Instagrammer feature with @rockinbrock: Baltimore and beyond with his head in the clouds
What sticks out to us about John Brock’s (aka @rockinbrock) photography is the vivid way he captures everyday life living in Baltimore. Architecture, clouds and people are recurring subjects for the adventurous father of two.
The Darkroom caught up with Brock about how he edits his images, what he loves about Baltimore and where he found his love of photography.
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- This is a shot I captured of a tree during a cold fall day. Trees are a favorite subject matter as their shape, bark and branches each have a story to tell all their own. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot of the kids playing in the ocean surf. It was taken in the Outer Banks of North Carolina where we travel every summer on vacation. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot I captured of Schilling Green in Hunt Valley, Maryland. I enjoy taking pictures of architecture both young and old alike. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot captured of an end row home here in Baltimore. I love to capture shapes and textures and this photo seemed to almost take itself. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This photo was snapped over the Christmas Holiday when some of my family when to a local kids fun center. My daughter loves to bowl and ‘granny’ style is the only way to get the ball down the lane. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot of a Baltimore City firefighters helmet that was resting on the seat of the fire truck. My kids always like to stop and visit the firehouse when we pass by and the firefighters love the visits. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This was a photo from a recent visit to Charleston South Carolina. I had this image in my head all day and finally captured it several hours later. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot of the Blue Angels who flew over during Baltimore’s Sailibration. It was captured from a rooftop deck and really illustrates how low the planes were flying that day. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This picture was captured at the annual 4th of July parade and celebration held in Federal Hill. This shot just screams what this holiday is all about. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a photo of a beautiful church steeple in St. Michaels, Maryland. For some reason I love to capture church steeples and this one was the most cherished of my collection. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot I captured of my son and best friends son together while they played in the basement. I am a huge Baltimore Ravens fan and love the association between Ray Rice and a superhero. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot I captured just down from the Key Bridge in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The ships were anchored side-by-side and gave the illusion of a reflection. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- A spontaneous shot of multi-colored arrows painted on the sidewalk at Riverside Park. This is one of those pictures that comes out of nowhere and I tag #everydayart. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- A shot captured on Fort Ave. of a cat people watching from its perch in a row home window. It was very relaxed from the afternoon sun spilling into the house and didn’t seem to mind having its picture taken. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- A shot captured from Fells Point of the Domino Sugar manufacturing plant. The air was very tranquil that evening and perfectly mirrored the reflection of the lights off the water. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This shot is of the Transamerica building in downtown Baltimore. I shot this with my iPhone through the moon roof of my car while I lied in traffic. Just happened to look up and there it was. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- I captured this shot in Charleston, SC and just loved the edit once I was done. Just the lines, color and perspective really brings the stairs to life. (Credit: John David Brock)
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- This is a shot of the Easter Bunny chair at the annual Easter egg hunt in Federal Hill Park. The color and subject matter captured the essence of the coming of spring. (Credit: John David Brock)
FULL NAME: John David Brock
INSTAGRAM HANDLE:
@RockinBrock. The name dates back to my youth where I always wanted to be a radio disc jockey (my radio handle was Rockin Brock). Growing up in the city of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it only seemed fitting.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:
Born and raised in Cleveland, I moved south after my father got a new job. I attended Western Kentucky University, earning a B.A. in advertising and graphic design. After college I landed in Louisville, Ky., where I worked design, advertising and marketing collateral for Papa Johns and traveled through the ranks of an advertising agency. But I always felt I needed something more.
A beautiful woman from Baltimore caught my eye in a chance meeting and the next thing I knew, it was Charm City or bust. After living in Federal Hill for a while, I knew Baltimore was my home. The atmosphere in the city can only be described as electric. There is always something happening, the Baltimore sports organizations are strong and each individual neighborhood has a unique charm. In Baltimore you know your neighbors and sometimes even know your neighbor’s neighbor — Smalltimore. To me, Baltimore is home. Today I work in health care marketing and creative services.
IN ONE SENTENCE, DESCRIBE YOUR INSTAGRAM FEED?
I think my feed description describes it best: “Little squares of life in Baltimore, Md. or wherever the wind happens to carry me.”
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT SETUP (PHONE TYPE, ANY LENSES USED, DSLR/ANALOG CAMERA TO PHONE, FAVORITE FILTERS, APPS I.E.)?
I mostly shoot with my iPhone 4s because I always have it with me. I have a few album pictures that were shot with a Canon 7D. Shooting with a DSLR is always best but it is all about having your camera with you.
For my iPhone I occasionally use an Olloclip, an attachment that offers an all in one Fisheye, Wide angle and Macro lens. I would suggest them to anyone, as it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
Most of my images are edited with Instagram, Snapseed, Camera+, PhotoToaster or Hipstamatic. In some cases, it may be a mash up of several editing app, depending on the mood or effect that I am trying to create.
A LOT OF YOUR PHOTOS FEATURE DRAMATIC CLOUDS. HOW DO YOU CAPTURE THESE PHOTOS? WHAT DRAWS YOU TO CLOUDS?
I do love the sky and clouds (#cloudporn). This fondness goes back to my parents challenging me and my siblings to pick out shapes and faces in the billows above. Ever since, I am eternally looking up at the sky. I always purposefully accentuate them in app edits. Snapseed offers a filter named DRAMA that makes clouds almost come alive.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO SHOOT?
Beyond the sky, clouds and architecture I love to shoot my children. They are just now reaching that age where you can witness the light bulbs going off in their heads as they explore the world. They both now have an iPod Touch that keeps them busy snapping pictures. Going forward I plan to feature some shots that my kids take in my Instagram feed. Be on the lookout!
HOW DO YOU SELECT WHICH PHOTOS YOU TAKE TO PUT ON INSTAGRAM? DO YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF OVERARCHING THEME OR STANDARD?
Having a graphics background, I usually gravitate towards pictures that illustrate something. I like images that almost appear to be a design, and not a photo. I like using negative space to make the viewer pause before really understanding what they are viewing.
SAY I JUST GOT MY FIRST SMARTPHONE. WHAT IS INSTAGRAM FOR? WHAT ISN’T IT FOR?
I don’t think I would ever put Instgram in a certain box. I really feel that everyone has his or her own level of knowledge of how to leverage the photo-sharing site. My whole philosophy is to just snap away, try shooting things you are passionate about, download multiple apps, follow people you feel inspired by and really learn what comes naturally to you. After a few weeks your feed will begin to fill in all the blanks and bring on a life of its own.
WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY TO BEGIN WITH?
A huge part of what has driven my passion for visual arts and photography has been my father. I will forever remember helping my dad create enlargements in his basement darkroom where I helped him also process black and white prints. I look back now and understand why he always had his camera, why he would pull off the road almost anywhere to snap that moment in time. Like father, like son.
NAME 5 NEED-TO-KNOW INSTAGRAMMERS THAT YOU FOLLOW AND WHY THEY’RE FAVORITES:
@baltoaaron – His feed is very colorful, intriguing and very inspirational. He too is a father and resides right here in Baltimore.
@johnnyrev – His feed is very fun, playful and captures little snippets of his everyday comings and goings. He is also a new father that also resides right here in Baltimore.
@hoops4533 – His feed is a perfect representation of shooting various things he comes into contact with every day in and about Baltimore. His style and edits run very deep.
@danamarieku – Her feed is graceful and very striking. Her eye for unique things in her surroundings really resonates in her photos.
@_primus_ – His feed is just awesome. His pictures are very stunning and visually pleasing to the eye. Many of his shots feel as if you can reach out and touch.
@alexfitz1 – Her feed is a perfect example of trying new apps and photo edits. As I have followed, this is something of immense importance that I have learned
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David Carter
Nov 24, 2013 @ 22:59:23
Excellent photos John…I especially like the ones with the vertical or horizontal bilateral symmetry. Reminds me of our talks about the left and right side of the brain in high school. 🙂
David
Mar 13, 2013 @ 20:27:50
I like how you see charm city. I’m a photo journalist in the NAvy REserve. I have Instagram on my iphone, though I don’t use it much. Your pics and Q And A is inspiring.