that actually know what to do when there is a camera around (aka they know when to model and when to simply be themselves) and then I also just loved the whole experience of taking pictures in Italy. That experience in and of itself was the best time of my life.

Ariana: When did you decide you wanted to be a photographer?
Logan: You know I am not sure. I always thought I would love to capture what I saw because it seemed other people couldn't see the same things I was. When I finally was able to get my hands on a camera I started learning how to use that tool to capture what I wanted other people to see as well. But the time I said hey this is a passion of mine and I want to do it as much as I possibly can would have to be when I traveled to Italy. The experience was amazing and I also received tons of support from my friends who saw my pictures afterwards and during.

Ariana: What kind of camera are your currently using?
Logan: I am currently using a Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR camera. I use it in tandem with it's standard Canon 18-55mm lens it comes with and a Canon 75-300mm lens.

Ariana: Is there a camera that you wish you could have?
Logan: I am a Canon fanboy so I would love to get Canon EOS 5D Mark III or the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Ariana: Do you take commissions for photography?
Logan: Ehh this is a tricky question. I prefer to shoot for people and then give them their pictures. Afterwards if they feel they need to pay me they do, if not I do it for the fun of it anyway. In the future I hope to start moving my way up doing senior pictures for people and weddings hopefully. I have already shot prom photos, travel abroad pictures, and even an engagement which I just happened to be next to.

Ariana: Is there anything you would not desire in way of commissions?
Logan: Like I said if someone feels they need to pay me they can but I don't ask for money. Once I become more practiced and know I will be able to deliver a result that lives up to my own standards I will give an estimate before a shoot. But as of now, I am not picky no.

Ariana: Do you edit any of your photos?
Logan: Nope, not as of now. I have been looking into some editing software but what I am looking at is pretty expensive so I will have to take that dive soon. But all of my pictures I have uploaded are original photographs without editing.

Ariana: What is something you most want to take a photograph of, but haven't got to yet?
Logan: There are many things I would like to photograph but haven't got the chance to yet. I want to drive cross-country in a converted bus of some type with a close group of friends and camp out along the way. I am sure that adventure would have an innumerable amount of good photographs. I want to go to Colorado with only one other person and snowboard and hike mountains. In this adventure I would like to get a picture of someone sitting atop a mountain looking out. Finally I have always wanted to travel to New York. Sit atop a building in downtown NYC and just enjoy the coming night. All of these I want to accomplish and I am determined to do.

Ariana: Are you planning a professional career as a photographer or is this more or less a hobby for you?
Logan: I am still working on that right now. All of me wants to but my head is keeping me back. Part of me says getting a real job in photography is too unstable but another part of me says what good is a stable job if you aren't doing what you love? So I am working that out in my head right now. I am unsure if I have what it takes.

Ariana: Who are your favourite photographers, or artists?
Logan: Meleah Reardon and John Huba. Both are very different artists that have very wide and expansive travel portfolios that are simply awe inspiring. If I had to pick one of the two to relate to however, I would have to pick Meleah Reardon. She encompasses everything I would love to do. She travels almost nonstop and she also mixes her photography with blog posts about what she is experiencing and her thoughts. I hope to do something similar but I fear my writing is too unstructured for people to want to read my posts as well. I am going to pursue it though just right now I am very busy with attending a University.

Ariana: How do you wind down after taking some of those brilliant pictures?
Logan: Wind down? I don't know what that is. Just kidding, but really I don't ever wind down from taking pictures because it really is my calming thing. I am also known for not letting myself relax though as I work almost 24/7 without sleeping much. So what I do after taking the pictures is I usually start going through them filtering out the bad ones so I can upload the album. I have been known to take pictures at say Prom which lasts until about 3 a.m. and then stay up to filter the pictures. Sometimes it isn't a very good practice though because when you upload things at 5 a.m. usually it gets covered by other stories and doesn't get much attention (case and point Prom pictures).

Ariana: What would your advice to other artists/photographers be?
Logan: I would just simply tell all other artists/photographers to go for it. You may doubt yourself in the beginning but assuming you work hard and you enjoy what you're doing you can't fail. This advice works with another little tidbit, however, and that advice is that art as a field is very unsteady and the only way to bring some order into it is for you to not only use your creative mindset but also your logical one. I urge all types of artists to know that you must look at what is successful and learn from it. You cannot remain stubborn to your originality if it makes you live in a way that you cannot sustain yourself. I am not saying to give up your creative perspective or any of your artistic talents, I am saying find a balance.

Logan Houchens has used a unique and interesting angle to capture this beautiful Italian street. 

Of course, the Christmas lights are in great focus and aren't blurry or smudged (I've been there before!). Even though the lighting in this picture is very, very particular, it creates a hauntingly beautiful scene.

Thank you so much Logan Houchens, for agreeing to be part of Art Appreciation Monday. 

I'm very honoured to be able to feature a local artist and I'm so thrilled he agreed to do an interview and  share his amazing talent.

 Like all the other artists featured on Art Appreciation Monday, I can't wait to see what is next for him. 

While Logan Houchens doesn't have any blogs or websites available yet, whenever he make a blog or website, I will most certainly post up a link. :) 

This picture looks to the horizon, just as all artists and my readers should. Look to the horizon like Logan Houchens did while taking this picture, even if you aren't a photographer! Keep your head up so you can see the beauty in the world and your dreams! 

*****All the artwork/pictures/videos/music belongs to Logan Houchens!!!! 

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE PICTURES/MUSIC/VIDEOS/or/WRITTEN WORK 

POSTED HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!!!