Written and photographed by Jacob Zanghi
My name is Jacob Zanghi and I am a third-year film and television student at SCAD Atlanta. My online persona is probably a little more well-known; I go by the tags “Zang” or “@godofvision.”
I didn’t know I would pursue art as a career choice and way of life until I was 18, after high school. However, I didn’t start seriously creating videos and photos until I was 20 during my first year at SCAD Savannah. Now, at 21, one of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t start earlier. All I knew at the time was I rather pursue a passion with high risk than be unsatisfied with my career in the future. Still trying to find myself as a person as well as my own artistic style and goals — SCAD, creative friends and specific inspiration helped me find direction.
We all have numerous inspirations, but the ones that sparked my artistic style were my DSGN 101 color theory class with Professor Stefani Joseph, and the movie “Enter the Void” by experimental film director Gaspar Noé. As I watched this movie in color theory, I developed an obsession over color — eye-catching colors that pop from a black background, specifically. Even though I’m a film major, I’ve focused heavily on building my photography and graphic design skills outside of SCAD. Most of my stylized work up to this point has been a conceptual mix of photography and graphic design with the goal of bringing fantasy to reality.
Photo by Jacob Zanghi. 
Photo by Jacob Zanghi.
I didn’t want to take photos of only models. I wanted to show an idealized version of a futuristic, evolved humanity. Hence the spacey settings, popping colors and dynamic movement often found in my photos. I feel as if the youth of this generation seem to have a rather nihilistic outlook of the world, and rightfully so. I want my work to symbolize what we as individuals and as a collective can achieve in the future if together we can overcome global obstacles in the present. The combination of this theme with my style has evolved into this photo series titled “TURBO“
The overall slogan of the series “Go Turbo” exemplifies this by telling people to become the best versions of themselves. Creating and developing these photos has been a serious trip. Working on it has given me direction and purpose.Who knows what the future will be like? I aim to release a “TURBO” comic book by the end of this year where I will take the style and make a comprehensive narrative out of it.
Photo by Jacob Zanghi. 
Photo by Jacob Zanghi.
Ultimately, I aspire to be in a creative direction role of some kind. It would be a dream to direct an independent film in the future.
If I could give any advice to new artists, it would be to find a creative group that can help you with outside perspectives, collaboration, motivation, and connections. Without creative friends such as Angelo Numa, Rashaun Pauleon, Asher Graham and Blu Boy, to name a few out of many, I would not be the person I am today. Finally, stop trying to compete against other artists. Compete against yourself. Keep moving forward and make your next piece blow your last piece out of the water. That’s how growth, innovation and expertise will come. Thanks for listening. Go “Turbo.”
