The Shape of Memories: How your Emotion can Become an Image
‘My art is one of the ways I notice and express my feelings, and I want to invite others to do the same as they view it.‘
– What is the most exciting project you’ve worked on so far?
I had the opportunity to shoot the Global Impact Awards presented by the United Nations at the Walt Disney Estate in Beverly Hills and it was such an enriching experience. There were dignitaries from many countries in attendance, like the Queen of Spain. Before this event I’d primarily worked on my own, it was an honour to work along side other photographers and artists.
– Would you say some experience has led you to wanting to freeze moments forever in photos?
Definitely, when I was a kid my parents always had a camera and camcorder out capturing different moments in our lives. They were doing it primarily out of the love of being able to have those tangible memories of their children, friends, family, and even themselves. Seeing that influenced me as I got older; I loved taking pictures of my friends with my crappy little camera phone ––a high school graduation present bought my first DSLR. I primarily used it while on vacation to capture places and the people I was with and slowly fell in love with portraits. I love looking back on those moments, that’s my favourite thing about photography––getting to keep and carry literal snapshots of your life with you.
– Do you believe that the photographer controls how a certain memory is remembered by the way they take the shot?
Oh, for sure. People’s memories are all over the place and the magic of photography is that it freezes a moment in time––it can drop you right back into what was going on in that moment..
– Describe your photography in your own words.
My photography is a mix of documentary and editorial. I love capturing people authentically. While I’m shooting portraits, my focus is on keeping my subject authentic to who they are. I do love an editorial shoot, but I find shooting in studio to not be as exciting as on location. So working with someone in a setting with an exciting background that tells a story of its own is something I strive for in a portrait session. When shooting street, I love documentary shooting. While living in a city like Los Angeles it is so hectic at times and also has pockets of tranquillity. So capturing all of its corners in a way that transports the viewer is very important to me.
– What was it that made you focus more on people than landscapes or animals or any other form of photography out there?
I love people. I find everyone to be so interesting. I know this is cliche but everyone has a story and in my experience, most people find their story to be boring because they are so familiar with it, but most people have a story to tell and I love hearing them. I also have a degree in child development and was a teacher in a past life. I loved working with students and families and learning about their dynamics and how to best work with them. My love of people and art is why I choose to shoot portraits.
– How do you blend your creative mind to work with the reality of what you see through the lens?
I try to focus on what is real in a photo. What my camera can do is amazing, but I try to focus on making the photo look as real as possible. While shooting on location I try my best to shoot in a way that makes the viewer feel like they were there with me during the shoot. I use my creativity to show the viewer what I see and I hope that translates.
– Do you believe in the concept of the perfect shot or does that seem like some sort of fairytale?
I personally do, but I also believe the perfect shot is in the eye of the beholder. I think there are many perfect shots. Shots that perfectly capture exactly what the photographer was attempting to get. I’m primarily thinking of wildlife photography when it comes to the perfect shot. I love a well-timed photo of an eagle snatching up a fish from a body of water or an ape mid-swing. When it comes to portraits and landscapes my perfect idea of a shot may not resonate with someone else, and I love that about art.
– What inspires your work and what do you think carries it?
I think my personal history with photography and my interest in memory, the mind, and eliciting emotions. I feel like photography is in my blood. My grandfather was a photographer in the Canadian Army during World War II, and the images he captured are with me forever. My parents always had a camera and emphasised the importance of holding onto memories. And as a college student, I studied child development because I wanted to teach of course, but I found it important to understand who I was going to teach. In my schooling, I learnt how memory is so subjective and my interests in the human mind and photography clicked in that moment. If I can capture moments in time in a tangible medium, I can hold on to memories and bring people back to that feeling whenever they view a specific photo.
– Last but not least, if your creativity could only come from either your heart or your brain, where would you choose and why?
I think it would come from my heart. When I lead with my brain, I tend to overthink and that seems to make me feel stuck at times. Of course ,I love to have a plan for a shoot and think about looks, poses, and settings but ultimately I go based on my heart. I get inspired by others based on how I feel about their shoots. My first thought is not “Wow, I wonder what camera they’re using.” or “How did they light this?” It’s always “I love this” then, I think about how the shot came together. When I’m shooting, I’m always thinking about what feels right, then thinking about how to get the shot I want. So I always lead with my heart, but the brain is not far behind.
ManicWorld Magazine 