I use my camera to capture grit and raw emotion. When it’s to my eye, everything fades—I’m fully immersed in my own world.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I create images that pull people in and make them feel something. I’m not chasing perfection—I’m chasing soul. Imperfections give an image life, while “perfect” images often feel empty. I’m drawn to the darker side of emotion, the kind that lingers and makes the viewer sit with it.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in music and film, especially classic suspense and horror. Filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, David Cronenberg, and Stuart Gordon shaped how I see mood, tension, and storytelling. That influence shows up in my work through atmosphere, grit, and a sense of unease.
What would you do with $25,000?I’d invest in tools and growth that push my work further. A used Leica Q Monochrom would elevate how I capture light, contrast, and emotion. I’d also invest in a professional printer to bring my images into the physical world, and in education to keep evolving—because mastering the craft never stops.
Vote for Joel "THE BLACKMAN ARMED WITH A CAMERA" Meade to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
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