We’ve reached the final bonus interview of PNPPL zine 10, where Ali and Steve Viksjo talk about what it was like to create the story for the magazine.
How did you find each other for the photo shoot? – Was there any preparation before shooting?
Ali: I found Steve on this social media app called collective. It kinda felt like an oasis of gay creativity. I can’t remember who reached out to who, but I checked out some of Steve’s work on there and immediately knew I wanted to collaborate with him. We talked about his process of photographing people in their own living space, and I was very intrigued by that.
Steve: As Ali said, We found eachother on Collective, which I had just joined following Trump’s inauguration. Seeing the tech giants all lined up in the D.C. Church pew behind their leader made my stomach churn. I immediately fell into what felt like a private gay- and queer-only digital space, and began reaching out to people who seemed like they’d be fun to shoot with. Ali really stood out.
What was the first impression of each other?
Ali: Steve’s creative eagerness excited me. From our text conversations to the in person shoot, he totally locked in, and I could see his intentness on meticulously capturing the afternoon we shared together. It was a bonus that he is handsome and tall ☺
Steve: Through our chat I sensed a warmth, a creativity, and an openness in Ali. Which are common traits for people willing to trust you to shoot them in their home, and often nude or semi-nude. And he has absolutely beautiful eyes, which I knew would just melt the camera lens.
If there was – what was the most difficult thing during the shooting?
Ali: We shot in my apartment in west Harlem. It was later in the afternoon, and it was slightly overcast that day, but it kind of added a softening touch to the images Steve captured. I hadn’t worked with film before so that was also an exciting challenge.
Steve: Yes, it was definitely the lighting. I never show up to a shoot with any lamps, choosing to just make do and figure it out with the available natural light, capturing the person in the lighting they truly live with. It feels more authentic to me, and I also just prefer natural light in images. I like to capture the totality of someone—their body and how they exist in their space, how they decorate, what they choose to surround themselves with. So the main challenge was that we were more limited to shoot in spaces nearest the windows. But I’m happy with the images, and Ali looks great.
Steve, what do you do when you are not photographing?
Steve: I’m a Creative Director / Graphic Designer for work—with clients mainly in the arts and fashion. But when I’m not shooting, or working, I’m often at my pottery wheel. Similar to film, pottery is just so authentic and real and messy. I love it. And now, in the summer, you’ll mostly find me outdoors in the Hudson Valley with my husband and friends swimming in some body of water, and soaking up as much sun as possible.
Ali, what do you do when you are not modelling?
Ali: Music is my soul. Living in NYC means access to the fucking best parties and music in the world. If I am not at home unwinding with my partner and cat, I am probably somewhere in Brooklyn shaking to the funkiest beats. As a queer Palestinian DJ (I am very aware that everyone and their grandmother is also a DJ in Brooklyn) you won’t believe the crazy, amazing and wonderful community I’ve tapped into thanks to music.
What makes you happy?
Ali: Friends, community, my loving and caring partner John, good sex, working out and food. Literally nothing tops a good juicy burger actually.
Steve: I second all of that – including the burger (and I’m only recently a carnivore again!)
What turns you on?
Ali: Mutual respect, confidence, respecting boundaries, checking in. I am very into the variety that comes with hooking up / cruising culture. Tasting the different flavors of hot men out there, and there are A LOT of hot men, is what really gets me. I love experiencing new things I haven’t tried before.
Steve: Confidence without cockyness, a comfort in yourself and your surroundings, an openness to have fun, to explore, to connect emotionally, to learn together, and delight in adventure. That goes for sex, friends, and love.
Photographs by: Steve Viksjo @svixjo • shop.vixjo.studio
Model: Ali @feeding_seahorses27
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