Instant (coffee) Gratification | Stoke-Ness
This month
I’m sharing some favorite B-side photos from summer’s past, a book you need to read if you are a Creative, and a review from Matthias Marklin about my mentorship program.
“Having Isaac as a mentor has been a rewarding and inspirational experience, going far beyond any workshop I’ve taken in the past. For the first time, I’m seeing the potential to turn my passion into a career, and the one-on-one meetings define my personal roadmap. Isaac’s genuine enthusiasm fuels my growth, turning my artistic vision into a tangible, exciting future.“
There are limited spots for the summer session and we are nearly full. Shoot me an email at isaac@isaacjohnston.co if you want to join.
Be stoked,
Isaac
Photo Set
I often consume my photos, looking at them once after they are created and then stuffing them away on DropBox rarely to be seen again. The joy of looking at some of my favorite images is real and I am sharing a few from summers past this month in no real order. Enjoy
Gear and Tools
Instant Coffee, the good kind
I travel a lot and often the places I visit have coffee that tastes like tar, used motor oil, or an olive straight from the tree (ask me how I accidentally know what that tastes like).
Yes, I could travel with a grinder, beans of my choice + plus a camp stove for hot water. That is just what I did for years. Now that I often travel with a cinema camera and my stills camera gear, the amount of bags I have has become overwhelming. There isn’t space.
Third-wave coffee makers have started offering their version of instant. It’s good. Honestly, it's better than most coffee and so easy to travel with that I have switched completely while on the road. Good coffee at the airport, on a boat, or a remote island beach in Croatia. Dialed.
My favorites are Coava Coffee, Black Coffee, and Uptown Hearth Coffee
Your local place might have it too.
Photo/Video Technique
Pro-Mist Filter
I have just returned from shooting the newest episode of “No One Sees” with Alex Strohl in Croatia. While we were there, we also shot a short film of an artist and Seatrekker who lives for months at a time on a remote Island.
For both projects, I shot video with a Pro-Mist filter. I used both the standard 1/8th Pro-Mist filter and the Peter Mckinnon VND + Mist filter (the diffusion level is 1/4 in that filter).
The mist gives a nice softening of the image that removes the digital look, softens the shadows, and makes any camera look more like a Cinema camera. I find it ideal to make beautiful videos. Peter Mckinnom tattoed fingers not required =)
Who I am Following
Filson
No one brand captures the outdoor heritage vibe while simultaneously pushing a new visual style like Filson. I look forward to their posts and that’s not something I say about many brands.
Follow them here
Listen
Jeanie by Jim-E Stack feat. Bon Iver
Make a quirky song with a good beat + add Bon Iver = a song I listen to on repeat.
Videos, Movies, and TV
Erzberg Rodeo
This is the only live sporting event I watch and honestly, it is a nail-biter every year. While you could watch the entire 4-hour replay, I am sharing the 20-minute recap.
If you recently got into F1 because of Netflix, then the tension and drama at this moto race will suck you in.
Reads
The Creative Act
A friend sent me this book for my birthday and told me not to read more than a few short chapters daily. It is best to let it soak in. I am about halfway through the book and it is giving me a new perspective on observing and creating.
Like all the best books, it gives words to explain what you already knew but couldn’t articulate.
Parting Thought:
I read this six months ago and it has been with me daily since.
“Don’t be overheard complaining, not even to yourself” Marcus Aurelius. The Stoics believed that every time you complain, even in solitude, you reinforce a narrative of helplessness and weakness. It is as if you are telling yourself “I’m at the mercy of my circumstances” and with every repetition, that story becomes more deeply imprinted into your identity. And so, the Stoics tell us that there is more power in self-discipline and choosing not to voice every frustration. Because when you refrain from complaint you’re shaping how you see yourself. You’re reinforcing an empowering perception of your strength and resilience.
Be stoked and have a great month,
Isaac
This newsletter, my photography, and my videos are all free but not cheap. If you want to help me continue to make things you can buy my all new Pitch Deck Kit HERE or buy me a virtual coffee.
Don't have the funds to buy a coffee at the moment? Then sharing this newsletter with someone you think would like it is the next best thing. Thanks!
