It’s a loose term but ‘pop culture visionary’ just about sums The Cobrasnake up.
Ostensibly a photographer The Cobrasnake, also and somewhat less dangerously known as Mark Hunter, has become something of a trendsetter. Cobrasnake photographs and blogs cool in all its myriad forms. In his almost nightly postings he tells LA what's happening right this second, documenting only the hippest of parties. His notoriety is such that Summafieldayze has enlisted his help.
“I will be documenting the entire festival from head to toe! For those that are unfortunate enough not to make the festival, you will be able to see the best photo coverage ever on The Cobrasnake website. I've also teamed up with them from a creative perspective, to sort of add a little bit of energy and colour to the event. I'll bring a bit of LA style to it … It'll be fun, I'm going to be there dressed to the nines, I'll be running around giving out free Cobrasnake swag. I'll be talking to all the cute girls. I got the best job in the world, I'm so lucky!
“The guys at Future [Entertainment] know what they're doing, they always put on an amazing event. The line-up this year is my favourite so far, I am a huge fan of MIA and Mark Ronson puts on a great show … Erol Alkan is a legend in his scene.”
This is far from Cobrasnake’s first trip to Australia. Mark is well versed in all things Aussie and can't wait to get back to our golden sands, even if customs do give him a bit of a hard time.
“Hell, Australia is my second home! I've done many festival tours with Future [Entertainment] and also side tours with my best buddy Steve Aoki. I've seen all of Australia, from Perth to Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney, all over! … It's only a couple of months away and I'll be over there, in my speedos on the beach hanging out.
“I'm always so nervous around authority, my hands are sweating when I go through immigration. I normally put down that I am a photographer on my immigration forms. I try not to say I photograph music, because they always think that means drugs. I just say I do fashion. Sometimes they really grill me; the Australian immigration has even pulled my website up a couple of times to check on me.”
For the last decade Cobrasnake has documented some of the world’s coolest parties and has managed to turn his love into a bona fide career.
“I've been photographing pop culture for almost ten years now. It's taken me all around the world and I've gotten to photograph loads of legendary musicians, fashion designers and celebrities. It's been so fun, I basically created my own job. At the time I started there weren't many people taking pictures at parties, so I decided to create a website and share mine. It's been really fun and now it's quite an archive, you can look back on different trends and what not.
“I am a pop culture fiend, I am just obsessed with what is going on and what people are doing, I get inspired by that. I lust for that which has brought me around the world and I've met so many creative people and seen so many creative things, it blows my mind. I am a creative guy, but not nearly as creative as some of the artists and musicians I have had the pleasure to meet. I just try to share my experiences through my website.
“I think that when you look through the pictures you're able to feel like you're really there. What I want to be able to deliver is an experience that will inspire other young people to follow their dream.”
With an enviably cool and incredibly busy life comes a lot of glamour, but even the living embodiment of pop culture has to stay in shape, as Mark explains.
“I'm about to go on a fitness hike, right before the sun goes down and get in some cardio before I eat a healthy reasonable dinner. It's all very LA! … It's a big loop up a mountain that takes about 30 to 40 minutes, it's pretty intense though, it's part of my routine.”
The Cobrasnake will be dressed to the nines and snapping away at Summafieldayze January 5.
