Greetings everyone and Happy Holidays! MSQ recently moved into its Open Beta, meaning you can sign up for a profile and explore all the site has to offer! From Monday to Friday we bring you some of the best projects the cryptosphere has to offer. From NFTs and DeFi to Blockchain games and the Metaverse, you’ll find it all right here on MSQ! Today we explore the role of photography in the NFT space and showcase the work of some of the photographers already contributing their talents to it!
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…
In fact, when it comes to some NFTs, a picture is worth several thousand dollars (or even more!) Over the past 12 months we’ve seen the NFT space explode in popularity and dominate feeds across numerous social media sites. This has given many creatives the opportunity to pursue their lifelong dreams of becoming full-time artists and showcase their artistic abilities to thousands of people across the world. You may have heard of Mike Winkelmann (AKA Beeple ) who sold the most expensive NFT art piece to date at a whopping $69 million on February 21st, 2021. This was a monumental moment for the NFT industry and catapulted it into the global phenomenon it has become.
‘Everydays: the First 5000 Days’ is a collage of 5,000 digital images created by Winkelmann as part of his ‘Everydays’ series
Many creatives realized that they could earn an income or even life-changing money through limited art collections and generative projects. Just a few months after Beeple’s record-breaking sale, there are countless NFT projects that are either well into their Roadmap or just starting out. The vast majority of projects seem to consist of 2D/3D drawings or renderings, animated pictures and unique 1/1s. However, a medium that we here at MSQ haven’t really looked into yet is a time-honored one practiced by thousands of people around the world…yup, I’m talking about photography!
Like other creatives, one of the main issues photographers face is copyright! Yes indeed, image theft is a real thing—but what if there was a way to prove a photo was yours, hard evidence that no one could contest? Well my friends, that evidence can be found and permanently stored on a Blockchain!
And what is the underlying technology of NFTs? Yup, it’s Blockchain! A Blockchain allows digital information to be recorded and distributed, but not edited. In this way, it serves as the foundation for immutable ledgers—records of transactions that cannot be altered, deleted, or destroyed. By using a Blockchain, nobody will be able to steal or misuse the images captured by photographers (or any other creative) ever again!
Another issue faced by creatives is being able to make a living through their art. With such a saturated market, it’s very difficult for them to generate enough income from the sales they make. Thankfully NFTs have opened new doorways for artists and photographers and allowed buyers to obtain scarce digital assets and prove that they truly own them.
Value in a Snapshot!
Let’s start off by taking a look at Where My Vans Go , a limited NFT collection that consists of 115 iconic images created over the span of three years. Each image depicts different beautifully captured locations from across the United States and an individual sporting different pairs of Vans. Purchasing one of these limited edition NFT photographs not only supports the artist but also means that buyers own the piece in its entirety since the image exists on a Blockchain, meaning that ownership can be verified at any given time.
Heart In The Sky by Isaac Wright
We’re not the only ones who think photography has huge potential in the NFT space—just check out what GaryVee said in a recent Instagram post:
Photographers Inside the NFT Space
Although it’s still early in the amalgam that is photography and NFTs, we’ve already seen some seriously talented photographers enter the space. Let’s take a closer look at some other examples and celebrate these creators for embracing such a revolutionary technology!
Souls Escape by Ismail Zaidy
Ismail Zaidy is a visual artist and photographer based in Morocco, North Africa. He has created a striking collection available for viewing on OpenSea called Souls Escape. These photographs tell the story of young souls seeking to escape from old rituals and bonds in order to define themselves and their future.
Souls Escape #20
Fac//es by Brittany Pierre
Brittany Pierre is a serious street and film photographer based in Chicago, Illinois. She is the creator of an NFT collection on OpenSea called Face//es which aims to celebrate Black life and culture in America. The goal of Brittany’s street photography is to reveal and share the best of humanity found within her hometown of Chicago. Each image depicts an individual expressing or experiencing joy.
Lis//ten
Laurel Charleston
Laurel Charleston is actually a makeup artist based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. They are redefining the craft in the Metaverse with their expert art, makeup and photography skills. Laurel is an unbelievably talented artist who recently released their Genesis Collection on Foundation, so be sure to check it out!
Facial Thermodynamics
Developing the Perfect Image
These talented and innovative photographers demonstrate what can be achieved in the NFT space through the medium of photography. I highly recommend you follow them all on Twitter and check out their NFT collections (linked below) so that you can find out more about their work and get to know them on a more personal basis:
- Souls Escape by Ismail Zaidy
- Fac//es by Brittany Pierre
- Stunning Makeup Art Photography (Genesis Collection) by Laurel Charleston
And that’s a wrap for today’s feature. What do you think? Will photographers be able to enjoy the same love and attention that other artists have in prior months? Let us know via any of our social media channels! If you haven’t signed up for a MSQ profile yet, make sure you get to it so you can check out all your favorite projects and even leave a review or two! Thanks for joining me on this photo safari friends! Until we meet again, take care and keep your eyes peeled for those epic Blockchain projects!
For updates on new NFT drops, NFT news, and more, make sure you follow OurVillage on SubStack, and don’t forget to follow Farmer Joe and Lumberjack Larry on Twitter.
Join the MSQ Discord and participate in weekly and holiday events when they become available! Make sure you join our growing NFT community so you can stay on top of news, the latest drops, and everything non-fungible.
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