I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents did some freelance work when I was younger and my aunt and uncle used to have a dark room in their basement. I have lots of memories of sneaking off with my mum’s 35mm Pentax and playing around with all of the filters. I was always that girl that had a camera permanently glued to her hand. I took photography in high school and have taken a few classes here and there since, but I am mostly self taught. I learn best through hands on experience and I am constantly striving to grow. I have so much to learn but I feel like I am heading in the right direction.
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What inspires you?
As far as photography goes, the work that Ansel Adams did with Georgia O’Keeffe and Richard Misrach’s On the Beach series. I’ve discovered so many amazing photographers through the internet who inspire me, CJ and Jennifer Nichols, Jon Almeda and Heather Gilson of One Love Photo, Sarah Lee and Ryan Marshall just to name a few. What else? Hmmm… sun flare, travel, my mum, the music of Bon Iver and Dave Matthews, “You’re so Cool” by Hans Zimmer, thrifting, summer nights, anything that takes place out of doors, babies, old photographs taken with land cameras… the Paskowitz family’s documentary “Surfwise” is the most inspiring thing I’ve ever encountered.
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I’m heading to Maine this summer, what should I do?
Ahhhh….Vacationland. You should definitely do a coastal road trip. Start down near Kennebunk and end your trip in Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. Make a stop in Portland and check out the Old Port for some shopping and outdoor music and art. A little further up the coast stop in Boothbay Harbor for some deep sea fishing, sailing and lobster. Summertime in Maine is what we live for here.
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What’s in your camera bag?
I’m always so curious as to what is in other photographer’s bags. I shoot with a Nikon D90. It’s perfect for my capabilities and has been great to grow with. I’d eventually love to upgrade. As far as lenses, I use the Nikon 18-105 f/3.5-5.6, Nikon 50mm f/1.4, Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6, Nikon 60mm f/2.8 micro and the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 wide angle. My exterior flash is the Nikon Speedlight SB-600.
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Can I use your photos?
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; Originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery- celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: ‘It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to’.” (Jim Jarmusch)
The best thing about being a photographer is having the ability to provoke emotion and spark inspiration. If you find that my photos do that for you, then yes, take them and share, I just ask that you credit it back to me.
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Do you sell prints?
I have sold prints in the past for a couple different foundations but as of this moment, no. I hope to get to that in the near future. If there is a photo you’re interested in then by all means, contact me and we can work something out.
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I read that you went to college for Interior Design, where did you go and do you do Interior Design?
I did. I went to Brooks College in Long Beach California. Brooks has since been shut down. I was only there for a couple of months but loved every second of it. Interior design has always been an interest of mine and I absolutely loved my drafting class. I don’t do any Interior Design now, just decorate and redecorate any room I can get my hands on. I would love to buy a bungalow someday and completely gut it out and redo the interior…that’s on my “bucket list”.