Street Dreams Magazine

denise kwong spencer cotton pei ketron hannah sider mark a. pangilinan izzy balderas

PHOTOGRAPHIC QUARTERLY

mobile. digital. lm. print 

“your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees.”  paul strand 

“your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees.”  paul strand 

 front cover image courtesy of:  robbyy durler  robb durler / @robby @robbydurl durler er

editor-in-chief  eric veloso editor-at-large  steven john irby  art direction & design design michael cobarrubia  design  rae fernandez  editor carolyn amurao writers donnel barroso carolyn amurao  community lead  dave krugman visual marketing  giovanni elao raheim simon  jordan sanchez  videography  joe cavallini karl pierre adam lee brown  operations rachael fouchier   sales  george mckenzie jr.  management maria sutherland  inna shnayder dylan hattem  contributing editors editors ta-ku michael salisbury montalis anglade  jacqueline schneider   julio galvez   contributing photographers photographers denise kwong   spencer cotton  pei ketron hannah sider  mark a. pangilinan izzy balderas  printers hemlock printers streetdreamsmag.co

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all rights reserved ® this magazine or parts may not be reproduced without written permission  from the publisher publisher & photographers photographers

image courtesy of:  robby durler / @robbydurler

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PHOTOGRAPHIC QUARTERLY

denise kwong  6   spencer cotton 14  pei ketron 22 hannah sider  30 mark a. pangilinan 38  izzy balderas 46   street dreams gallery 54 create & explore gallery 62  soulection gallery 64 mighty killers gallery 66 

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STREET DREAMS

denise kwong instagram.com/twistdee twistdee.tumblr.com

Born in Hong Kong and currently residing in Sydney, Australia, Denise Kwong or “De” as she’s commonly referred to found herself drawn to photography in late 2012 when she discovered the Instagram app. “I was instantly inspired by what I saw and set out taking photos,” she says. Since then, De has managed to tap into her unrestrained imagination to create some of the most striking photographs. She incorporates a range of different styles into her photography, which she best describes as “eclectic,” riding the line between odd and remarkable with her unique approach to each of her subjects. “One thing that is pretty constant is that I do prefer to have a human element in my images,” she notes, adding that she’s “always looking for different angles or perspectives.” So whether she’s shooting in a eld or the forest, near a waterfall or in the ocean, there’s always a person in the composition giving you a sense of scale and depth. Sometimes it’s just a part of the body that’s included. For example, a common motif in her work is hands, often emerging from shadows or creating ripples in water. No matter the setting, she portrays life in the natural world with a sense of serenity and dream-like beauty. “I’ve been told that my photos evoke emotion,” she says. “It’s not something I’ve consciously set out to do but I’m happy that they do.” Fellow photographers, many of whom she calls her talented friends, are what hugely inspire her. It is their collective exploration through photography—from creative portraits to coastal landscapes—that has fueled her own artistic development. She considers herself a work in progress and feels that there is still so much more to learn. “I have no idea where I’d like to see this progress to,” she says. “All I know is that I love shooting and am open-minded to what may come from it along the way.”

AUSTRALIA

ISSUE 007

@TWISTDEE

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“i’ve been told that my photos evoke emotion.”

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STREET DREAMS

spencer cotton instagram.com/spencercotton  spencercotton.com

Spencer Cotton grew up along the coast of Los Angeles in a place called Palos Verdes. Just minutes away from the ocean, the 23-year-old naturally picked up surng and skateboarding at a young age. When he was 15, he purchased his rst video camera and quickly became obsessed with the art of documentation. He would continue lming throughout high school while also dabbling in art and design. Post-graduation, he moved to Eugene, Oregon to study business, but it didn’t take him long to realize that route just wasn’t for him. “I just wanted to create;” he says. “It gave me purpose and has always felt right.” Following his intuition, Spencer moved to San Francisco in 2011 to pursue a degree in graphic design from the Academy of Art University. This is where he started taking photography classes. Purchasing the cheapest DSLR he could nd, he ended up falling in love with photography instantly due to his beautiful environment. Shooting also provided an escape from the loneliness of moving to a new city. “It was a release,” says Spencer, “Every time I’d set out at night to explore the city with my camera I felt alive, and I didn’t feel so alone.” Ironically, his photos now often contain just one person or no people at all. Vast portrayals of coastlines, valleys, sunsets, and snowy wastelands give you the sense that man is alone is this world. And, maybe he is, but through Spencer’s eyes, he is alone in a world that is majestic and awe-inspiring. Through his unique vision, Spencer seems to tell us that nature is perfect and man is simply lucky to witness its beauty—even if he’s on his own.

CALIFORNIA

ISSUE 007

@SPENCERCOTTON

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“i just wanted to create; it gave me purpose and has always felt right.”

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STREET DREAMS

pei ketron instagram.com/pketron  pketron.com

The rst thing you notice when you scroll through Pei Ketron’s Instagram feed (besides how beautiful her work is) is that she’s literally been all over the world. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Bermuda bays, her photos span the globe. And it’s not the mere location that makes her work attractive—although the geotags are enviable in and of themselves— it’s the way she’s able to transport you to these exotic places through impeccable compositions. So whether it’s a sunset in Portugal or a waterfall in Iceland, you’re right there with her, experiencing the natural beauty of her surroundings. “A good photograph allows people to see the world through your eyes,” Pei says. How many people want to see the world through her eyes? The photographer, who is also drawn to striking colors, patterns, and architecture, has amassed 872,000 followers since joining Instagram—and the numbers keep climbing. Before she was doing photography fulltime, the 34-year-old was an elementary school special education teacher. Born in Taiwan and raised in Arizona, Pei graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, California before earning two Masters degrees in special education from Simmons College in Boston. With no degrees in photography, however, she always made sure to take classes and workshops on her own. The daughter of painters, Pei started shooting 15 years ago, even before she began teaching. Taking on weddings and portrait sessions as a side hustle, she always dreamt of being able to do photography as her main gig, and now she does. She quit teaching three years ago and has been shooting for tourism boards and companies such as American Express, Apple, and Adobe, to name a few. Not that photography replaced teaching completely. Pei has led photography classes and workshops as well. Currently, she is based in San Francisco.

CALIFORNIA

ISSUE 007

@PKETRON

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“a good photograph allows people to see the world through your eyes.”

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STREET DREAMS

hannah sider instagram.com/hannahsider  hannahsider.com

When Hannah Sider shoots a portrait, she often nds that the in-between moments are the most beautiful—the raw, candid milliseconds that occur when her subject is caught off guard and not posing. Creating those moments isn’t easy, but Hannah takes the time to really get to know her models so that they feel comfortable, “like hanging out with a friend,” she says. “I’ve always had a desire to connect with people and photography is a really awesome way that I can do that.” For the 26-year-old, getting acquainted with strangers in new places is something she’s learned to do from a young age. Born in a little village in Malawi, Africa, where her parents were doing emergency relief work, Hannah has always been a traveler. She spent her childhood going back and forth from Malawi and Toronto, Canada, which is where she really honed her skills as a photographer. While attending Ryerson University as a fashion communications major, Hannah, who is completely self-taught, found that people kept hiring her for shoots. “I think when you’re doing something you really love, you do it well and people respond to that,” she says. The eldest of ve siblings, Hannah’s had an interest in photography ever since her parents got her a point and shoot when she was 12. She’d dress her little sisters up in their mom’s clothes and take their portraits. Nowadays, the fashion and music photographer seems right at home in New York City, where she’s lived for the past four years. Describing herself as “weird and childish,” Hannah is exactly the kind of person who thrives in a crazy environment—a city where anything can happen if you’re willing to put yourself out there. “New York pushes you outside the box,” she says. However, we have a feeling Hannah was never “inside” the box. This is a girl who grew up in Africa, after all. “My parents always told me that I could do whatever I wanted and be whatever I wanted,” she says. “And I did.”

NEW YORK

ISSUE 007

@HANNAHSIDER

“i think when you’re doing something you really love, you do it well and people respond to that.”

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STREET DREAMS

mark A. pangilinan instagram.com/markpeaced  markpeaced.squarespace.com

West Coast creator, Mark Pangilinan aka Mark Peaced is a visual conveyor of energy. Hailing from the city of Los Angeles, he was exposed to photography early on in his childhood. “I’ve been shooting since I was a young kid,” he says. “My mother was heavy into photography and my step pops at the time was a photographer and videographer.” Fastforward to 2009, Mark moved in with his friend Jessica Foley who helped bring photography back into his life. He began to delve deeper into the art form by shooting lm. Describing his work as “life and actuality,” he says that he tries to “keep the visual moment as authentic as possible.” Regardless of his subject matter, what he aims to convey is energy, whether it’s positive or negative. It all depends on the story he’s trying to tell. Since Mark is heavily inuenced by many facets of culture, he cites a wide range of inspirations for his work including lm director Stanley Kubrick’s early photography, renowned French fashion photographer Guy Bourdin’s female subjects, and American photographer Irving Penn’s portraiture. Because of this, Mark’s work radiates a cinematic feeling that make his photographs instant classics, reverberating the analog vibes contained in his rolls of lm. Candid portraits stand out in his work as he’s able to capture body language and facial expressions beautifully. His subjects always seem at ease, whether they’re staring right into his lens or looking away, allowing him to capture their most vulnerable moments. For the future, Mark is focused on constantly creating and developing on both a personal and artistic level. “I just want to help inspire people,” he says. Progress is the purpose.

CALIFORNIA

ISSUE 007

@MARKPEACED

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“i just want to help inspire people.”

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STREET DREAMS

iZZY balderas instagram.com/i.balderas

CALIFORNIA

ISSUE 007

@I.BALDERAS

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“i see photography as a tool, it’s the closest thing that we have to stopping time.”

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 #streetdreamsmag

gallery index A

gallery index D

1. @fvbio.xcv (daniel fabia) 2. @ramsochoa (ramses ochoa) 3. @souvnami (ryan souva) 4. @jeremi_ah (jeremie dion) 5. @brandonexplores (brandon sharpe) 6. @peteracarey (peter carey) 7. @mysteryforms (mysteryform (mysteryforms) s) 8. @pangeaproductions (johannes hoehn) 9. @alliemt @alliemtaylor aylor (alexandra taylor) 10. @h.va (heather amistad) 11. @ericluis (eric luis) 12. @iamlindatran (linda tran)

37. @tonistadlr (toni stadlr) 38. @andisetyadi (andi setyadi) 39. @fromuyenwithlove (uyen tran) 40. @aaronricketts_ (aaron ricketts) 41. @miguelroman (miguel roman) 42. @emilyareti (emily areti) 43. @lenehuygens (heleen huigens) 44. @theresbianca (bianca scarlato) 45. @oakandbindi (lydia yang) 46. @jel1000 (marielle bloch) 47. @punkodelish (kael rebick) 48. @georgeroubos (george roubos)

gallery index B

gallery index E

13. @hannes_becker (johannes becker) 14. @0wnperspective (eelco wortman) 15. @ilitchpeters (ilitch peters) 16. @kessara (kessara dhana) 17. @kingymak (kevin mak) 18. @chee.yip (chee yip) 19. @ jaredleopard (jared leopard) 20. @israel_r (isreal reza) 21. @okayleb (caleb goh) 22. @kevfunky (kevin quach) 23. @jesso (jessamine barnieh) 24. @edinhoe4 (edson assis)

49. @fonggaigai (peter fong) 50. @kara.chung (kara chung) 51. @ndelena (elena ortega) 52. @mchlptrs (michiel pieters) 53. @tico.aa (albert alvarado) 54. @gabriel.fraser (gabriel fraser) 55. @ga_walker (grant walker) 56. @cheukyh (cheuk thang) 57. @spleenstyle (maxime schwebel) 58. @brianwillette (brian willette) 59. @sksquared (sanjeev kuganesapilla) 60. @c.drum (connor drummond)

gallery index C

gallery index F

25. @hayden__scott (hayden scott) 26. @_ogsupreme_ (omar gomez) 27. @eezeetee (erica tao) 28. @edsonsoares (edson soares) 29. @dshukin (dimitry shchukin) 30. @vnthota (varun thota) 31. @briansees (brian carpenter) 32. @justintime66 (justin ferrara) 33. @jjudelee (jeremy jude lee) 34. @jermcon (jeremy rincon) 35. @tilore (tyler hayward) 36. @vikramvalluri (vikram valluri)

61. @amirbangs (amir hamja) 62. @vuhlandes (denzell vuhlandes leonard) 63. @malcjax (malc jax) 64. @vinodii (vinodii nama disamarkan) 65. @dion.walker (dion walker) 66 @ironlaks (raymond diaz) 67. @oyuxi (yuxi liu) 68. @bklynbikesupply (kalada halliday) 69. @gbergphoto (gregory berg) 70 @triipsss (muhd (muhd akid juraime) 71. @sirbruceleroy (sean hopkins) 72. @130mm (pablo sievert del mazo)

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 #createexplore

 #soulection

create and explore index A

soulection index A

1. 2. 3.

@mchlptrs (michiel pieters) @i.shootz (ivan zaykov) @rianpsuoth (ryan putra suoth)

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@kokeyman (korey waggoner) @vzmaestro (german vizcarra) @domstills (dominic macias)

4. 5. 6.

@jesus.alejand (jesus alejandro) @alliemtaylor (alexandra taylor) @bdbgv (borja domínguez)

4. 5. 6.

@tarren_it_up (tarren lazarus munoz) @beatsbyesta (esta) @domstills (dominic macias)

7. 8. 9.

@ddesigns_ (dennis elliott) @egybaguss (anak rumahan) @uhzuri (marlow coloma)

7. 8. 9.

@moniqua (monica rubalcava) @joekay (joe kay) @moniqua (monica rubalcava)

10. 11. 12.

@miighty (marshall roach) @anti_data (ted holmwood) @nandinjp (nandin yuan)

10. 11. 12.

@dolla.mike (michael casatico) @dolla.mike (michael casatico) @domstills (dominic macias)

create and explore index B

soulection index B

13. 14. 15.

@13th.unit (dawsen brown) @wilhughes (wil hughes) @leeyikkeat (lee yik keat)

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@moniqua (monica rubalcava) @producerian (ian zak) @domstills (dominic macias)

16. 17. 18.

@brianwillette (brian willette) @cee_explorer (cedric houmadi) @jnskrlsn (jonas karlson)

16. 17. 18.

@montylov (montalis anglade) @vzmaestro (german vizcarra) @thewhooligan (julio galvez)

19. 20. 21.

@dane.isaac (dane isaac) @dshukin (dmitry shchukin) @pxnch (franco borromeo)

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@placeofexile (martha coe) @joekay (joe kay) @j_minty (jacqueline schneider)

22. 23. 24.

@view_nderr (seth israel) @mr.jobeezy (jober guevarra) @belebenard (béle benard)

22. 23. 24.

@andrepower (andre power) @markpeaced (mark pangilinan) @mmmandrew (mark andrew gonzales)

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1. @shotbysalt (sothear nuon) 2. @spencercotton (spencer cotton) 3. @gdnws (moe tang) 4. @silasso (silas sao) 5. @thesamgraves (sam graves) 6. @nikk_la (nicholas la) 7. @mightykills (marvin king) 8. @potatounit (wayne nguyen)

PHOTOGRAPHIC QUARTERLY

 acknowledgements we would like to express our deepest  gratitude & sincere thanks to all those who have contributed in the  production of this publication.

instagram galleries @twistdee @spencercotton @pketron @hannahsider  @markpeaced  @i.balderas @ createexplore @ soulection @ mighty_killers @ streetdreamsmag

contact & inquiries  [email protected]  print & digital issues  store.streetdreamsmag.co

 street dreams magazine is focused on building community through  showcasing the talents of   photographers worldwide.