Jetlag
Creative spotlight
photo taken by Martin So
Jet Bailey, also known as Jetlag, is a fantastic Toronto photographer and all-around creative. His work is among the most distinctive available. His photography style is known as Zeitgeist. His process begins with live events and capturing the moment as it unfolds. Experiencing the energy and emotions that people are feeling at the time. Making a time capsule that can be used to travel back in time and see things as they were at that moment. This is because the majority of Jet’s photos aren't staged or posed. They are present and organic. He captures genuine facial expressions and emotions that can be felt on the screen as well as in a real-life print. His editing style is also what distinguishes his art; the photos sell on their own, but his distinct and unique editing style really brings out the signature Jetlag look. The purplish tint has come to be associated with Jetlag, and you can tell when you see it. It is not even necessary to include a watermark, his look and style are the watermarks. Jet has been shooting since 2019 but went all in around the beginning of 2021, and his adventure is just getting started. His abilities have grown in a short amount of time, and his progress has been some of the most impressive I have ever seen. His ability to network and grow is something that very few can do and that is one place where I and Jet really connect. Jet's communication skills, love of people, and artistic passion propel him to new heights. His branding skills are among the best, thanks in part to the fact that he owns and operates his own company, Jetlag Digital. He has created merchandise and even a photo yearbook for artists and creatives that was released back in late 2020. Jetlag is so captivating because his abilities extend beyond photography. He himself the person is someone to look up to and appreciate. I can't wait to see where Jet goes next and what his next major move will be. Regardless of what it will be, I'm here to support it.
Written by Maxim Bayarsky
Jetlag’s Gallery
Interview.
When did you start your journey?
The first time I picked up a camera was probably around 2018, but I willingly started my journey in 2019. Originally I disliked photography. It was a portion of my Media Arts class in high school, and our teacher requested that we take photos of buildings or nature. I felt discouraged attempting to take pictures of something that had likely been photographed 1,000 times prior. Around the same time I had access to a camera, I was invited to bring it to an underground music event in Toronto called “The Pilot”. On that night I realized that I didn’t dislike photography, I disliked what I was shooting. Portrait/event photography became my new hobby, and it has been for almost 4 years now.
Who is your Inspiration, and what motivates you to capture the scene?
It’s impossible for me to give a definite answer. I’m inspired by hundreds if not thousands of people and their creations. Whether it’s through photography, music, sports, or other forms of art, I take bits and pieces from everything. I’m motivated to stay inspired simply by the hope that I can inspire others for years to come. Documenting these honest moments and sharing them with a community gives me purpose.
Where did you learn to take photos and did you go to school for it?
90% of my journey has been self-taught. Other than a few Youtube tutorials, most of my lessons have been through trial and error. I still have very limited knowledge about cameras and editing. I twist knobs and push buttons until I like what I see. School has rarely been a thought in relation to photography. Although I’m completely open to critiques of my photos, I work better without the restraints of assignment criteria and a grading system.
How did you get into the show space you are in today, and how did you develop that Zeitgeist style?
As I mentioned before, my first shoot was at “The Pilot”. I consider this the foundation of my journey into the show space. Each artist I photographed created a new branch of connections, which thankfully lead to more. Notably, one of my first and most important connections was with a multihyphenate known as “Dent”. He opened doors for me simply by sharing event posters on his story. I would attend and document as many as I could. At the end of each night, I would go home and edit my raw photos.
The style of editing has been very grimey from the start, mainly because the events were grimey. Photos of a dirt floor rave under a bridge should look like they were shot at a dirt floor rave under a bridge. I call the style “Zeitgeist Archiving” because that’s exactly what I do. I archive (store) the Zeitgeist, which by definition is “the spirit of the era”. I manipulate my photos in order to preserve the energy I felt taking them. There’s a meaning behind each color scheme I apply, but I feel that explaining them would take away from the viewer’s perspective.
A message for the youth of Toronto?
No matter how far you go, you’ll always be further than where you started. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Where there’s a won’t, there isn’t.
YOU set the precedent. Create where you’re respected.
