We recently connected with James “Chapo” Thompson and have shared our conversation below.
James “Chapo”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I think back to this question to my days of youth. And while im not all that old as it is, the days of being creative are more often stemmed from being an adolescent. Having an imagination that runs wild on “what you will do when you grow up” or “where do you want to live?”. Many emotions can be picked apart from those statements for us individually, but for myself it’s motivation. Motivation to strive to a more creatively free world where people can express themselves and intake art and culture on a medium is important to me and what I try to capture as a photographer.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
If you have not recognized my work, my name is James Thompson, artistically and locally named Chapo. I have worked in a creative setting among many talented artists in Detroit for roughly 4 years on and off, and across the country. I have been privileged to meet some of my closest friends and peers, as well as learn so much from the people around me. Capturing anywhere from live, to fashion photography my portfolio has extended and traversed a wide array of experiences to which I am forever grateful of being included in. Primarily, I focus on raw and authentic demonstration of art through a provocative yet elegant realism. With much of my more popular works being gritty and dark I have been expanding into other lanes of creativity such as videography in vlogging my work or adventures with artists. I am most proud of the people around me that I have had the joy of photographing their journey as human beings, catalysts of culture, and self growth. Those who I work with forever will inspire me to do more and cover wider terrain.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Photobooks. Private gallery events. Museums. Flickr. Adobe Suite. The Library. Promotional applications and marketing teams. There’s so much that it is hard to pinpoint one asset that has helped my journey over any others. Things like YouTube videos or Instagram reels with other creatives who document their mistakes or examples of sets you can aim to match a certain composition. It’s amazing what social media and the internet can give and we focus on a very select, and destructive slice of what can be used as a powerful tool of communication and education.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Providing other people with a particular look or style they have been searching to acquire. Even boosting people’s morale and meeting strangers with so much backstory and life in them it fascinates me. I really am just a product of the environment I surround myself in which I believe makes me unique in the sense of myself. So much feeling can be gained from a completed set of photos that others appreciate more than you yourself can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Flickr.com/damnchapo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damnchapo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damnchapo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/damnchapo
Image Credits
profile photo done by @jmoneyj12
all other photos by myself @damnchapo