SELECTS EP.001- PILOT
Welcome, Why, and the inaugural Select.
Welcome to Selects.
Welcome to Selects, a weekly curation on industry and creativity.
Why Selects?
I’ve learned a lot from the internet. So far, that knowledge has been gathering dust like seeds never planted. So much of what I value now came from a couple of smart and creative people who chose to press “publish.” It’s time for me to do the same.
A bit about my process: I’m constantly consuming. Podcasts, Youtube, Twitter (X) threads, and even the occasional Facebook group. At the end of each week, I’ll compile, reflect, opine on, and package my conclusions along with some related thoughts for your weekly consumption. While I am still “finding my voice” if you will, I’ll do my best to deliver each weeks Select with beauty and brevity. With that being said, enjoy this inaugural Select.
For the first-ever Select, I’m highlighting Jacob Titus on X (formerly Twitter). Jacob, a writer, photographer, and artist hailing from South Bend, Indiana, has an unpretentious style, reflective of the region he calls home. I first found Jacob on X, where his tweets stood out among a sea of Chat-assisted slop, and landed like a breath of fresh air amidst my primarily finance and tech-related X feed. As I did some digging on his profile, I found him to have an impressive portfolio across various mediums including photobooks and zines, real estate development, as well as design work, film contributions, and even an book cover for Pete Buttigieg through Tutt Street, his creative studio. He also appears to also be some sort of authority on the history and culture of the rust belt. What stands out about Jacob’s work isn’t necessarily the prestige of the clients but the stylistic disciplene that he walks in. Each logo, branding project, and photo book carries a distinct, industrial theme reflective of his upper midwest heritage.
Passion without incentive is the rawest and most true form of passion.
Across all platforms, Jacob’s work carries a quiet confidence that comes from consistent authenticity. He isn’t pretending to be someone that he’s not, and it seems that Jacob’s work flows from a place of understanding his identity and who he is rather than trying to find identity in what he creates. It’s clear that Jacob found his voice, and that voice frames his unique perspective of the world around him. He’s decided to love the rust belt, and as an overflow of that desire, when he’s behind the camera, she looks flattering from every angle. Jacob truly makes the rust belt look cool. (Sidenote: Unabashed passion is inspiring, especially in an era when nonchalant is cool and the worst thing you could be is a “try-hard.” Passion without incentive is the rawest and most true form of passion.)
Jacob’s work reminds me of the storied past (or lore as the youth say) of the Great Lakes region, and his photos might make you feel homesick for a place you’ve never been. Jacob’s body of work depicts a region no longer able to ignore the realities of globalization. The cities Jacob covers are complex, with a present state informed by individuals attempting to reconcile the opposing realities of a splendid history and years of neglect. Jacob’s photography speaks to both the glory and the agony of the rust belt’s past, present, and future. His words frame his photos, serving to frame the curated photography in a manner that makes it feel lighter, more nostalgic, and more alive than you’d otherwise expect of historic B&Ws.
Jacob is truly world-building with his body of work, and my incessant desire to visit this peculiar place is evidence of that fact. Jacob’s composition and use of light, intentional captions, and thematic discipline inspire a longing for the past, and an intrigue for the future, all while grounding you in the present moment. Give Jacob a follow and stay tuned for more Selects in the near future.
What a surprising and kind read. Appreciate this, Zach. Your “passion without incentive” comes through here too. Looking forward to more Selects.