Oliver Ojeil Interview | Respect the Shooter
Where are you from?: Still trying to figure it out, but I moved to Los Angeles from Milan, Italy and I was born in Lebanon.
How did you get into photography/videography? : My father is a videographer and camera operator, so I grew up in an environment surrounded by creativity, art and cinema. I grew up obsessed with movies, creating images, telling stories and paintings. I then went to school at Temple University in Philadelphia for Filmmaking, wanting to become a movie director. Coming out of film school, I tried various stuff, but soon found my passion in directing, post production and photography.
What was your first camera?: Olympus, E-30 I think.
What camera do you currently use?: Sony A7R III
How did you learn your craft and advance your skills? : Mostly by studying painters and art history, then by studying the style of certain contemporary artists which I found inspiring. Studying history masters gives you unparalleled knowledge about light, color theory, composition, symbolism, and so much more. I recommend that every emerging artist and photographer studies art history and painting, especially classical paintings, very deeply, because to me this is when I started seeing the change and in my work and when I started to find my own voice and style.
Do you have any nicknames? How did you get that name?: Oli, that's a shortening of my name, I guess only the people closest to my heart call me that. Also Olo, but that was the nickname my family called me growing up.
If you could take photos of any 3 people that are alive today, who would they be?: Probably the portraits of Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey and Natalie Portman.
If you could take photos of any 3 people that are no longer living, who would they be?: My grandmother, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis.
If you could take photos in any 3 cities what would they be?: Milan, Budapest, New York City
What is your goal when you capture photos of someone?: To capture a raw and real emotion, often a melancholic or ethereal one.
What is your dream as an artist?: To find my own voice and style and become known for it.
What music do you listen to when you edit photos?: Mostly audio books, I love devouring books, and if not, then soundtracks of some of my favorite movies.
What is your dream as a photographer?: To travel the world, meet new people and go on adventures wherever the shoot requirements take me. Also to find a way to fuse my photography into my movies and translate my style through a moving image in narrative form.
What is some advice you would give to someone with a dream to be a photographer/videographer?: Study painting, art history, and the great masters, they are the key to deeply understand color, light and develop a critical eye.
What's your favorite app on your phone?: Hmm used to be instagram now it's Robinhood.
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/oliverojeil
Website: http://www.oliverojeil.com
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