Astronaut Video/Magazine 3

Astronaut Magazine is a a labour of love put together by a group of friends in Berlin. It’s a good-looking, digital indie magazine that thrives on our passion for stunning photography, smart films and inspiring stories. An astronaut is curious, fearless and bold. Our magazine features the works of many creative people who share these qualities, from photographers to musicians, from filmmakers to illustrators. But, more importantly, we also want to be a mouthpiece for people who aren’t heard from enough. Sharing these stories in a personal and unique way, Astronaut Magazine offers an exciting way to interact with video, image and text. It is an immersive experience that celebrates all those who dare to explore the limits of creativity and all those who revel in new discovery. This one’s for you.

Float down a river of spirits in Myanmar and race along the shoreline in New Jersey in a shiny 1920s car. Hitch a ride on the back of a motor bike to sunny California and skateboard with the youth in Yangon. Wind your way through tents shading heaps of colorful spices at a morning market in Morocco and arrive at Oceana, a forgotten town in West Virginia. Meet two artist couples in New York and walk the deserted streets of the Big Apple at night before hopping over to Coney Island for sunrise. Brave the blue waters of the Indian Ocean onboard a pirate ship and when the sun gets too hot and the sea too rough, trek across the open expanse of the Antarctic on a historic polar expedition.

This third issue of Astronaut Magazine explores the basic impulse to take in and be inspired by your surroundings. Each project is particular to the environment in which it was created, whether it’s on a highway on the West coast of America or on the icy planes of the South Pole. Because of this, each story carries a distinct and palpable sense of place. This sense is shaped by the feelings and meaning attached to these places by the filmmakers, photographers and artists we’ve chosen for this issue. But it is equally shaped by the wider context of these places. The projects in this issue were triggered by wildly different situations, such as the prescription drug epidemic in America, piracy off the Somali coast, or rapid modernization in Myanmar. We get to appreciate these films and photographs as unique products of these extraordinary locations, inspiring issues, and talented individuals. In that there is an unexpected, visceral, and intimate experience of unknown places and unconventional people. Look closely, take it all in, be transported.

We hope you enjoy the journey and thanks for coming with us.