Greenfield resident Tim Sylvia is putting his life online. The 34-year-old’s Instagram account (@blacksquirrelphoto) follows him through mountain hikes and woodland explorations with plenty of hammocks, bare feet, and endless night skies to spare.
Q. How has your photography style changed over the years?
A. I lost a lot of weight recently, and something that went along with that was changing my whole lifestyle and being more active. I found myself outdoors more. My photos reflect that change. I try to Instagram without being too “in your face’’ you know? I didn't turn my account into my weight-loss journey or anything like that. When going through that process, most people tend to put that out on social media so everyone can see it and comment on it. [My account] is more reflective of what was going on along the way. I’m not in the forefront.
Q. What do you do outside of photography?
A. I have an artistic background in graphic design, and I derive composition from that. Like when I’m making a print, I look at my photography as if it’s a living diorama. I try to make it a microcosm of magic imagery. I’ve also been a musician, and I work for the county transit authority out here in Western Massachusetts. I really found a passion in photography. Something about curating your life just really fascinates me. You exponentially gain people following you, who you don’t know, who get a window into your life. It’s addicting too, you can get lost in the likes. When I moved out to Western Mass. I joined a group called IGers413 where people post from the local area, and I had some work shown in a show they had back in December. I like being involved in the community aspect of it, but my work tends to be more solitary.
Q. Is there anything you don’t like about Instagram?
A. I try not to do stuff everyone else is doing. I’m not taking pictures of blue water and stuff like that. I draw inspiration from things I like: different sci-fi stuff, my favorite artist Dan McCarthy, houses from the ’50s, stuff like that. I like the look of the power lines and tree silhouettes. I’m more of a visual person; I’m not great with words. That’s what I love about Instagram. For me, it’s a much better outlet than like Facebook.
Q. Does it bother you having your personal life so public?
A. Yes and no. No, I don’t feel weird about it. Yes, in the way, I curate it. I decide what I want to share. It’s challenging curating your own life. You don’t want to put too much out there that’s not you because then you’re not being true to yourself. At the end of the day, it’s just a social media outlet.
Interview was edited and condensed. Carly Sitrin can be reached at carly.sitrin@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @carlysitrin
