Youthful Nostalgia by Liam Fawell.

Life and love through documenting -a burning passion to inspire and create stories to tell when we’re old.

A glimpse into the process of ‘youthful Nostalgia’ by Liam Fawell.

Hey Liam! Who are you and what do you do?

Hey guys! I’m Liam. A proud born and raised Australian who grew up and is based in Perth. A lot of my life revolves around cameras. Working in the fashion, music and lifestyle industries as a Photographer, Videographer and Director.

I love people, travel and live for spontaneous ideas that lead to unforgettable memories. Inspired by summer and the people around me, I’m super grateful to be where I’m at in life. Just a kid who’s stoked to be living and creating to be honest:)

What's your background? how did you get into photography, creating?

What's your background? how did you get into photography, creating? I grew up in the Perth hills so we were quite remote out there. I was always a visual kid growing up but I used to make home videos with my brother on our iPads and little cameras lying around the house. I then picked up my Dad’s DSLR camera one day, fell in love and the rest was history. I began shooting all the 15th and 16th school birthday parties and really became known as that guy with a camera pretty early on.

You recently made a photo book, can you tell us about it?

I did! I’ve always loved tangible and physical art and been obsessed with coffee table books for as long as I can remember so it’s been a dream to make one for a while. The past few years I’ve managed to travel a fair bit and created a body of work on film that I was proud enough to make into a book. And it’s finally here!

What inspired youthful nostalgia ?

My friend actually gave me the name when he described my work as giving him a feeling of ‘youthful nostalgia’. It really stuck with me and I love the thought that my work represents that feeling.

Youthful nostalgia is an incredible name, what does it mean to you?

To me it’s quite a play on words. I think they’re both beautiful individually but together they are even more powerful. To me it means being fond of a time where it felt like anything was possible, where the world was at your fingertips. Typically, that’s viewed as youth, but I’d also like the name to represent the idea of that time being right now. The world is still yours, right now. Wherever you are at in life, you can still be and achieve whatever you want to. I’d like this book to represent that.

What inspired you to make this book?

My friends, my travels and the beautiful pink skies I’m blessed to watch as the sun dips below the horizon every day. The colours in the sky at dusk and the feelings around that is a big part of what inspired the idea and theme behind the book. This was also just a huge personal project, something I’ll be able to look back on with my kids one day and show them the life I had lived.

All of this book was shot on film, what's your relationship with film photography and why were you drawn to it?

I started shooting film 4/5 years ago after seeing some of my favourite photographers on Instagram shooting with it. I was in love with the feeling it created. The colours, the texture, the rawness and authenticity was amazing to me and I have since fallen in love with the process of shooting film. I liked the idea of creating a whole book that was shot on film, to me it felt like a complete full circle process which I really enjoyed.

You've ended up traveling quite a bit with a camera, what's that been like? Have you always had a love to explore?

I’ve always loved to explore and have always been drawn to having the freedom to travel. Guess in some way I manifested a life of being able to freely be on the go moving from country to country while still working and creating. Being a Sagittarius I’ve told doesn’t help that desire. I love being away but also can be a bit of a home body and really enjoy having a stable environment and routine every now and then. I think I’ve found a pretty sweet balance.

is there are moment in time you can pinpoint (or more) where you knew you were on the right path, pursuing and acting on creating?

I actually get these moments quite often. Whether it’s in the form of incredible people coming into my life or dream opportunities presenting themselves. For the past 5 years it really has seemed as if things just keep magically happening and I’m so grateful to feel like I’m in a flow on the right path.

What are your biggest motivations in life and art?

I think the biggest inspiration for me has always been the possibility to inspire others. For a while the concept of freedom was a big motivator. But I think now it really comes from a place of just pure love to create. I’ve always been so curious of what I’m capable of, what I can achieve and what impact I can have and I think that drives me in a healthy way too.

what do you think the role of art and photography plays in society, what's it's importance on community and self?

I think art heals a lot a people. There’s so many incredible art forms and so much creativity blended between them all that it’s almost impossible to not be constantly inspired by some form of art.

Do you have a one or a few favourite artists, or a piece of art that has impacted you and inspired your process?

There are people I’m inspired by within different industries for sure. I follow a range of artists, musicians, designers, dancers, photographers and many other creatives. I’m really inspired by words, colours, aesthetics and conversations. I just love how feelings and thoughts can be expressed in so many unique ways. I always try to switch up what I’m consuming to get a whole new input of inspiration.

What's your idea of success as an artist? Has it changed over time?

My idea of success has definitely changed over the years. I think that’s just an artists natural growth and progression. I’m sure it will keep changing as life goes on too. Currently for me it’s somewhere between having the means to bring any ideas I want to life, and just being really present and living in the now. Living with no expectations and truly just embracing where I’m at right now, but having the capability at any point to do, be, or create something I want too. Success lies somewhere in between those realities to me right now.

for anyone wanting to create -what's your advice to them?

I could share advice forever but here are a few core things. Most importantly, do it from a place of complete authenticity. Draw inspiration and ideas from everywhere you can, but when it comes to creating, the entire process needs to be your own. You must figure that out. What resonates with you most is going to have the biggest impactbecause it’s real and authentic. People can see that.

Secondly do it for the love of it. If you’re creating for something other than the pure love and enjoyment of doing it, youwon’t last long. Be in the game, purely for the love of being in the game.

And last but not least, just start. You have to completely come to terms with the idea that everything can’t be perfect.

Just take one step forward and keep going. Show up, every day and just keep going. Watch what happens and you’ll be amazed at where it takes you.

Pick up a copy of Liam’s book here: .

Youthful Nostalgia Book — Liam Fawell

You can catch the Launch of Youthful Nostalgia this Saturday 9th of December at Livid skate cafe in Scarborough