Cole Barash Calls Out Trump + “Instagram Pros” | Behind the Lens: Women’s March
Cole Barash is one of the most ground breaking snowboard and surf photographers of our time. Although he dabbles in these lifestyles more as personal hobby these days as his ‘real’ work takes him to bigger and more artistic things, we’re not talking about boardin’ here. There’s more pressing issues.
One of the things I’ve always admired about Cole is the artistic vision of his work. Scrolled through Instagram lately? If so, you’ll see an endless feed of similar photos that ‘work’ to gain followers and likes. Not real art. Cole easily could have amassed millions of followers if he wanted to, instead he uses that outlet to showcase what makes his photos special whether you like it or not. No “little human, big world” or time lapse night skies or sunsets. Anyone can take those and everyone does.
Cole is taking it a step further now when the world needs it. He recently attended the world’s largest one-day protest to capture images and talk to protesters about their fears of Trump’s presidency. Alongside calling out the Donald he also calls out “Instagram pros” for not using their influence to make a few insightful images. If you care about our planet, women’s rights, or almost any other issue now is the time to make some noise.
Below are Cole’s passionate words, but make sure to check the feature for the protesters own q+a’s….
“It’s now 2017 and I have a huge mixture of friends and family in my life.
My cousin is transgender, my girlfriend’s brother is gay (among countless friends), some of my best friends and people I work with are of other races, plus celebrate other religions. Maybe it’s because my life is more in the art and fashion world now, so I am more exposed to others on the reg, but I do truly feel we are ONE these days. The days of racial profiling, calling some kid a faggot, or hating someone for being a different religion is over. Now that that piece of shit, racist scum somehow bought his way into presidency, I feel we gotta stand up now more than ever, to say FUCK YOU to what he is doing to what the ones before him fought so hard for.
Personally, I have realized artists are responsible for creating not just beautiful, odd, abstract, bold, weird, different, colorful, challenging, uncomfortable or pretty, bodies of work. It is also important to create work that makes actual statements of our time and the world we live in.
The ones I have the utmost respect for are those who’ve done this sporadically throughout their career or are doing so now. I’m not saying drop everything and only make politically-motivated work and become some sort of crazy, dramatic person. I’m saying if you have any depth to the work that you’re making, realize it’s okay to contribute in some way, even if it’s just a few ideas or pieces.
I can’t even imagine if all the “Instagram pros” took a fuckin’ break from the night star photos, cliff images with hands throwing in the air (amen Crombie), or photos of themselves with a ‘film camera’ they don’t even use. What if, instead, they actually clogged people’s feed with even just a few insightful images?
While these photographs are by no means a body of work, they’re a collection of some thoughts and visions I had while documenting in Boston, during the Women’s March.” – COLE BARASH
Click over to MONSTER CHILDREN to see all Cole Barash’s Women’s March photos and interviews with protesters.
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