See the world through the lens of Joseph Pascual
A photographer shares the beauty of seeing the world through a new set of lenses
Flipping through old photo albums and scanning each picture one by one always brings a flood of nostalgic emotions. Through a simple 3x5 printed keepsake, it’s easy to recall even the most obscure of memories regardless of how little or big their relevance is in our lives. And even as photographs have taken a new, digital form, it’s still the preferred medium to make these memories last forever. Though accidental, Joseph Pascual found photography not just as a way to document his life but to see the world through a completely different perspective.
Joseph was on the route to pursuing a career in film making. Little did he know that his life would take a small unexpected turn when his grandfather offered him an old point and shoot digital camera. He obliged, out of politeness, not knowing that it would later alter his path. Without thinking, he started to bring it everywhere—documenting his daily activities, friends, family, and anything that caught his eye. By 2006, he immortalized each photo by posting them in an online photo journal (www.otherjoseph.livejournal.com). It was through this journal, that is still up and running today, that Joseph nabbed his first paid job. Eventually, Joseph booked more projects through his site—even going as far as working for publications.
Joseph now works from project to project, always moving around where there are new sights to capture. Although portraits are more his forte, photojournalism through travels comes as a close second love. Through this style, he’s allowed to truly open his eyes—seeing the wonders of the world even in the most ordinary of things. “Taking photos while traveling just hones my eye to seeing beauty and the unnoticed ordinariness of things, which I then take home with me here,” he shares. Among his travels, Hawaii and Hong Kong inspired him the most for different reasons and still remains his most memorable destinations. “There’s a pristine, otherworldliness to Hawaii, and Hong Kong has a frenetic pulse that suffuses it.”
For now, Joseph has no plans of going anywhere yet he still hopes to visit more places someday. Until then, Joseph keeps himself busy with his projects both professional and personal. “A personal project I’m working on is my first exhibit, which I envision to be portraits of people I know and love, shot in their bedrooms,” he shares. We can hope to see more travel photos from Joseph as he jets off to familiar and unknown locations. But he encourages everyone to give photography a shot saying, “Always keep your camera beside you, shoot first and think later, keep your eyes open, [and] walk everywhere.”