Luna Sweetheart: Andrew Awanda

Sweetheart

Nov 16

☆ BY MOSES ROBERT SOZA ☆

CURIOSITY AND EMOTION IS HOW PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER — Andrew Awanda creates his work. Based in Prince George's County, Maryland, Awanda is currently finishing up a bachelor’s degree in art and design at Towson University. During his childhood years, Awanda shared that he had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD. The disorder was undiagnosed throughout grade school, taking a toll on his ability to pay attention during class. Awanda would often doodle his favorite cartoon characters, and during this time is when his creative expression started to take shape.

A family of creatives, Awanda’s three sisters and mother are artists as well, a natural place to have obtained his gift. Prior to photography, he did photo and video editing, and first started exploring photography using his iPhone camera. As a teenager of the Tumblr and Pinterest era, Awanda found creative inspiration from those blogs. It wasn’t until high school that he got his first camera, a Polaroid Spirit 600, which he found in his parents office. A month later, his parents gifted him an Instax camera for Christmas, which he often used to shoot anything that interested him.

It took a bit of time from the moment he got his first camera for Awanda to truly fall in love with photography, finally arriving at this point in 2018. He spent much of his time researching photographers and watching Youtube videos about photography. At the end of 2018, Awanda purchased his first medium format camera. Today, Awanda can proudly say taking photos is his “happy place,” and as a sheltered adolescent, photography has helped him grow his self-confidence, and has aided the overall well-being of his mental health. As he continues to study photography on a personal and academic level, there is no doubt he will continue to flourish.

Read below to learn about Awanda’s creative process, inspiration, and how he sees the world around him.

LUNA: How does the city you reside in inspire your photography?

AWANDA: There is so much culture here in Baltimore. I’ve met so many personalities while living here for three years, and this city has definitely impacted my creative process. Being able to live in a city now has helped me get comfortable taking pictures of strangers. I love that taking a portrait of someone can turn into a friendship, and you learn so much by talking to people, which inspires me.

LUNA: As an artist, how do you define beauty?

AWANDA: Beauty to me is what you make of it. Beauty is raw. Beauty is imperfection.

LUNA: What is a perfect night out in your eyes?

AWANDA: A perfect night out is definitely spending time with your favorite people. I love going out to the bars and getting drunk with my pals. Something about dancing to music I wouldn't listen to sober is the best feeling, and who doesn't love eating pizza or a cheesesteak at 2 a.m.?

LUNA: Your film photos that I have seen, I adore! What do you love about shooting with film?

AWANDA: Shooting on film is such a technical process. I love not knowing exactly how my photos will turn out until I look at my negatives. I love the imperfections: the grain, blur, dust, and scratches. Digital is too easy and gives me an advantage that I find boring.

LUNA: Could you tell us a couple of artists who inspire you and why?

AWANDA: Richard Avedon has had a huge impact on why I got into photography. I remember seeing his work all over Tumblr before I bought my first camera. I was obsessed with the way his fashion and documentary-style photographs looked. He knows how to become his subject, and you can see that in every image. I believe this is where my obsession with film photography started, because I wanted to achieve his grain look. Another inspiration would have to be the legend himself, Basquiat. He was always so fearless and driven, which is something I've always wanted to be. I started doodling and painting a lot more because of him. Maybe I'll create some huge pieces in the future with that medium.

LUNA: What is something that you always strive to convey in your photography work?

AWANDA: I want people to feel the subject's emotion. Many of my photographs aren't staged, and I prefer when people try to be themselves. I don't pose people often unless I'm doing a more conceptual shoot, which is rare. I'm heavily inspired by the ’90s and 2000s so I try to give off that vintage, almost eerie feeling that you don't see much nowadays.

LUNA: A simple one: Why do you create art?

AWANDA: Other than coming from a family of artists, I create art because I've always known how to. It's a coping mechanism for me. I've found that art is my passion and what makes me special. Growing up, I never understood if I had a purpose because everyone seemed smarter than I was. Creating art felt so natural and [is] something that didn't stress my brain out.

LUNA: Do you take creative breaks, or do you find yourself continually making art?

AWANDA: I take breaks all the time. I spent most of 2021 with my cameras hidden away in my room. I regret not taking advantage of my resources, but I am very picky when it comes to what I take photographs of. The more confident I feel about what I produce, the more I try to create.

LUNA: Photography and music go hand in hand. Could you please share with us some musical artists that are in your current listening rotation?

AWANDA: I love listening to music from the ’70s, but currently I’m listening to a lot of Erika de Casier and Blood Orange. I’ve also been enjoying the new Joyce Wrice EP!

LUNA: To end our interview, I would like to state that photographers are undoubtedly visionaries. Could you share a bit about a future vision you have for your career as an artist?

AWANDA: Honestly, I'm ready to be finished with college and work with more people. Looking for internships has been a stressful journey but I want to continue to educate myself and learn from other artists to improve my craft. I hope to move out of Maryland and start with a complete understanding of myself.

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