Meet Joseph Evans III | Photographer | Writer | Sneaker Lover

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Evans III and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Helping others makes me happy. Serving others makes me happy. Especially my brothers and sisters in the Black community. Growing up in poverty, I always believed that the only way I could help others was through gaining wealth. Being introspective and attentive to the ways that I affected others I grew to realize that simply is not true. I am still on the pursuit of wealth and legacy building. But I have come to realize if that is not in the fold of God’s plans for my life I would be able to accept it. This is because I help people in various ways. With my spoken words and writings of encouragement and motivation. Through the many forms of love that I exude. I do it through gift giving and acts of kindness. I do it through my photographs and visual creation. It all comes from love. I do it through my hard work. I try to love others selflessly, more so than myself. Helping and serving others, from animals to humans, is what makes me happiest as I travel this Earth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before the term “creative” arose to prominence, I always considered myself to be an artist. By way of photography and writing. I remember my mom’s purchasing a toy camera for me in my childhood. I shot on it until the sensor stopped working. And that was the moment I realized that I loved to capture moments and make them exist forever. I would say what makes me different as a photographer is in the details. I am infatuated with the details whenever I am doing product photography. The details tell the story for you. When it comes to writing I just enjoy the expression of it. There are times when I may not verbally communicate the best. But if you give me a pen or a pencil and something to write on I can make it plain and simple. I truly enjoy writing poetry and blog posts reviewing products. I would have to say the flow in which my words come off of the page is what differentiates me here. I am most excited about growth and learning. I learn something new weekly when it comes to these gifts that I was blessed with. I am still growing in my creativity. I am still in the beginning stages. I am still a root underground. I fill myself breaking through soon, speaking relatively. This root stage is very difficult. You have to determine what you take in and what you allow to flow. A very fragile and vulnerable point in the journey. The biggest challenge that I have come across is the fear, the self doubt, the persecution, and the insecurities. Listen, You are dope as funk. Haha for lack of being explicit. You are the dopest being ever created. Receive that and believe that. Overcome yourself. Pride, ego, selfishness, fear, doubt, inhibitions, insecurities, laziness, etc. Once you overcome yourself the journey will be much better. But still there is outside noise. There will always be outside noise. From those that you love and those that love you. Especially those that love you. And of course strangers that only know what you show. Once you are aligned with your gifts, and serving the purpose, none of that noise will matter. It can be uncomfortable, but do not fold. You are dope. I am nowhere near where I desire to be professionally, but I chip away at it daily. I can have a thought and something as simple as jotting it down to revisit and grow it later is chipping away at it. I can have an “off” day and a jolt of energy finds me and I create. This creation could be your masterpiece, or the worlds. But creating it is chipping away at it. Even if it is a “dud”, you learn from it. What I want the world to know about the creative house that is HigherLXNG is that it was formed from humble beginnings. It was created to be a place of higher learning, laughing, loving, living, and listening. X is the placeholder. I want the world to know that it was created by a mortal man, an imperfect man, that works to align himself with his gifts daily. HigherLXNG is here to serve, motivate, and inspire.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dallas has a lot of culture to offer. Im envisioning this as if the pandemic was over so we could be mask free! Haha. The number one hang out for me would absolutely be Sneaker Politics. That would be #1 at the top of the list. The community and family vibe just hits different. Halycon is the cafe I frequent the most. The energy is always buzzing. You may see the founder of By Way of Dallas in there on any given day. You may have a very in depth and intellectual conversation with him as well. No promises though. Now there is a Black owned coffee shop that I have yet to visit by the name of Soirée Coffee Bar. I plan to be a regular there once everything is a little bit safer outside. As far as food there are so many options. So many options. Shells and Tails 2 Geaux, Thibodeauxs, OOOWWWEEE Wangz N Catfish, Zalat, Grimaldis, Cane Rosso, The Biscuit Bar, Reata, Del Frisco, Dog Haus, Akita Hibachi, and Whataburger. Yes, I said Whataburger. To name few. Since the bar/lounge isn’t open at Sneaker Politics yet we would hit up a barrage of places in Oak Cliff and maybe Deep Ellum. And hit up Casa De Montecristo. I’m still learning the city, but that would cover a week. Oh, and if it were during the time of the show we would stop by the DFW Vintage Swap Meet as well. Centre too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It is my favorite piece of literature of all time. It takes you on the journey of one of the most prominent Black figures ever. It humanizes him. It allows you to see that whatever background you come from, whatever your starting point is, you absolutely can overcome. You can change your world and spark the change in the lives of others. That text is truly a necessary read in my opinion. It picks me up when I am low. It cools me off when I am too high. I attempt to re read it often.

Website: higherlxng.com

Instagram: higherlxng

Twitter: higherlxng

Youtube: Thoughts For The Sole

Other: ClubHouse: HigherLxng/ Joe LXNG

Image Credits
Sneaker Politics: Kellen, Derek Curry, Jones, Adam. Nike Air Jordan Chinatown Market Higherlxng.com