We recently connected with Anderson Fortune Jr and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anderson, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
It would be May of 2022 when I’d come across the artful craft of photography. Being an everlasting fanatic of Hip-Hop music, I’ve learned that being the one rapping, singing or even producing aren’t the only ways to contribute to the genre I love. Watching interviews of my favorite photographers responsible for the memorable album covers and front-page magazine issues, such as: Jonathan Mannion, Kwaku Alston and Piotr Sikora, I figured that since my vocal delivery and musical acumen cannot be implemented as perfectly as I intended, perhaps picking up a camera to compose what I view is Hip Hop can be a potent way to leave a mark in history! Looking at Mannion’s composition style in his portraiture, Alston’s ability to have his subject embody the theme of their album and Sikora’s will to surround his subject with an environment suited to their preference, I felt comfortable composing and creating my images no matter the subject nor the concept.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Anderson Fortune Jr, but I also go by the moniker, “The Town Jeweler”. During my high school years, I’d assist every friend I had with their homework, classwork and even give “advice” or words of wisdom on their relationship troubles… if they’d ask. Being the calm, collected and expressive person I am, I easily made photography and writing both my creative feats. In high school, I’d befriend a well-known photographer today named Phillip Provilus. He’d walk into French class with a backpack and a camera bag, with waves on his dark caesar haircut and remain quiet amongst the loudest in the class. It wouldn’t be until the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine when I’d see his work all over Instagram and just be amazed at how “famous” he became! I listen to Hip-Hop music, so I’d always go through the key elements of the genre that personalizes the experience for me. Photography is a craft that I’ve been ideally invested in, the imagery is what I found entrancing to me. For my work, I tend to set my sights on Black people, White people, ANY and EVERY ethnicity/nationality, who may be involved in the creative arts. Whether they’re artists, painters, sculptors or even activists, as long as they’re fighting for something in an interesting way- I can find it fascinating enough conceptualize a project. Some people I know are too busy with the agonizing inadequacies of life that they rarely get to sit down and dwell on their aspirations, they do not get to reflect. When I reach out to them and explain the concept, they IMMEDIATELY confirm their interest with great pride. With my photography, I offer an introspective about the subject, catering particularly to their natural aesthetic. I am proud of how I’ve grown as an image composer, how I can simply make connections with potential subjects, and how I’ve managed to stick only to what I know without conforming to whatever the norm is, without losing support!!! ‘TRU DELEG8TOR’ is my production group consisting of: Photography, Editorial and Music. I want people to look at TRU DELEG8TOR as an initiative that provides with and without transaction. Whether I get paid to do a photoshoot or not, I look at my art as a priceless painting- that can indeed have flaws.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Yes, indeed! I went to high school that wasn’t heavily invested in the creative, multimedia arts. My high school catered to the medical sciences and liberal arts, areas that I didn’t profoundly find interesting but ESSENTIAL to my cause. Also, during that timeframe a lot of students (such as myself) were indebted to their intellect, so personal hobbies and recreational activities weren’t prevalent during those 4 years. I wish there were clubs and programs that catered to my interests. But I found more resources once I approached my second year of college.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Personally, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is having people I find more advanced, show some love to my work. Iconic photographers like Eric Johnson and Carl Posey have both liked my work displayed on Instagram. Seeing that puts a smile on my face, fueling my resilience and persistence in getting my name out there as the face of portrait photography and cover art editing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/andersofortune1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flixbytrudeleg8torz/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anderson-fortune-jr-6a2b35221/
- Other: THORObredable – The Homebody Creativ Blog: https://thorobredable.blogspot.com/
Image Credits
Instagram Handles: @yakavetta__ @ariphillipss @donis_prod @mar_cartier @ofgfinesse