Tell us a bit about you and your medium. What do you love about photography?
For as long as I can remember, I have always taken an interest into the art of Photography.
Being exposed to some of the more influential artists and seeing some of their works in various galleries, it sparked something within me. I am always looking for the story behind the picture.
Rather than simply focusing on the image itself, I would always look for the emotion, the contrasting depths of field, and the juxtaposition. I focus on the subject and the angel is it conveyed in.
I love how a simplistic image can express many emotions and ideas. Much alike to all mediums, it is completely subjective with each interpretation being completely unique. I love that photography will continue to record history and continue to exist and be open for interpretation for many generations to come.
What is your series about?
My series, ‘Friends to Lovers’, focusses on the concept of Intimacy. I wanted to capture the closeness of two people who have had their walls broken down for a moment in time.
Intimacy can mean so many different things for people, but at the end of the day it is the closest anyone can come to another person.
There’s a common phrase people use when talking to a young impressionable person and that’s “Save yourself for LOVE” (or marriage), and although I agree with that in a sense because loving someone is a monumental feeling, it also frightens some people from the possibility of being close to someone without the promise of love in return.
I wanted to engage my audience with the ideology of what one might find when they allow themselves to be intimate and open.
The intimacy of the project really reflects a closeness between not only the subjects, but you and the subjects. Was it fun to shoot with people who you trust and have a close relationship with?
The subjects in my images are two of my closest friends, the girl has been my best friend for about 8 years.
I have seen the relationship between these two grow from being friends to having one of the most open and trusting relationships out of anyone I know.
I knew when I asked them to be a part of this project that it would be a care-free, judgement-free environment and I made sure that I could make them feel as comfortable as possible.
It was a very funny shoot I will admit, for instance the prop book I gave them had a very interesting sex scene on the first page that I wasn’t aware of.
They were amazing muses as they completely understood the vision I had and were so cooperative in helping me make it come to life.
How did this project come to be? What was the inspiration?
This project came to me on a Sunday morning when I was lying in bed with my boyfriend.
It was relaxing, there was a nice light coming through the window and we were listening to some music and just talking, it was such a beautiful atmosphere and I wanted someone to be there to capture it for me. This was my inspiration for this series.
I’ve gained inspiration from artists such as Tono Stano and Coke Wisdom O’Neal. O’Neal’s series “The Box idea” incorporated his models being placed into small glass cubes or placed in large wooden boxes. In one of the images, two bodies are sort of meshed together, so that you can’t tell whose is whose. I admire the way he explores non-traditional forms of portraiture.
I used this method and attempted to somehow incorporate it into my own work, by having skin on skin, and a neutral environment.
How has your practice changed over time?
I have definitely matured in my approach to photography. I have always taken risks with my work and in result, have pushed some boundaries. However, I used to be quite a shy photographer and only put myself into situations that were completely staged. I’ve come to find that to take a good picture, you need to be able to put the things that scare you to the back of your mind and allow it to just be the muse and you.
Is there an emotional connection to the work you would like to share?
When I was younger, I went through a big loss of someone very close to me, and internally I always had a fear of opening myself up and letting people in as it could result in losing that person. This series was really special to me, as it allowed me to reflect upon my journey in the way of letting myself feel and give love simultaneously.
What is next for you?
At this stage, all I really want to do is take my camera with me and see where it goes. Creating new content and seeing it develop has always been my favourite part of being a photographer.
I’m going to be studying Design (photo media) next year and I’m looking forward to seeing where my projects and assignments take me.