A Conversation with Nicholas Maggio

I recently got the chance to interview one of my favorite photographers, Nicholas Maggio, for Pluck Magazine.

I got to ask him why he's so frickin awesome and other similar intellectual and incredibly well thought-out questions that blew his mind.

Here's a snippet of the interview:

"PM: In your opinion, what makes your photos unique?

NM: I'd like to think the purity. Not so much in the digital or post process aspect, but in the subject matter. I guess the above question speaks to this as well.

PM: Of your work thus far, is there a particular image that stands out in your mind as your favorite or most memorable? Why?

NM: A few Christmases ago my nephew got a space suit. He promptly tried it on and I asked if I could take his picture in the front yard. The image became one of my all-time favorites. The sense of innocence in the bare-feet and excitement of a new toy; the candidness of the image; the textures; the light; and the fact I took it on my phone are all reasons why I love it. I've sold prints of it and a huge retailer out it on a shirt and sold it in over 850 stores across the U.S. I still love it."

Head over to Pluck to read the rest and be sure to check out his portfolio here.

Pluck Magazine Wants to Know What We Should Do

On behalf of Pluck Magazine (the magazine I edit on the side), I've got an exciting announcement today!

Today we are officially launching our contest to see who has the best ideas for Pluck Magazine’s To Do List, our list of real or imagined things that we’d like to do.

If you have a Plucky item that you think belongs on our To Do List, post it on Pluck’s Facebook page before June 27 and see if yours makes the cut for our Summer To Do List.

We’re going to compile our Summer To Do List from the five best suggestions from readers, so to enter, head over to our Facebook page, hit the “like” button, and leave a comment with your idea, a link, and an explanation for why it needs to be on the front page of Pluck Magazine.

To help guide your thinking, our To Do List is loosely broken down into five categories:

• Have more fun
• Be more responsible
• Be more adventurous
• Be more learned/cultured
• Be more successful

If you want to see an example, go to Pluck’s homepage and look at the left side bar. The contest ends on Monday, June 27^th, so be sure to get your ideas in before then.

Winners will also have the opportunity to explain their idea in a featured article on our blog.

We look forward to seeing what you all come up with, and don’t forget to spread the word.

Pluck Magazine Is Here!!!

Unfurl the banners, order the serfs to pull the chariot, and let the trumpets blare the sound of triumph, for today is a very special announcement.

Today is the official launch of Pluck Magazine.

Yours truly, along with my fabulous friends Rafael Cuevas, Anna Durrett, Matt Hansen, and Nico Lauricallea have been hard at work for the past few months putting this online magazine together and we’re proud to release our first issue today.

Our goal was fairly straight forward, we wanted to create an online magazine about being a twenty something at a time when paths have been less straight-forward, professional opportunities limited, and relationships affected by technology and distance. I am proud to share with you our first "issue," and we hope that you will pass it along to your friends and networks.

We appreciate all the support that we have gotten throughout the process, not the least of which has come in the form of incredible articles written by our talented friends, both new and old.

So take a look, read an article or two, and please give us feedback!

In particular, if you’re so inclined to the writings of one Mr. Chow, take a look at my article on my experiences working in the Navajo Nation for the Obama campaign as well as my piece on my favorite albums for 2011.

We are hoping to post new articles and reviews on a weekly basis, so check back for more, and be sure to "like" us on our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter .

If you would like to write for Pluck or know somebody who would, please email us at editors@pluckmagazine.com and we’ll be in touch with you.

In the meantime go forth and get plucked!