Atoms is a place for creativity, fueled by an aromatic cup of hot Chai. 

Throughout the years, we've had the pleasure of meeting many incredible creators. These are the people you meet on the street whose eyes shine with a little spark that sets a lot of things alight. We love listening to their stories; how their creative process works, how they overcome creative blocks, and how they ride that stagnant phase where nothing happens, to later find themselves having created incredible art, music, stunning visual and sensory photography and compelling video documentaries. 

It is with this energy that we wanted to build Atoms shoes— to be comfortable in your daily life while you’re moving about to create. 

“I'm a filmmaker. So I spend a lot of time on my feet. When I started wearing Atoms, it really just changed the game for me. I suddenly was able to work all day without even thinking twice about my feet, which is really the last thing you want to be thinking about,” says Moira Fett, a documentary filmmaker from NYC. Her work on her latest documentary Upstream, seeks to uncover the contours of human behavior under environmental pressures.

Create together

Creating together is important for Amanda Pinto and Jake Nathanson from Sub/Urban Photography in NYC. “When we’re doing a session with someone, they should feel at ease and it’s a collaborative experience,” says Jake. Jake and Amanda work with artists and actors primarily and for them, it’s important that everyone leaves satisfied with a shared vision.

As photographers, keeping people comfortable throughout the shoot is one of the biggest and most creative challenges. "There’s something inherently unnatural about a photograph in that it’s a moment frozen in time. People tend to be more comfortable being filmed because motion is such an important part of how we perceive the world. When you remove that element, it becomes a challenge for both the photographer and the subject to capture something that tells a story in a single frame. It’s a vulnerable and rewarding collaboration. Creating an image that has an impact on the viewer, particularly if it can tell a good story, is one of the most gratifying aspects of our work," says Amanda.

Photo from SubUrban Photography

Everyone is different, and that's why Amanda and Jake ensure that the setting in which they shoot is as warm and inviting as possible. "Some walk in excited while others are nervous. We try to remove the pressure from the day, especially any pressure coming from us, for them to just be ready to nail it on the first picture. We go as far as to start every session by asking the client to make an 'ugly' face. We focus the expectations and work aspect on how we can perform up to their expectations," says Amanda. It also helps to just have fun and to make these an opportunity to become a 'model for the day'.

"We like to make the day feel special and that they deserve the attention and effort being put into their shoot. And that’s because we believe they really do!" she adds.

“I can wear it at work, and I can go out in the evening. My Atoms have absolutely become my everyday shoe. They're functional, they're durable, they're stylish. The shoes that I always reach for when I'm walking out the door,” says Amanda. 

Photo from SubUrban Photography

Create with kindness

Law graduate turned music photographer Deanie Chen shared her creative approach to photographing musicians and concerts. “I like things to be dreamy in a way that conveys how I felt when I saw the show. I always take into account the artist and their style and their type of music, and that always helps me curate how I’m going to edit every set,” she says in an interview with Phosphor Magazine. 

Deanie talks about how important it is to be kind to the people you work with. The music industry strives on building relationships. Traveling for months on end with a tour group, hanging out with the artists and getting along with everyone is really important. “Being a person that they want to hang out with is just as important as your skill as a photographer or videographer. Being a good person and genuinely being kind is such a great asset,” she adds in her interview. 

Deane loves to go for walks during her breaks in a comfy pair of Atoms. “Plugging in an album and going on a walk is so nice to clear my head and get some fresh air,” she said during our chat with her. 

Create within chaos

Kevin Kuh, a multidisciplinary musician and artist says that he describes his work as “organized chaos” and invites viewers to create their own meaning and definition amongst the abstract shapes that appear on the canvas.

Photo from SubUrban Photography

“I find it interesting how much my paintings change even after I stop interacting with them. As the paints mix, and dry, there are always unexpected outcomes, so it takes patience and a bit of trust to not overthink it. After I make my initial moves, it's all about adapting, improvising, and reacting to what I'm seeing and what I've already done,” he says. He encourages everyone to trust the process and to share it with everyone during his chat with Atoms.