Dope At It’s Finest: Featuring Sonder222

When recognizing someone for their craft, you often wonder what lies in their creative minds. This mind right here is anything but ordinary. Dae-Jha, also known as Sonder22 among several different aliases, gives us a view of the world through his eyes. Whether he’s capturing moments on stage during a performance or for a video, shoot, he always manages to leave his imprint on the scene. Outside of his own collective, he has provided his talent to a widespread of people locally and nationally. Not many people can capture the pure essence of the moment at hand, but he manages to put his unique twist to the mix. A lot of things can often overshadow photography, but as long as the Nikon flashes bright, it can phase out the shadows the venture is draped in. We got a chance to sit down and catch up with bro. Check it out below!

Q. When it comes to photography there are countless styles and ways to take pictures, your specialty happens to be Polaroids, what about Polaroids made you say this is what’s for me?

Off top. The magic in instant photography that pulled me in, bruh. The process of shooting a film photo and watching it develop in your hands is a dope feeling. We live in such a digital “cloud” era now; you feel me? So having a tangible photo from that exact time and moment makes it extra special type shit. Back in the day, my pops were always getting me Lil instant photography cameras and disposable film cameras, so the shit just stuck with me. I got older and wanted to start capturing moments, and Polaroids just speak to my soul. Shit makes me happy you feel me.

Q. As a photographer what would you say is your favorite part about what the creative process when taking pictures?

Ultimately it’s the inspiration/energy to who or what I’m shooting. When I’m shooting photos of people and that connection is formed, it’s dope to me. Usually, people with the best energy help me create the best shots. Or when I see something that catches my eye, and it speaks to me, it has to be captured.

Q. If you could do a photoshoot with anybody dead or alive who would it be?

Bruh, there are so many of them G. So many. Off the top, Id want to do a shoot with Pac. He’s got so many damn iconic photos shot by many iconic photographers. I want to shoot with John Witherspoon. Rest In Peace to them both. Fuckin Malcolm X, Huey P! Shit, I want to do a shoot with Basquiat, MF DOOM, Red Man, Christina Milian, J Lo, Samuel L. Jackson...many many many more.

Q. After partaking in Graphic Design and drawing for multiple years, what made you decide to become a photographer?

Photography speaks to my soul, man. I don’t even know if that makes sense. I also like to capture other people’s creativity in how they dress and how they chose to express themselves in front of a camera. It all just comes down to the magic between me, the camera, and the subject.

Q. You’ve captured polaroids of Larry June, Zaytoven, Lil Debbie, and many more. Out of all the people you have worked with who was your personal favorite, and who else do you want to work with in the future?

That’s a hard one, bruh. They were all chill encounters—especially Uncle Larry and Lil Debbie. Zaytoven was chill too. I was kind of to the side with my Boy Ace at a meet and greet for Jiberish, and Zaytoven walked over to us and chopped it up for a Lil while. I wasn’t expecting that at all, you feel me. In the future, I want to capture Mr. Skateboard P for sure, Premo Rice, Jay Worthy, Spitta, Dom, Sir Michael Rocks, Christina Milian on my list for sure, Jessica Alba, Ashanti, Kehlani, Lucy Liu. SO MANY BRUH!

Q. You have a unique style when it comes to your art, how you dress, and how you present yourself. What are or were some of your influences growing up that made you this dope ass person?

My Pops. He always encouraged me to be different, be myself, and not be a follower. I always looked up to people like Pharrell Williams, Terry Kennedy, Antwuan Dixon, Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Dom Kennedy, Jerry Carnation, Banco, so many people inspire me G. 

Shit, just being born in the era I was born into, there’s just a lot of game, culture, and knowledge I soaked up over the years, and it makes me who I am today: the universe, people around me. Everything inspires me.

Q. What artist or music have you been bumping as of lately?

Larry June, of course, LNDN DRGS, Premo Rice, Azizi Gibson. That new Sir Michael Rocks project is pure Game. Uhhh, Brent Faiyaz, TheStand4RD, Xavier Wulf, Luvelovesyou, Chap D, my boy Akwa. I be slappin a lot of jams sliding around in the 1 deep, in a jeep haha

Q. What’s next for you and your career and what can we expect from you in 2021?

I want to be shooting dope shit consistently. Things usually slow down in the cold wintertime. For this Spring/Summer, I’m trying to go crazy. Reach out to people like I used to, step out of my comfort zone a bit. I’m just ready to go for shit! 2020 is starting weird as the fuck, but we bout to dead all that. Consistency, positivity, prosperity for 2021

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