Meet Jesus Rojas | Creative Director & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jesus Rojas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jesus, what inspires you?
I’m inspired by a lot of things. The music scene in the San Diego area is one of my biggest inspirations for my work. I think the San Diego music scene specifically the scene I’ve been in has definitely been the most exciting times of my life. Bands like The Renters, Blank Space, Sledges, and so on… have really brought so much to music in San Diego. The live aspect of the music makes it that much more fun and exciting. I’ve been to so many shows in San Diego from legit venues to someone’s backyard. Regardless of the venue these artist are playing at, it’s always all love for the music and just excitement of jamming out to music. I’ve had friends come out to shows just because of the story’s they’ve heard or the pictures they’ve seen. That’s what I love about capturing the scene, I get to capture these moments people are talking about as well as spreading awareness for these shows that way more people get to hear new music. I just recently went to a show “The Frights” put on a free acoustic show at “M-Theory Records” a record store located in Midtown, San Diego. The Frights is my favorite San Diego band as well as a big inspiration to me, before this show I had only heard their music on Spotify so when I got there and saw them, I was in awe. I was up in front so I was literally in front of the members. I got to take so many photos as well as a crowd photo with the band, that later The Frights official Instagram page posted. I got to meet and talk to the members, they were the nicest people. I really appreciate that no matter how famous these bands get there will always be love for their city. The world surrounding me is a big inspiration to my work. I love to got out in nature a lot so nature is a heavy inspiration, specially place people wouldn’t go to. Examples would be deep in the woods when it’s 100 degrees out or in a little bridge that doesn’t get noticed as much as others. When I started filming I had a little point and shoot camera, since I knew I didn’t have the best gear, I would rely on almost a mystery factor. I like when people questioned where that was shot or when people would say I feel like I’ve been there but there not certain. Nowadays I shoot more music related stuff so anything music related I’ll be be inspired or at least interested by.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well I do lots of art from videography to photo zines but I’m most known for my concert photography. I love doing concert photography, I think concerts are my favorite things to photographer. There’s so much that goes on within the concerts, granted most concerts I go to are house shows/DIY but still at most concerts people are enjoying the music, a drink or smoke, and I think that’s the beauty of it. Capturing people in that moment, music brings so much expression out of people and all people react differently to it, so it makes it that much more interesting. I think what sets my photos apart from others is that I participate in the mosh pits or screaming along to the music. It’s more about participating than observing for me in terms of concert photography. When I first started I was just witnessing what was going on, I was still new to the whole scene so most time was I just in the corner, taking the same shot. As I kept going to more I tried listening to the music before I went. The first time I really moshed and participated was at a Renters house show, I remember being in the front with my friend Mondo and people started a pit so I set my camera down and jumped in. It was the best experience I had until I got to crowd surf later on but after that I had so much adrenaline. Being part of it makes the photo that much more authentic regardless of editing or any type of digital altering, I think you can just sense the energy of the photo. I like keeping things authentic to the source but I also like to give my own take on it, that’s why I’m heavy editor when it comes to my photos or videos. My most recent video “A Video for You” which can be found on instagram @jezuz,47, for that video I went out into nature with my camera but I also brought props that I bought at the dollar store like fake flowers and a magnifying glass that I used to make gloom effect with. There’s a field that planes always pass over and I set up the flowers so the plane would perfectly pass over the flowers. As set up as it was it felt real within the context of the video. It’s about making people believe that it’s real, it doesn’t have to be real to feel real. I like to think my videos more as short films, even though most of the time they don’t have any narrative I go in thinking of it as a film. My favorite shot in the video is the photo rising up from the water and it cuts to the photo floating in a field. The way I did it was almost like a green screen. I used a shot from the photo going through a stream and with premiere pro tools I keyed the water out and messed around with the speed. I think people are scared of committing or doing things differently. Most people tell you that you have to wait years to make a movie or to do this and that. It’s crazy to me that people aren’t opened to doing it themselves. I started with a point and shoot from a thrift store like I think doing it is the best option in most situations. This past year I spent just going to different location by myself and spending all day shooting as well as go to many concerts. It’s good feeling to know that my one year of being in this scene and capturing it has really open new doors for me. When I first got into the scene I was shooting house shows and DIY shows until I met The Renters. The Renters are an instrumental part of my life, they let me into their life as more than just a photographer. They became my brothers. Most of my known photos are of The Renters. Reflecting on this now as I’m less than two weeks away from going on tour with Spray Allen, I couldn’t be more excited to see what other adventures are waiting upon me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I get to take my friend all over the city I would take them to Downtown Oceanside, I love Oceanside, their so much that goes on there.. I like this one park by a railroad line and a beach it’s called Buccaneer Beach. The Buccaneer Shop is right there so you could get some good and enjoy both the park and the beach. Oceanside is filled with art people from music to painting to clothing and much more. There’s a lot of event that go on in Oceanside all the time so theirs always something to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to thank “The Renters” they are a band from my home of Oceanside, CA. They have helped me out so much in pushing my work to other people. I first met “The Renters” back at a show in Soma, San Diego. They hardly knew who I was but later on we ran into each other at a house show. After that they told me they liked me photos and asked me to come out to their next show so I did, It was a house showed filled with roof moshes, mosh pits, a flying chair, and much more. After that I have been there photographer since. I’ve had the wildest adventures with “The Renters”, I’ve been stuck on a freeway with them, only for them to play a show under a freeway the same day. They have become my family, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve got and continue to get. The Renters are definitely my biggest inspiration. If you haven’t heard a renters song, you are missing out on one of the best local bands. I would recommend listening to their latest single “Sandra Bullock”. The Renters were a big part in helping run the sound of the show I threw on May 20th in Fallbrook, California. They were the headliner playing alongside Blunites, Plastic Novelties, Cbarrgs, and Joys Calm. I will always include “The Renters” in my story as they have been a big part of it.

Website: https://www.worldatlarge.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jezuz.47/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mZJH91Oe-o

Image Credits
Jesus Rojas