twtgeinterviews - Tumblr blog

[twtgeinterviews]

FRANCISCA PEGEO

from Rabarbaro #1, August 2013

Francisca Pageo is a complete artist, specialized in visual art, but her true passion, what it represent her, are collages. Simplicity and colors made by an interection of humans and animals in a magic dream space. As she said in her personal site “Pageo not only ful lls her constant duty of constructing her subjectivity, but does it in such a fragile and tricky eld as collage..”.

Hi Francisca, please introduce yourself.

I’m an artist from Murcia (Spain), and I use to work with collage & photography at general. I’m also co-editor in the cinema magazine Detour & member from Mujeres con Pajarita, a feminist collective.

What is a collage?

Collage to me is an artistic expresion wich I use because it’s really complete. You can mixing a lot of different elements wich must have a proportion for to get a real visual impact. I love to cut and paste because it’s like a therapy for my mind.

What is Photography?

Photography is an intuition, an impact, a view. It’s to push the bottom and to capture a moment.

How did you get into photography?

I started to work like photographer assistant 9 years ago later I  finished a curse of Printing on graphic arts.

And in art in general?

Art have been always with me. I grew in the video store of my parents and I’ve read books since I was really child, so I’ve been educated in a really cultural way. Anyway, it was in the high-school where I took art classes and I saw this world like something in wich I must be.

When you start to make collage?

I started to work with collage 7-8 years ago, when I had 22 years old. I used to write a lot in my diaries and I thought that a visual diary it could be nice to express my daily life. I used to make collages on my journals.

How you choose the photo to work?

I’m very impulsive and the photo choosed it’s taken because I think it’s perfect for the thing to express.

Where you take it?

I use to take the photos from enciclopedies, fascicles and magazines. I use personal photos too.

How an your collage born?

From intuition. I never, never, think about I’m making, it’s totally a surprise when i’m putting the elements on the paper or cardboard.

In the modern time all is digital, and you are full analogic, so what you think about digital technology? It destroying the analogic world or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

I think both are valid. But I really prefer analog collage because it’s more enchanting, more artisan, more pure. Digital technology it’s great for make better the work made, but it’s untangible! Is not this a reason for love analog work much more? 

Which are your instrument for work?

Papers, papers everywhere! Scissors, glue stick, cutter, photographs. Cardboards as basis. 

What kind of camera do you use when you shoot? 

I use to work with a Canon 40D and a 5D Mark II. Analog cameras like a Nikon 70D. I’ve started to work also with my mobile phone, it makes really beautiful pictures in black and white! It’s a Nokia Lumia 610 NFC.

Which are the art represents you the most?

Music, cinema & literature specially. I have a beautiful feeling with them. 

Which message do you prefer to send with your work? and What do you hope people will get out of viewing your work? 

I love express human psychology & how this is focused into the nature. I incite to calm, make peaceful minds. I hope people manage to calm down with them and to think about our conditions.

Who are your favourite photographers? 

Francesca Woodman, Sophie Calle, Cody Cobb, Adam  Fuss, Jindrich Streit, Masao Yamamoto and many more.

And artist?

Beuys, Degas, Schiele, Maya Deren...

You have a love also for cinema, with type of  lm in uence your works?

I have a special predilection for Andrei Tarkovsky  films. They are uncredible and the most amazing cinema i’ve seen.  They are poetry on herself. Also Alexander Sokurov. I also love the nouvelle vague at general, Ingmar Bergman & Victor Érice. And movies like  the night of the hunter or  the wizard of Oz.

What express mostly beauty?

Nature on all her ways!

You have some future projects?

Yes, of course! I’m working in some collaborative cinema projects and thinking about my next things to do. I plan work in some multidisciplinary works.

Where people can  nd you and your works?

People can see my work at my cargo: www.franciscapageo.com 

Flickr: www.flickr.com/misspaq 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/misspaq

WWW.FRANCISCAPAGEO.COM

[twtgeinterviews]

Magda Arques. Today I fell, I am a GIF

from Rabarbaro #1, August 2013

In 1987 was born, from the CompuServe, the 87a, later called GIF (Graphics Interchange Format). After 25 years Magda Arques, an artist and teacher at the Escola d’Art i Superior Design d’Alcoy, in the specialty of computer resources, from Alicante, Spain, makes the GIF art, telling little stories and mixing old school with new school; as she says “My motivation is to design a model creator and host as well as creation itself and tool to generate both digital and physical elements.  e interaction between these two worlds are part of my research and personal search. Having as starting point the graph as a model of communication and interaction between men and machines.”

Hi Magda, please introduce yourself.

I am a person who tries to enjoy everything I do. I have 31 years and currently live in a small town in the middle of the mountain. A few kilometers from the beach of the Mediterranean. I have artistic and a technical background. The combination of these two worlds I love and I am passionate about.

How did you get into graphic?

I’ve always drawn and slowly I saw that in this  eld there was always things to discover and go to work, so personally and professionally. Doing covers and posters, and until I found the animation as a personal project.

How is work as art teacher?

What I like is the ability to work with people directly. Communication, continuous research and the ability to bring the picture to the words, think and be aware of how to create the image and reproduces the feeling you just generated. So working in the  eld of education shows all these aspects that make the image be working a job and also a process of communication at all levels.

What are your advices to your students to be/remain creative and inspired?

I do not like giving advice, but it throught way we do things and we implement the projects that we believe have a curious observation in everything around us. Treat the image as we build a language.

Graphic is made of a lot of other art, typography, photography, drawing etc..which your favorite and why?

As I have no favorite medium ... but I must say that usually works in several disciplines and mescle depends on the work I’ve made some Use or other  elds. Although usually work more with drawing and animation. Although now I love the process to construct facilities or projects Spend the digital to physical space. Drawing has always been and worked as  nal and as part of my work process and is one of the  elds that are always present in all projects.

How you start “to communicate” with gif? and why?

I started with the gif as a means of putting small moving things I spend every day moments that repeat graphics or have repetition. As small feelings of “deja-vu” i continuous intermittent.  The visual narrative, the construction of the plane of the shortness of time and repitition in nite narrative, are part of the language and the actions that I represent with my images.  The direction of the moving image with the message will remain united and indivisible relationship. I think these images only make sense as they are GIFs. 

How born an your Gif? 

One idea, a movement instantly, any time that is recognizable and common interests me the sense of community and familiarity, not intend to be personal actions, that only one person to pass but are actions that create sensations and generate readings thus through reptición dela one can come to question situations. 

Where do you get inspiration? 

At any time, from a story, an action, a walk, a talk, .. any time can be a gif, it fascinates me. 

Which are your instrument for work? 

Working with a graphics tablet and software bitmap image creation.

Who are your favorite illustrator? and artist?

Pffff,... its more di cult but I like the work of Jullien Vallée, Joann Sfar, Antonio Ladrillo and the group nousvous,... and more,... And the artist I like the work of Norman McLaren, James Withney, Zimoun, James Turrell, Raquel Meyers... 

If you must choose between pencil & paper or computer, what you choose? 

I can not use one or the other .. Sorry but I can not choose, I use either the two media, the analog is part of my work process and is part of the end times, is always present. Although the  nal support of my work is usually the digital medium, since this medium makes me feel more in touch with community and the world. Mmm,.. 

What you think about digital technology? It destroying the analogic world or creating nostalgia and bring him back? 

I think there are now two worlds inseparable digital and analog technology, new systems have generated interaction interface between the analog and digital two separate  elds that are beginning to appear live all interrelated and forming one. To the extent that interact at all levels, are both tools or elements that are part of a process of creation.  The feelings generated by the image or the product depend on how you build the message and relate the elements and accommodate new processes and generate sensations. Digital technology is an instrument to create and communicate,... and do anything you want to propose,...

What express mostly simplicity and beauty?

The ability to connect with people.  They build the message receiver in order to not be a single point of view but the message ends constructed from the interpretation of the receiver. An important part of my gifs lies in the personal obsession that contains those elements necessary to address a message,... From my point of view using simplicity, is an important consideration when dealing with the creation of the plan and action.  The elements are based on generating forms through the stroke. One way to build the plasticity and gesture in digital format, not to exceed and get to build a picture perfect and  nished.

You have some future projects?

I am currently developing a project to build a personal relationship between the digital world of my gifs and physical ... is underway and identifying technical and conceptual factors but will ... and let you know. A series of collaborations,... With a fanzine created by John Trouble, which will soon be released in digital format, a project that encourages collaboration and participation online plastic around a theme. And the graphics and prototyping, ... the creation of physical prototypes and mountainsbears, ending birth. While I combine with talks or workshops, “Libre Graphics Meeting” at the Medialab Prado in Madrid, April 10 to 13 April, 2013. Where will develop a workshop on gif “ e loop of sense, ...”

Where people can  nd you and your works?

In my personal space you can  nd my channels of my work, magdaarques.com and personal work for graphics and prototyping mountainsbears.tumblr.com, and my personal artists gifs larural.tumblr.com

Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

Mmmm, now ..... no,  first thank you and lots of encouragement. See you.

WWW.MAGDAARQUES.COM

[twtgeinterviews]

Lucas Ottone

from Rabarbaro #1, August 2013

Humans. Portraits. It’s this combination that makes Lucas Ottone a great photographer, I’ve always thought that the form of photographic portraits are the most difficult, but Lucas seems to do it with impressive ease, every picture is natural and beautiful; portraits made in moments of each day without forcing, without too many poses, “lights trasformed into memories.” All of this made with exceptional actors, beautiful boys and girls, friends and his girlfriend. Hi Lucas, please introduce yourself.

Hello fellows, my name is Lucas Ottone and I’m a 21 year-old guy from Mallorca, Spain. I’m currently living in Barcelona and trying to grow up as a photographer. What is Photography? Photography is transforming light into memories. How did you get into photography? When I was sixteen, my girlfriend gave me a digital camera as a birthday present, so I started portraying her and my friends. As time went by I had collected a wide range of portraits which gave me a little recognition. Where did you get inspiration? I found inspiration basically in my daily life: my girlfriend, the island landscapes, my awesome dog... At first it was just a diary. The feelings in your photos are very important, and you can make them hear from those who look at, which message do you prefer to send? My pictures portray a beautiful past. I’d like people to see them as great moments that will never happen again. Who are your favourite photographers? Larry Clark, Ryan McGinley, Alberto García-Alix, Carlos Nunez and Mario Testino. They all are great portraitists. What kind of camera do you use? Both film and digital. I own a Canon 550D and a Minolta SR-T101. If I had a lot of money I’d always shoot film, but developing is getting really expensive!

Do you think that digital technology is destroying it or creating nostalgia and bring him back? It’s creating nostalgia, but bringing it back in the wrong way (digital vintage filters and other unaesthetic stuff). I also think that digital technology is over saturating the world with images we don’t really need. The clue is to think digital and act analog. What is your opinion on digital manipulation. Do you think it adds to photography or distracts from what photography is really about? When it’s subtle and well done, it can improve a shot: a bit of light, a slight tone...This has always been done in every single field of photography. However, nowadays you can see huge monstrosities being done with Photoshop. At first, they may seem attracting (for instance, when I started I did some HDR pictures), but then you realize it’s artificial, baroque and ugly. When you shot in film do you process your own photos? No, I don’t develop them myself. I should try! What is your favourite photograph you have ever taken and why? It changes as time goes by. Now this is pretty good for me, and it’s been a year  : [photo] How is your relationship with the camera? I’d make love to it if I could. Do you like to stay in front of it? Yes, if it’s a self portrait. I don’t like to model for others. What do you hope people will get out of viewing your photography? A day-to-day gloomy feeling and a mixture of fashion and commonness. The wonderful models in your photos are friends or professional models? Friends and girlfriends. They have an uncommon beauty, different from the one you find in magazines or advertising. I love that. Is it more easy to work with girls or boys? If they are great people, it’s easy to work with both of them, but I’m used to work with girls. What do you think of the criticism to the artistic nude? I really don’t understand how some people are still embarrassed about nude bodies. What express mostly beauty? Girls just woken up with messy hair and drowsy eyes.  There are any standards or preferences when you choosing a model (girls, boys, children) or in the exterior (for example: thinness, hair color, skin)? I normally prefer slim bodies (not too thin!) but I don’t have any preferences in the other aspects. I think it’s about the whole, how each part matches the others and it builds a different body and face for each person. I’d like to portray tones of different people: redheads, tattooed, freckled... In 2011 you start a funny cool music project with Fran Llull, “Bored Guys” talk us about it. Glad you mentioned it! One boring summer afternoon I came up with the idea we should make a music video. Franwould make the beat (he’s a music producer) and I would do the video. We filmed three projects, one of them won a price in a University contest. We still have many other ideas to film, but finding time is getting harder these days. What do you like about making video than photography? It gives you another sensation. More real, closer, wider. Do you have some project in progress? A project called ‘Women’ with painter Juan Oliver. Only women portraits, painted by him and photographed by me. Where people can find you and your works? www.lucasottone.com www.facebook.com/lucasottonephoto www.flickr.com/hugeshow

Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you? I want to recommend a book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera. And to thank you and your blog for this interview. Cheers! www.lucasottone.com

[twtgeinterviews]

A talk with... Carla Cascales Alimbau

from TWTGE the end of the world/a new beginning issue, February 2014

Carla is an art lover. A full art lover. Graphic illiustrator and photographer from Spain, from her works we can see her passion for analog photography and nature. In this interview she tells us about her two projects “Getting lost” and “Roads”, two works full of emotions and feelings. A journey into nature and in ourselves, everything surrounded by soft colors, water, peace and quiet.

Hi Carla, please introduce yourself.

I’m a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer from Barcelona. I’m truly passionate about design, especially handmade projects, textures, art, photography and illustration. I love to travel, to take pictures, to capture simple, true and beautiful moments in life. More and more I realize how important it is to share experiences and learn from the people around me plus most of the time I work by myself as a freelance so in my spare time I like to enjoy it with my friends and family in something related with arts, trips, exhibitions, films, books, hot tea and good vegetarian food.

What is your relationship with nature?

For me Nature is inspiration, harmony.

What is for you an end? And a beginning?

Every night end with what does not make you happy because every morning could be a good new start.

A phrase of your renaissance.

Have less, do more.

What is your Refuge?

My friends and family.

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

Hopefully better than now.

What is Photography?

To capture moments.

How did you get into photography?

One day I decided to try my mother’s old Nikon analog, I just loved it.

And in art in general?

My father has always been passionate about art, at home we had many art books. When I was a child we spent hours looking at the pictures of the paintings and telling me stories about them, I loved the colors and I liked to imagine who were those strange characters. I remember Magritte really struck me and still today is my favorite painter. When I was 12 I joined an art school as an extracurricular activity to learn to paint and draw, since then I have never stopped to have a very direct relationship with arts, It relaxes me and makes me feel good.

Where did you get inspiration?

I find my inspiration in nature. There is nothing more simple and amazing than the natural light, the color of the trees, the changing seasons, the shapes of the water, the texture of the leaves… It’s amazing how in nature all the elements combine to function in harmony, as illustration, typography and colors do it in a good design.

Who are your favorite photographers?

I love very different styles: Sophie Calle, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, William Klein, Dorothea Lange, Chema Madoz or Joan Fontcuberta.

In the modern time all is digital, and you are full analogic, so what you think about digital technology? It destroying the anagogic world or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

I love digital too and I use digital photography for my graphic design work, for me are two different tools, I love the old texture from analog photography and the non immediate process, some kind of imperfection and warmth that bring to the images.

Which are your instruments for work?

I have some digital and analog cameras.

What kind of camera do you use when you shoot?

As digital cameras I have a Canon and a Sony and as an analog an old Nikon and a Polaroid I bought in a street market.

How is your relationship with the camera?

They are more than a tool for me, I have a lot of affection for them. 

Talks us about your two project “Getting Lost” and “Roads”.

Getting Lost represents the feeling we are constantly locked in by our own day to day routine, monotony. We just need to get lost sometimes, to escape to find ourselves, to go back to where we come from, Nature. This project is the result of a beautiful rainy weekend in a little wooden house in the middle of the forest. All the pictures were taken in Fontcoberta (Catalonia, Spain).

Roads is a Photography project carried out mostly from inside a a car, on the way from Praia do Gincho (Cascaes) to Sintra, Portugal. The lights and objects blend into the rain and turn into spots suggesting the way. These pictures represent the metaphor of taking a decision. Sometimes when we decide we feel confused, we have trouble seeing beyond clearly, but despite the difficulties the fog becomes diluted and we gradually manage to reach our destination.

How were they born?

Spontaneously, while traveling.

How did you choose the location?

In both projects did not plan the location, I portrayed the trip I was doing.

Which camera do you use?

An old analog Nikon.

Both project have rain and need of freedom, peace and wilderness, why this choice? Which message do you prefer to send with these works?

I love capturing natural phenomena, landscapes, places where the sky blends with the land, they are a particular place but it could be anywhere, they represent the opposite feelings that we sometimes have.

You’re also a great graphic designer, an art made of a lot of other arts, typography, photography, drawing etc.. Which your favorite and why?

I love arts in general, I work as a graphic designer and what I love the most and what distinguishes my work is that I try to work out of the computer, mixing different arts to always give an special and organic touch to my work.

Do you have some project in progress?

Next month I’m going to Bordeaux I can’t wait to take pictures in the snow.

Where people can find you and your works?

www.carlacascales.com and on www.commeuneimage.es

Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

Do what you love and love what you do.

What would you like to ask our next Interviewee?

How do you get inspired for your projects?

www.carlacascales.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Florian Ruiz, Fukushima invisible pain

from TWTGE the end of the world/a new beginning issue, February 2014

Photography is a magical thing, you can create something powerful with cheap stuff and overcome the fear in order to tell the truth. The human eye and the pain captured by a simple pinhole: this is the work of Florian Ruiz who tells us, in seasons, a terrible year in Fukushima. On 11 March 2011 after the tsunami Tōhoku, Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima suffered heavy damage. Florian took his pinhole and captured the invisible pain of radiation. This project earned him the second prize in the conceptual category for the World Photography 2013.

Hi Florian, please introduce yourself.

After Law and History studies, I am now a teacher. I started teaching in Syria and that allowed me to travel around. At the beginning I intended to have a kind of « humanist » point of view in desperate, stained, and disillusioned social situations, expressing the atmospheres, feelings, and sensations of desolate places. So, I took pictures of the intimacy of prostitutes’rooms in Pakistan, the frustrated hopes in a mining town in Mongolia, the day workers’ vagrancy in a forgotten area of Osaka... I try to capture the in-between, life at the margins, and borderlines of lives and places. I am currently using rudimentary photographic equipment, a pinhole camera, to capture the ghostly of the destroyed interiors of dwellings and the intimacy of people in the aftermath of the tsunami that wrecked havoc in Japan. My ambition now is to test the bounds of photography by challenging its ability to render an image of what is invisible by means of time and distortion. I am currently living and working in Tokyo. My most recent work, « Fukushima, invisible pain » is second in the Conceptual category for (the) World Photography 2013 (competition) and finalist of the International Emerging Artist Award 2013.

What is your relationship with nature?

As a city dweller I’m in love with the urban jungle. After 7 years spent in Japan , I’ve learnt to conceive nature under a new angle. I realise that I’ve been influenced by the Japanese shintoist way of life. This approach results in the respect of the strength and beauty of nature. This relationship with nature also modifies time perception since nothing lasts; everything can be destroyed by a natural phenomenom like an earthquake or a typhoon. We have to cherish fleeting instants. Much to my surprise, from now on, I can be touched by cherry blossom trees. (Why? Don’t leave it hanging here as it seems like an abrupt thought with no explanations.)

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

Like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said « You’re not supposed to expect the future but to make it happen».

Talks us about Fukushima, invisible pain.

Within the natural environment and in the areas surrounding cities across Fukushima prefecture, I have captured the invisible pain of radiation. With an ear to the rhythm of the seasons as in traditional Japanese engravings and inspired by their refined, uncluttered style, I hoped to capture the fleeting moments, the movements of climatic phenomena, and the ever shifting perceptions of nature, where radiation accumulates the most. I used a pinhole camera with long exposure times to create a record of the presence of radioactive danger. A dosimeter measured the level of radiation in milliSieverts (μSv) received during each exposure. Each photo is an accumulation of visual fragments taken in the same location but from different angles, always accompanied by the radiation level to which my film was exposed. The result is a combination of all those elements. A process of staggered super impression creates a vibration, a departure from the reality of the subject that reveals the presence of radiation in the image. The process reinvents and twists the very landscape, leading to a sort of vertigo or malaise linked to the quivering of the invisible. My ambition with this project was to find a balance and organization in a chaotic world, while emphasizing the intransience of beauty.

Why and how did you start this project?

On March 11th, I was in Tokyo. Two days later I was living in the south of Japan to avoid the incoming radioactive cloud as much as possible. Then when I came back, I felt it necessary to go to devastated places and make a photographic subject of the destroyed interiors. It seemed obvious to me that I had to show this chaos through feelings more than objective reality. I remembered then an interview of my favourite jazz musician, John Coltrane, who said about his music: « I don’t know what i’m looking for, …, Something that hasn’t been played before. I don’t know what it is. I know I’ll have that feeling when I get it. » The idea to take pictures about « the invisible pain » was born, show something I had never seen before.

Which message would you want to send?

My aim was to capture a kind of no man’s land in nature. I wanted to show a dehumanized world like a French movie from the 80’s , « Malvil », that made a deep impression on me. The entire western part of France was destroyed by a nuclear apocalypse. I kept this in mind with the cinematographic shot of landscapes emptied of life and enveloped in a cloak of black mist.

What do you hope people will get out of viewing your photography?

I’d like to portray beauty in the perceived chaos. Then also to suggest a link between a contemporary form of photography and a kind of abstract painting such as some of (first name) Turner’s landscapes.

Were not you afraid of radiation? (Did you use some protection or measuring device?)

Of course I am, but a friend of mine working for the French company AREVA who specializes in nuclear matters gave me a dosimeter to know the level of radiation. He gave me some advice like throughly cleaning my hands before eating and to wash my clothes each evening. I also brought most of my food with me.

How was this experience?

I was really intimidated at the beginning since the danger is invisible. My only point of reference was my dosimeter that rang sometimes during the night when the radiation level rose faster. For the amount of time I spent there, the exposure level was reasonable. It was during the spring season that radiation levels were higher because of the rain. Once I was in a school playground in Fukushima city (picture with the cherry blossom tree) speaking with children who learned some French. Suddenly it started raining and the teachers started yelling « Abunai, Abunai... » « danger, danger ... ». They immediately left the place to go inside to avoid the radioactive drops.

Do you encounter trouble with the local authorities? Did they hinder you?

I didn’t have any trouble because I always stayed in the authorised perimeter which was 30 km away from the nuclear power station.

Which are your instruments for work?

For the pictures I used a very cheap plastic camera, a wide pinhole Holga 120 WPC and a dosimeter to measure the radiactivity during the time exposure.

Why did you choose a pinhole?

I use a pinhole to portray the unexpected, the fortuitous, and the deformed as a multiple reality. It allows me to distort the colors and shapes, to capture unreal aesthetic of the devastated interior created by the Japanese tsunami. Such tools allow me also to capture the Fukushima landscape as time unfolds.

Which type of film do you use?

I use medium format (6x12) because I like their density and that allows me to print a variety of sizes.

What you think about digital technology ? It destroying the analogic world or creating nostalgia?

I don’t like the featureless and cold aspect of digital pictures. This technology brings an overabundance of stereotyped pictures.

You have some future projects?

From now on, my work is focused on the way to catch things that usually you can’t see. More and more, I move towards abstract photography. I’ve started a subject about ghost towns in China and about sacred places in Japan that used to be described as « space of invisibly visible forms».

Where people can find you and your works?

www.florianruiz.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Charlotte Thömmes, Lake of Death

from TWTGE the end of the world/a new beginning issue, February 2014

The love that we have for Polaroid is already known by all of you, but with “Lake of Death” Charlotte Thömmes leads it to an higher level. In this interview she explains her story with photography and tells us about the magic of this project. It was born from a personal moment, created during a trip between California and Nevada. Charlotte transforms the lifeless Death Valley in an alien landscape colored by the hand of a painter, making it a brand new place, powerful and own.

Hi Charlotte, please introduce yourself.

My name is Charlotte Thömmes, i`m a fine art photographer. If i’m not traveling, you’ll find me in Berlin, Germany.

What is your relationship with nature?

“Nature! We are surrounded and embraced by her, powerless to leave her and powerless to enter her more deeply. We live within her and are strangers to her. She speaks with us all the time, but does not betray her secrets. We work on her constantly, yet have no power over her. She is the only artist, working-up the most uniform material into utter opposites, arriving without a trace of effort, at perfection. Each of her works has an essence of its own, each of her phenomena a special characterization, and yet her diversity is in unity.” (Goethe) Sometimes I suffer from the feeling of being detached from nature. Living in a city, facing pollution, not knowing, what is in the food you buy, the term “circle of life” can become abstract.

What is wild for you?

The roaring ocean and the dense jungle.

What is for you an end? and a beginning?

It is the same, every end is a beginning leading to an end again. Like a circle. Or a spiral, as a circle sounds like endless rounds with the same mistakes.

A phrase of your renaissance.

Even bad situations can become something good. With time and change of attitude, everything can be a good lesson learned. It is just important to overcome your self-pity.

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

I don’t want to paint the future black, even if there are many trends and tendencies, that frighten me. It is obvious to everyone that we already have a lot of problems when it comes to environmental and social issues. Positively I imagine a future where we all learned to treat each other and our environment peaceful and respectful.

What is Photography?

Depending on how it is used: A snapshot freezing time and space, a memory, a document of reality, an image that lies, a way to capture emotions, an expression more than its literal presentation, a form of art.

In you site you talk about the norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, in which way he has influenced your work?

His work gave me thought-provoking impulses about the environmental side of photography. As a photographer, you or your lab, work with a lot of chemicals. I was at odds with myself, that with every picture, in which i want to honor natural beauty, i leave so much waste behind. These thoughts got me started to do environment friendly projects like chlorophyll prints, unique sun-printed leaves. Now I also develop my films with caffenol, a homemade developer brewed out of coffee and soda, to lessen my impact.

How did you get into photography?

I started after recovering from a serious accident in 2000. I picked up my fathers old camera and build up a small darkroom in my flat. Looking back i would say, that the feeling of fugacity of my own life brought the necessity to capture fleeting moments in time. In 2003 i took it to a serious level and began to study photography.

Where did you get inspiration?

Mostly the little shiftings of light and shadow inspire me. Every object or landscape changes within the right light into something magical and beautiful. Also big sources are, in no particular order, my dreams, nature, poems, music and traveling.

How much affects your travels on your work?

Traveling is a big part of my work. Finding myself in a different cultural and natural environment is a good way to open my senses. And as natural surroundings and landscapes are my main subjects, i shoot my projects mainly while traveling. Back in Berlin, i then edit and print the images.

All your Photos are made in wonderful place, but which is your favorite place to shoot?

Every place has its own beauty and atmosphere. Even places that may look unspectacular on first sight, can become truly magical and beautiful in the right light.

Who are your favourite photographers?

There are plenty of talented people out there, but to name some : I can’t take my eyes of the beautiful and poetic images of Masao Yamamoto and Nicholas Hughes.

What kind of camera do you use?

I work with different kind of cameras, depending on the project. That ranges from small or large format, SX 70, Holga or homemade pinholes.

In your project lake of death you express a concept of xc, endless and lifeless, talk us about it.

The year before my father suddenly died and the attendance of death was all around me. It made me think about the momentariness of life again. We all know, that death is where all our life paths heading to, but most of the time we push those thoughts aside, as they make us feel small and our lives uncontrollable. I wanted to find a metaphor for these feelings and create images, that show a “lifeless” environment, a landscape, apparently denying to humans but on the same revealing the immense beauty that lies within everything.

How did you choose the location?

I went on a road trip through California and Nevada visiting several national parks along the way. The images were taken in Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places on earth. The colors of the land and the stones are breathtaking. And standing in that hostile and unreal landscape made me feel small and humble. The valley is one of the harshest but most beautiful places i’ve ever seen and so the perfect equivalent for what i wanted to express.

Which manipulation techniques did you use?

I took the pictures and let the hot desert wind dry them. At home i peeled the back off and worked on the surface, washing away some parts, while others stayed.

Why you chose to use a Polaroid for this project?

The delicate colors of the polaroid films are just adorable and i wanted to add an additional layer on the images, something unseen by the eye, but felt emotionally. So polaroid seemed to be the adequate material for this project.

What kind of film did you use?

SX 70, slightly expired.

What do you think of Impossible project films?

I haven’t tried them enough to deliver a judgement. But i honor the people for their effort to keep instant photography alive.

We have a perfect question for you by Andy Jenkins that in our last interview wants to know if Is there a particular type of photography or alternative process you’ve yet to explore that you’d like to try and why?

That could become a long list, but one of the next steps is, that i want to learn how to print with photopolymer plates, as it combines two of my interest, photography and printmaking.

I really like what you say in your artist statement on your site, do you think photography is now affordable for everyone and has become almost a game?

Through handy-cam and digital cameras, photography is affordable to a large number of people all around the globe and the amount of digital snapshots is rising everyday, but i don’t think that makes it a game. We are mostly visually coined and in my opinion digital snapshots function as part of our memories. Theses images provide us with a simple possibility to out source pieces of our memory. It can be easier to participate in someones memories by looking at pictures rather than listening to solely words. The loss of these precious documents of time, no matter if it is the only hand-painted wedding picture or your entire data volume, is sad for most people. Only the fatal tendency to snapshot everything with hundreds of pictures instead of enjoying moments with all their essence and all our senses confuses me. Over the years I rather absorb a beautiful sunset instead of taking memorized pictures of it.

Do you have some project in progress?

I tend to work on different projects at the same time. I just finished a new series of chlorophyll prints, which will be printed on vinyl covers next year. And i also work on a long time project about human interventions in natural environment and on some hand-colored lumen prints.

Where people can find you and your works?

You find my pictures, exhibition dates, news etc. on my website: www.charlottethoemmes.de.

What would you like to ask our next Interviewee?

Is there a “dream project”, no matter of place, cost- or time factor, that you wish to realize?

www.charlottethoemmes.de

[twtgeinterviews]

I like plant, I like cook it… 333Bracket

from TWTGE the lomography issue, January 2013

After a delicious meal offered on the home issue, 333bracket returns to delight our palates with a juicy sweet cobbler, plus a small interview to know her a little better. 

Hi Amber, please introduce yourself.

I’m a London based unicorn/photographer, just wandering the universe with a camera glued to my face.

Where did your nickname 333Bracket come from?

Bracket is my favourite pop-punk band which I adopted the nickname from when I was 15 and it just stuck with me ever since! the 333 addition came a bit later when I realised I am half way to hell. Nah just kidding. This number has no mea- ning what so ever.

What is Photography?

Photography is like air to me. Whenever I don’t shoot something it feels like choking a bit.

What are the differences between photo- graphy and lomography for you?

Well, there is no real difference. Photography is pretty much a global term of which lomography falls under. Lomography is just a wave in photo- graphy that started in the early 90’s with the arri- val of the Lomo LC-A camera. It is more experi- mental and the cameras used are mostly plastic made.

You like to use film, do you think that digital technology is destroying it or creating no- stalgia and bringing it back?

There will always be fans sitting on each side of the fence with different opinions, some like to use film more and some are just happily adap- ted to digital. Of course digital photography has taken a big chunk out of the film industry in the last decade, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying it destroyed it. Film is still alive and kicking!

Israeli cuisine, foreign or sophisticated nou- velle cuisine?

Israeli cuisine all the way! So many flavours and colours and mix of many ethnic groups throwing in their ingredients throughout the years to crea- te fantastic dishes has made it a very interesting cuisine.

What’s your favourite dish?

I have many, but the one I find myself eating all the time is aubergines in tahini [you can find the recipe in TWTGE home issue, Ed.]. There is a frequent use of those two ingredients in the Isra- eli cuisine in many variations, and the outcome is always delightful!

What kind of camera do you use for your food photography?

Depend on my mood at the moment… someti- mes one of my film cameras and other times I prefer to shoot digitally with my canon 5DMK2.

Some anticipation, future projects?

I don’t really do “projects”, it takes the fun out of photography for me… I just shoot whatever and whenever I want to. No pressure yo’.

Where people can find you and your works?

You can visit my website and blog on 333bracket.com. My photo-blog on flickr  and subscribe to my Facebook page for daily updates.  www.333bracket.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Lomo Lovers

from TWTGE the lomography issue, January 2013

LomoLovers is a book/magazine or, as its founder says, an “inspiration book” created by two sisters, Nicola and Sam Clark, who talk and share their things about Lomography. Every number is dedicated to a type of camera and it’s full of beautiful photos, great photographers, interviews and cool techniques for every analogic lover! All around the whole idea of inspiration. We had a talk with Nicola who introduces us LomoLovers. 

Hi Nicola, please introduce yourself.

I (Nicola) work as a packaging and branding de- signer in London and I’ve always had a keen eye for photography and design. I got my first (re- cent) analogue camera back in December 2010 for Christmas, a Holga 120CFN, and had the bug ever since. I have developed a love of analogue cameras and my current count is 25 give or take. Over the last couple of years I have been fortu- nate enough to have won about 6 of them so it’s not solely my addiction to buying them (I like to think).

Sam (my sister) took a couple of darkroom tech- nique evening classes about 5 years ago, stran- gely to further her CV for her dream job as a scene of crime officer (not that it’s what is she’s doing now), armed with our dad’s old Canon AE- 1, which is now permanently hers (not fair) she really enjoyed these courses. She then didn’t do too much analogue photography, until she got her first lomography camera for Christmas 2010, a Diana F+. Sam’s next challenge is getting round to setting up our darkroom in our loft. She has had all the equipment for about 5 years and practically everything was given to her for free, bar a couple of small bits she picked up when a Jessops store was shutting down. Our dad has even built us a unit in the loft, so there really is no excuse!

What is your relationship with nature?

It’s hard to explain our relationship with natu- re… but I guess we are quite lucky that we have grown up in a small village an hour out of London that is pretty much countryside and a lot of natu- re so we can sometimes take it for granted.

What is Lomo Lovers?

We are two sisters who have a passion for lo- mography and want to share what’s out there to fellow lomographers. So we created lomo lovers in the effort to create monthly “inspiration books”. Different cameras, film, techniques and maybe some specialist features you name it, we just want to share it.

When and how was Lomo Lovers born?

Strangely lomo lovers came to me just over a year ago when I was trying to get to sleep! It just popped up in my head! I felt that there was so- mething missing in the world of lomography, I wanted to see more peoples’ photography all in one place, how they experi- mented with certain films or cameras and see the diversity of results without having to scour through pages and pa- ges of online information.

You have just turned one, how do you feel? Are you satisfied of your work? How often “Lomo Lovers” comes out?

It’s been great! But it has also taken a lot of our spare time. There’s nothing really in it for us as we do it all for free, but there is no other way (otherwise everyone will want royalties). But we love doing it and getting great, positive feedback from our community! Sadly after completing 12 volumes over the last year we are going to cut it down to 3/4 a year so we can focus on our pho- tography and other projects, but we will still be regularly posting on our blog (so you can still get the photography hit)

How do you select the artist?

For our inspirational lomographer we have been very lucky with the community on flickr and lo- mography, we have met a number of amazing photographers over the last few years that we find inspirational! So we managed to sweet talk some of them to get involved and inspire other people… there is a never ending list of talent out there.

In your book/magazine there are a lot of ama- zing photographer. Do you have some favou- rite photographers, in particular, that parteci- pate in your magazine? 

We have a lot of favourites…. And they would have to mainly be our inspirational lomographers! It’s hard to choose a few names, but a few regu- lars who pull out amazing work would have to be the “Butler brothers” James and Marcus – always wowed by their shots, Married couple Ben and Liana Joyce (who met through flickr), DazB and CaptainBonobo.

Do you will ever make a print version?

It would be fantastic to see it in print, but I think it would cost a fortune to do! (and the rights to the photo’s would be costly too) Maybe one day we’ll print our own personal coffee table collection.

How people can participate in your magazine?

It’s really easy to do! We have a flickr group (lomolovers) that you can join and add to, or you can email us at lomolovers.com with your submission (as long as you tell us what camera & film you used)

Usually in our interviews we ask to photo- graphers that use film if they think that digi- tal technology is destroying film or creating nostalgia and bring him back, what you think about it?

It is really hard, nowadays with the ability to take photo’s on your phone and create “film style” lo- oks and getting instant results, we see the posi- tives in that, but the whole digital photography makes everyone a “photographer” with the ability to just point and shoot. We feel it takes a little more talent to shoot film. I discussed this with so- meone at work the other day, but the thing I like about using film is that you will always have hard copies, if you lose your digital files on the compu- ter or your cd or memory doesn’t work, you lose your precious shots for good!

Which are your favourite Lomo Camera, Film, Toycam, Technique? Why?

I (Nicola) personally love my LC-A, Holga 120 and my Horizon Kompakt, each do something different! I love love love slide film, and my fa- vourites are currently Fuji Velvia 100F and Lo- mography X-Pro Chrome 100. I love the punchy colours and crazy results, and I have an addic- tion to multiple exposures. 

As you ask to your photographers, your favourite picture?

My favourite picture (Nicola) of my own has to be this one I think:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenickie56/6191404498/ A lot of people don’t notice the surfer in the sky straight away, and I managed to get it in one shot, I just hoped for the best that it was going to come out when I got it developed! I was very happy when it did, I couldn’t believe it!

What are the differences between photography and lomography for you?

I feel that lomography is all about experimenting and trying out new films, techniques and cameras. It’s a little more unpredictable, you never know if you have got it in focus, what colour it’s going to come out and it constantly surprises and challenges me.

Plastic is…

Fantastic!

Some anticipation, future projects?

We are hoping to set up another lomo lovers big film swap as we had a great time swapping films with people from all over the world last year!

A last question, your personal Lomo rule?

Always keep a camera in your bag and don’t be afraid to shoot! (I should really follow my own rules) 

www.lomolovers.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Michel Mijonju Jones

from TWTGE the lomography issue, January 2013

“I love cameras, like a fat boy loves chocolate cake!” who doesn’t know this jingle? Michel Jones is known by the whole world as Mijonju. Belonging his camera reviews, Michel is a great photographer. His daily shoots bring you in his world, walking on the street, and from his intimate portraits you can feel the emotion of the people in front of Michel. But I think what we love most, is the simple love he has for cameras, especially Lomos and Polaroids.

Hi Michel, please introduce yourself.

I am a photographer based in Tokyo Japan, Love lighting too. I’m also have Objectophilia for Cameras.

What is your relationship with nature?

I love the beach, a place I love to hang out. Sometimes I go to Chiba or Kamakura, just listening to the ocean singing and letting the sun cook me, makes me feel spiritually recharged. (humanoid solar panel?). My gene is kinda special, I just turn really dark when I’m under the sun, no peeling or sun burns, don’t know why.

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

I feel like some kinda war might occur, I hope it doesn’t. Another thing, based on what I see on children’s’ TV on a Sunday morning, all I see is that kids nowadays admire and want goodies from things that doesn’t really exist in real life, no real education value too, but i gotta give credit for Creativity. in my point of view, the future looks fked. Humans survive. It’s a curve, something good will spawn from it after the downfall, it has always been like this.

What is wild for you?

Get drunk in a clown costume, have a chance to shoot couples in the park having sex and are fully nude. like Kohei Yoshiyuki. (he didn’t get drunk in a clown costume) but if it was me, I’d do it that way, and yes as you imagined, with a rainbow afro wig too.

What is Photography?

It means something different to everyone. I have a bad memory, any photo that reminds me of sweet moments and nostalgic scenes. Also Beautiful people age, like I said it’s for memories, I love photographing beautiful people. I’m glad I help them retain their beauty eternally in a visual way. So to me Photography is like a beautifully made version of a slice of memory.

What are the differences between photography and lomography for you?

Lomography is about groups and a bunch of people hanging out, meeting new people. experimenting with limitations. Photography is similar but only to a more personal extend, using your own sweet time.

How did you get into lomography?

It’s true, if you have and SLR or other camera, when you try to cross process, it will look lomish but not exactly lomo, the Flagship camera LOMO LC-A series is truly the 1 and only camera that has a unique touch in the cross processing vignette lomo look, “Always use the right tool for the job” That’s why I got the LC-A+.

Where do you get inspiration?

I don’t really know, I usually walk around in book stores, I guess by skimming though books I pick things up randomly?

What kind of camera do you use when you shoot?

When I work I use a digital SLR Camera (www.mijonju.com), but when it’s for leisure, I shoot with my Hexar RF with 28mm f2 Hexanon or Polaroid 690. (currently using frequently). 

You like to use film, do you think that digital technology is destroying it or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

It’s not the Knife that hurts people, but the User who use the Knife, if consumers are not that crazy, Companies won’t be that crazy too. Analog is a romance (I’m actually writing a book about this topic will be out soon) I’m just going to be brief. Taking your time, developing that black and white while listening to nice music and a coffee on the table, is more relaxing then deleting 300 photos you took, and picking only 10. Its abuse. Limitation improve our skills, you won’t find the Sashimi in a buffet exquisite. But if you only get to have 4 slices, you will understand the Value of the craft itself. Thus taste better. It’s not Digital Technology that’s destroying the romance of analog, but the people.

Do you have some favorite film?

Yes, I am sad to say they are not in production, I still have about 43 rolls but it’s decreasing by day Kodak 400UC and 5 rolls of Agfa UC, For black and white it’s T-max 400 because I got used to the developing time..

Who are your favorite photographers?

Just too many to count, But here is my current best 3: Dan Winters, Ninagawa Mika, Terry Richardson.

Which are your favourite Lomo/ ToyCamera? Why?

Lomo LC-Wide, why? try it and you’ll know why.

Your personal Lomo rule..

Please do think before you shoot, don’t think just shoot is kinda like a Joke that people didn’t get. And YES after you get them developed please look them and Revise the mistakes. Remember the last rule? “Don’t worry about any rules.”

Michel you are a really camera lover and you love to share this love with your blog “circle rectangle” and the cult youtube page “The Mijonju show!” when start this love, and when you start to share that with the world?

I think I started in 2009, more people start to become interested in analog, So I try to feed them with more information.

How and when “the Mijonju show” born?

A couple of guys asked me a few questions on Circlerectangle and I was just too lazy to reply with text, so I made a video and sent them the link, after weeks, more people came back with questions, so I made more videos, and thus the Cycle begins.

Now a question that a lot of people want to know, how much camera do you have in your collection?

Actually my collection dropped after the earthquake, because I know I like the camera, I cannot let them get hurt, so I spread (sold) them around the world really cheap, not to make a profit, but to give them a safer home. Recently sold my m5 to a Singaporean for a ridiculously cheap price. currently 57 cameras.

In your personal site, I like your Portfolio subdivided in days, why this choice? The people in the photo are people that you see in this days?

Great question! Monday as a very strict day, it’s a start of the week, everything has to be right and standard there for I put those photos on a Monday department. Tuesday is like, you know there is still 3 days ahead before a little break, I put more shadowy and Gradient type photos. Wednesday is in the Middle of a working 5 days, a nice Balance, of 2 sides thus, BLACK AND WHITE, Monochromic. Thursday is a little more relaxing, you feel like you are about to fall onto a safety net, you know it’s coming but not quite. Friday, you shoot in a more casual way, almost impromptu, just feeling and adapting.

You have some future projects?

Coming soon with a book and a Gallery.

Where people can find you and your works?

http://www.mijonju.com for camera porn Circlerectangle.com youtube.com/mijonju

So you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

Yes, People usually ask me if I am rich, and always asking me How I can afford the cameras. the answer is NO, I am not rich, so PLEASE if you have a photography Commission Job OFFER Please E-Mail me at mijonju@gmail.com (Japan based only) if you want me to fly around the world please include transportation fees. So How do I afford all those cameras? WORK people who work hard everyday won’t ask questions like “oh how can you afford those cameras?” because they know how it feels to work hard, earn cash and give themselves a little present once in awhile, after many while you get a big pile of cameras.

www.mijonju.com

[twtgeinterviews]

A talk with… Andy Jenkins

from TWTGE the lomography issue, January 2013

Andy Jenkins is a young photographer from Ohio, US. In his works there are the basis of photography and nature, light shadow and details. With these simple three things he creates amazing images in the wonderful background of Ohio’s nature, the most special thing is that he does everything with plastic cameras! His film career starts with a Holga, passing by other lomo cameras, polaroid and reflex. Andy’s B&W are a source for emotions, the contrasts and the light fill the atmosphere, marked by the change of seasons.

Hi Andy, please introduce yourself.

Hello, I’m Andy Jenkins…a 34 year old untrained photography junkie living in Ohio with my very patient wife and mensa membership holding dog.

What is your relationship with nature?

Nature is a release.  Working in a very hectic, in your face, schedule and being around all types of people on a daily basis, it’s nice to get away from all of that.  Living in Ohio provides plenty of opportunity to explore the Great Lakes to the north, the beginnings of the Appalachians to the southeast and many of the metro parks central Ohio has to offer.  Each season changes the landscape of everything resulting in opportunities to explore and take it all in. I think many take their surroundings for granted.  If there is blue sky and sun I’m going to try to take advantage of it.

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

I don’t think it will have deviated too far from where we are now.  Obviously, I think people will be more technologically ‘connected’.  As to whether that results in more emotional or physical connection is yet to be determined.  There will always be that minority of people who strive for keeping things hands on.  Not so much reminiscing on the past, but keeping things more tactile and tangible.

What is wild for you?     

Wild is defined by the individual.  I think the definition varies from person to person.  What is unbridled disregard for authority for one person may just be an average day for another. 

All your Photos are made in wonderful place, but which is your favorite place to shoot? 

Right out my back door.  I’ve gone through many a roll of film within 100 feet of my house.  It’s like my laboratory.  I like to test or manipulate films.  I’ll test new cameras or lenses.  I try to take what is familiar and appropriate it to my own basis.

What is Photography?         

Walker Evans said it best, “It is the capture and projection of the delights of seeing.”

What is Lomography?          

Lomography, for me, was an entrance into photography.  Having no formal training it was nice to grab my Holga and go.  My photo taking snowballed from that first roll of black & white.

How did you get into photography?

Art has always been a part of my life.  My Dad taught for 30 years and it was always there.  I did a lot of drawing and painting and was considering medical illustration at a younger age.  As I got older, I didn’t have the time I once had to devote to my drawing.  Through word of mouth, one of my friends was talking about buying his daughter a Holga.  I was oblivious to its history having shot with digital point and shoots my whole life.  I began looking into the photos taken by Nancy Rexroth and Michael Ackerman and the aesthetic they conveyed was something that really interested me.  I picked one up and have been shooting with it since.

Where do you get inspiration?

It varies.  It may be changes in the environment, interactions with people, a new film or something small and often overlooked, what others would deem insignificant.

What kind of camera do you use? 

I use a lot of different film cameras from 110 film up to 4×5.  Most of the time my Holga, Polaroid Land cameras, SX-70s and Graflex Crown Graphic are somewhere in the vicinity.

Which are your favourite Lomo/ ToyCamera?  Why?

My original Holga is my favorite toy camera.  It was what got me into film photography.  I have several other Holgas and Diana clones, each of which have their own endearing flaws.   

An your personal Lomo rule…

Don’t think…..at least not too much.

You are also a Polaroid lover, how do you have taken  the end of Polaroid Instant Film production?

I have a healthy stash of pack film and integral Time Zero that will keep me going for a while.  I would say I approached the end of its production similar to the way a mentally unstable person may stock a fallout shelter prepping for an impending fanciful apocalyptic world.

What do you think of Impossible project films?

The Impossible Project films are great and they’ve got 100% of my support.  They’ve come a long way in a short period of time.  Their new color protection formula films are really nice.  Not sure if I’m in the minority, but I really enjoyed the unstable temperamental earlier films.  I liked the struggle the color shade push provided.  I have my fingers crossed that they decide to release something similar to Fade to Black or Artistic TZ in the future.

You use film, do you think that digital technology is destroying it or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

I like to think that digital photography can act as a gateway drug into film photography.  I don’t think digital is destroying film by any means.  I would hope that as the number of people entering photography via their iphone, instagram or digital point and shoots increases, the numbers being exposed to film will increase as well.

Who are your favourite photographers?

Walker Evans, William Eggleston, and Ansel Adams will always be the photographers that, even at a young age, influenced me whether I realized it or not.  People who inspire me on a daily basis with their consistently amazing work include S.F. Said, Bastian Kalous, Ben Parks, and Adam Goldberg.  Go check out their work and then keep checking.

In your flickr page there are also many photos of concerts, do you prefer this type of photography or nature photography?

I prefer nature photography hands down.  I used to shoot a lot of the concerts I went to but found myself looking through the digital back of a camera way too much.

Ben Giles in our last interview wants to know where do you see yourself when you die, where do you think you’ll be, who do you think you’ll be with and will you be happy with what you have experienced/lived/achieved?

Why couldn’t I get the favorite gummy bear question?  Well, I’m happy so far with what I’ve accomplished so I hope I can just build on that.

You have some  future projects?

I don’t have a lot planned currently.  I just transitioned to a new job and have been trying to continue shooting as much as I can.  In the coming year I would like to get into 8×10 with the introduction of the Impossible Project’s PQ silver shade and look forward to New55’s film.

Where people can find you and your works?

You can find most of my stuff at my Flickr account at or Tumblr.  Random goings on can be found at http://instagram.com/jenk22

What would you like to ask our next Interviewee?

Is there a particular type of photography or alternative process you’ve yet to explore that you’d like to try and why?

www.flickr.com/ercodeblue

[twtgeinterviews]

Holga My Dear/Pretty In Mad

from TWTGE the lomography issue, January 2013

One from Rome, recently transplanted in Berlin, the other one from the beautiful Veneto. It’s thanks to people like them if films and analog photography continues to exist. Holga my dear and Pretty in Mad are two great young photographers that make photography with their experiments! This great passion, plus the one for cameras and blogging, has made them friends. We’ve decided to make a double interview to let you know them better. 

Hi, please introduce yourself. 

S: Hi, I’m Silvia, I’m 26 years old and I like analog photography a bunch. I’m known as “biondapiccola” on the web, it’s a nickname I’ve always had. E: Hello, my name is Erika, I like to define myself  with a term coined by the good Mijonju: a “Camera Lover“: I love any type of camera as long as it’s analog– I like to collect and use them. I like England, Japan and hairpins. I love to shoot with faulty film and experiment with new effects. I have a blog of analog photography but I haven’t decided if it is good enough to be heavily followed. I’m confused about it and I think I might be for some time. What is your relationship with nature?

S: I like to think it’s good, and I hope that it’s mutual! In all seriousness, I find nature to be a  refuge. I love the city but for me it’s necessary that large green spaces exist where I can go to ground myself from the hustle and bustle. In the summer, I usually go camping and mountain-hiking to put me back in a state of peace with the world. E: My relationship with nature is strange: I don’t like wide-open spaces, I’d prefer to be closed away somewhere forever if I could. Contradictorily, nature is what I love most about photography. I remain enraptured by the shapes in nature, the beauty of its colors, its violence and its sweetness. I have to thank photography for the hours I spend in the nature, it’s the only reason I spend time outside (unless you’re talking about the beach, in that case I could live there, I mean outdoors). What is “Holga my dear”?

S: Holga my dear is my blog where I share my experiences with analogue photography. I deal primarily with Toycameras and Instant Photography in the Italian language.

What is “PRETTY IN MAD”?

E: The right question should be Who is? I’m Pretty In Mad.

When and how was “Holga my dear” born?

S: The blog was born as a personal need, at a first-built. I had been given a Diana Mini as a gift and was completely unfamiliar with photography. So to bring order to the large amount of information that I recognized from the network, I decided to create the blog. I secondly found that sharing my experience with everyone was helpful not only for my growth but also for those who – like me – found the beginning to be difficult and wanted to know more about Lo-Fi  photography.

When and how was “Pretty in Mad” born?

E: Never ask a lady her age.

Why did you choose “Holga my dear” as name of your blog? 

S: There isn’t any serious reason.  I was humming “Martha My Dear” by The Beatles and I thought about my Holga and I made one plus one. 

Why you choose “Pretty in Mad” as name of your blog?

E: I decided to give my blog this name ’cause I like the idea that it was my namesake. It’s a personal blog, first and foremost, so I thought it was good. I had these three words tattooed on my left arm before leaving Manchester, so the meaning is there and it’s very accurate but also very personal—just like the blog!

Silvia, "Holga my dear" has just turned two, how do you feel? Are you satisfied with your work?

S: I’m very satisfied, of course. Firstly, I’m satisfied for this finish line…to maintain consistency for the same interest and an enthusiasm for people who ramble as much as me is a big deal. Plus, I had great success and a follow-up that I never expected, especially in the beginning! 

Which are your favourites and why: Lomo Camera, Film, Toycam, Technique. 

S: It’s a hard choice. I would say: Holga 120 GN with Kodak Tri-X 400, developing and printing contrasted. A classic. E: Lomo camera: Diana F+. It’s the most versatile and equipped of all lomo cameras and primarily a medium format. I have three of them and I love them all!

Film: I’m really into tampered film right now, especially the homemade kind (manipulation through dishwashers, heating and other spoiling methods) and Revolog. If I had to pick my favorite normal film I would say Ferrania Solaris 200.

Toycam: Eminflex WidePic 

Technical Photography: Multiple exposures. There’s no greater satisfaction than studying the first snapshot before you take the second one, and after developing your film you see that it came out just like you wanted!!!

What is Photography?  

S: Damn. That’s a really difficult question. I hope I can get by with this quote: “I really believe there are things which nobody would see unless I photographed them.”  ~ Diane Arbus. E: Photography is an aspect of my life that makes me happy. It fills my days and gives meaning to what I do even when I’m not photographing. What is Lomography?

S: Lomography, for me, is low-fi analog photography. Is it a category?  It can be. Is it Art? I can’t tell. I’m convinced, however, that to be able to really get the best out of it you should have a general knowledge of photography beforehand.   E: Lomography is nothing but a funny game, a verrrry funny game. Plastic is…

S: …a very useful material… (just joking!) When I think of pastic I think simplicity, flexibility, low-fi. E: Plastic is a new B&W disposable point-and-shoot camera by Ilford that surprises you. It reminds us that there are people out there who believe in film and still want to produce it. How is your relationship with the camera?

S: With each and every one of my cameras I have a relationship of love and desire. I had searched, wanted and lusted to use every camera I now own.  E: Symbiotic–almost like the relationship with my cat. An your personal Lomo rule…

S: Grain & contrast. Down with wimpy gray.

E: Toss a roll in the dishwasher and enjoy the result! 

For those who don’t know, what is the SWAP?  

S: A Swap (also known as “double”) is an exchange of the same roll of film between two photographers. The result is a film that has been exposed twice and shows the look of two pairs of eyes creating one very different perception. It’s very interesting in my opionon. 

E: Swap is a process where two people shoot the same roll of film and overlap their shots. How did the idea of doing a swap with Pretty In Mad come about? 

S: We’re both passionate about these things and the timing was perfect. So we said “let’s try it”. The experiment went well and we split the swap in two parts: the first film was shot with a Supersampler and a Olympus XA2 and the second with an Actionsampler and a Lomo LC-A. 

How did the idea of doing a swap with Holga My Dear come about?

E: I have a section on my blog that is titled “SWAP: a double with…” where I publish the swaps I do. I simply asked Silvia if she wanted to do one with me. 

Erika, please tell us about your PIMhole. 

E: PIMhole is a pinhole camera that I built following several tutorials until I created my own model. The tutorial can be found on the blog, or, if you are too lazy to assemble the camera yourself it is available to purchase on my online shop. Once you take some photos with the camera you can send them to be published on PIMholers, a blog exclusively for PIMhole shooters. 

Do you have any future projects?

S: None at this moment! I just hope I can keep doing what I’m doing and improve, of course!  E: Yes, I do! I think preparing a pizza for dinner. Where can people find you and your works?

S: My Photos on Flickr or on the blog. Other content, instead, on the Facebook page.

E: The right question should be “Where we can find Pretty in Mad?”  because you won’t find Erika anywhere online (I deleted my Facebook a while ago). Pretty in Mad is the only place I reside online and I’m more than happy with this choice. My photos are available on the blog, its Facebook page, Flickr and Tumblr!   Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

S: I want to tell the world: Relax.  E: Yes, I would like to say to everyone: shoot one roll of film, only one roll! Take the trouble to develop one single frame and print your photos. Afterwards, go back to your digital camera. Can you do me this favor, please? What would you like to ask Erika?

S: I’d like to ask her: When are we going to pick up something together? What would you like to ask to Silvia?

E: Are we gonna scarf down a ton of currywurst together when I move to Berlin?  

www.holgamydear.wordpress.com

www.prettyinmad.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Yummania

from TWTGE the flower issue, July 2012

Hi Eni, please introduce yourself.

Hello guys, I`m Eni from Albania, I`m a visual artist focused mainly in photography but I like experimenting with many art mediums as well. Occasionally I`m also a food blogger. I love to take pictures of the food I cook, or the atmosphere of the kitchen and other places I eat, drink, have a talk with friends, read etc. I have always enjoyed the long talks with friends, taking part in the kitchen while having a nice meal. I think for that reason kitchen is very important and warm place in the house. I enjoy colorful, cute, cozy kitchens filled with nice stuff. In my opinion, food should also be colorful and eye appealing, not only something satiating. It should firstly fulfill your senses.

When and how was Yummania born?

It was December 2006 , the time I thought to start this blog. I thought about the name and decided to call Yummania getting the `yum`+`mania` words together , that is the mania to create yummy food. I didn`t have much plans in the beginning, I just enjoyed photographing what I cooked and sharing it .But in a short time I got quite a large number of visitors and fans so decided to take it more seriously and post more frequently. Last year I opened a twitter page and facebook page in order for the fans to follow me easier. But my twitter page is also my page where I share all the news on my photographic works and other stuff.

Albanian cuisine, foreign or sophisticated nouvelle cuisine?

Albanian cuisine is a typical Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine. Of course we have things which are very particular to us, but I think in general all the Balkan countries or Mediterranean ones have similar cuisines. We also have our examples of nouvelle cuisine as well. There are many new , talented cooks doing that. What I love most about our cuisine is the fact that most of our products are still bio and you can taste the difference of this , which is amazing. I have noticed this a lot while living far away from my country. The smell and taste of all vegetables, fruits, and all other organic ingredients is so amazing. So it makes sense that in all our tourism commercials you can read about the great food you`ll eat in Albania. As a bonus with a good price.

What’s your favorite dish?

All kinds of Mediterranean food. Except meat, I`m not a fan of it. I`m not a vegetarian but could live happily without it. I love olive oil dearly. It`s a very important accessory in my cooking rituals. Cheese and yoghurt are stuff I can`t live without. I like beans and all of the legume family. Fruits are also a must to me. I can spend lots of days just combining tomatoes+cheese+dark bread+oregano+olive oil. Watermelon+feta cheese, oatmeal+ yoghurt+ olive oil +cucumber.

Cooking, Photographing, eating..which moment do you prefer and why?

All of them in different ways and similar ways. Different because all of them are special, alternative experiences. Similar on the way that I love to try new things, blend and mix them with each other , spice stuff up in order to profit something new and exciting. I like cooking and enjoy doing it for the people I love. I can easily do stuff which I`m not a big fan of just because they do, e.g cake. When it comes to photographing I love taking pictures of beautiful food, served in lovely ways. I also love food styling, I think there`s so much fresh and serene poetry in it! I enjoy eating as well. I have my most favorite items such as dairy products ( yoghurt, cheese, curd, kefir, milk etc), fruits, olive oil, soups, veggies etc. I have some interesting habits like, I can`t eat anything sweet if I`m hungry, it has to be salty or sour. I like to eat sweet things only after I`m full.

What kind of camera do you use for your food photography?

In the beginning I used my point and shoot camera (canon ixus 6.0).it`s very comfortable and you can take nice macro photos with it, from the ones that enhance the food`s yummy side. But since the lens of it it`s broken now I use only my canon 40 d with my 15-85 mm lens or 50 mm 1.4 f lens.

Where people can find you and your works?

Here: on my flickr, behance & blog.

Some anticipation, future projects?

I`d like to use some fruits and veggies in a special project of mine. I have already started two projects i had in mind. The First one is anthoype , an alternative printing technique from 19th century, in which you can use the juice of plants, veggies,fruits as photosensitive emulsion. i`m now trying to print film positives as well as other surfaces , except paper:) this is a work in progress. The second project is hand coloring of photographic prints with plant,fruit, veggie juice readers can see more on the work in progress from my behance. www.yummania.wordpress.com

[twtgeinterviews]

A talk with… Ben Giles

from TWTGE the flower issue, July 2012

Ben Giles is a young artist from Suffolk, England. His works range from photography to sculpture, through music, who is very fond with his band Cassetto. We love him in particular for his collages, that as it may seem simple, it is a very complicated art. Ben has an eye for choose images and for piece they together in a personal way, creando a poetic retrò world, full of colours.

Hi Ben, please introduce yourself.

Hello im Ben Giles, a 19 year old fine art student that lives in Suffolk, England.

What is your relationship with nature?

This is a really different and interesting question to start with, I’m often overwhelmed with it, sometimes it can be just too much, the smells of autumn and spring can be overpowering at times, for both good and bad reasons, nature can press me down, I should probably be saying how beautiful it is, and it is, but it has a different effect on me, I can feel worthless and small and inconsiderate. Pollution and the vastness of exploitation angers me, yet I do nothing to stop It, I’m as bad as anybody else, I’m such an insignificant part of this world when I step outside, it can bring anybody back down to the ground.

20 years from now, how do you think the World will look?

In reality, the Western world probably won’t look much different than today, we will have become more reliant on technology, more desperate to fuel our cars, more desensitized to music, film and television, more teenagers will grow up thinking they will have disorders and illnesses, the rich will become richer and the poor poorer,unless something radical happens everything will be an exaggerated version of how things are now and people will be harder to please, everything will have to be about now. Things will become more connected, as for the rest of the world I can’t think of how things will change, it’s such a large question, and I have neither the intelligence nor insight to submit a condense opinion.

What is wild for you?

When making music and improvising, often a lot of what comes out isn’t great, but sometimes for as small as a few seconds this clarity can be reached and it’s this perfect moment that has happened from nowhere and could go anywhere, or fall about as quickly as it grew, that’s a wild feeling, Sometimes art can be the same, but personally art can never fulfill me as much as music, it’s the biggest influence on what I do and what I feel. Another is the space between two people, that magnetism before two people kiss or embrace after a long time apart, this force is there which you can’t see, it’s a living thing between two living things, it’s the time and space before it happens, I guess it’s the same as the thing with the music, I think I may be rambling.

What is Photography?

Photography can be a lot of things; it can range from expression to advertising, from personal experiences to selling a story.

How did you get into photography?

It’s not necessarily an artistic reason but I was having adventures and exploring a lot with friends and I wanted a way to document it, to reflect on it and laugh back at it, it then sometimes became the point of leaving the house to take pictures rather than the other way round, it grew until I grew out of it again.

And in art in general?

Art is something I’ve been doing since I was little, it didn’t become what it is to me today until a few years ago, this was accompanied with music, these two things become the only things I could emote to and express myself with, I kept creating and now it’s a snowball, it keeps turning and turning, one day it will reach the bottom and collapse but I don’t see that happening for a long time.

When you start to make collage?

I started collage shortly after the video work I was making, it started out as the backdrop to the videos, like a set in a film, to enhance the world I wanted to create, but then it developed into its own form of expression, I started with juxtaposition and it evolved into lots of different styles, it was around 7 months ago that It took off, It was compulsive, I just kept making them and I feel that it’s coming to an end, it was never something I planned or particular wanted to do, it just happened.

How you choose the photo to work?

A lot of the time it will just hit me, I’ll see a particular images and know instantly what I want to do with it, I like older images, from the 50’s – 60’s, I like that nostalgic look, I think it creates better storytelling, I love the compositions and the almost illustrative look they have. Sometimes though ill spend hours searching or finding other images to use with another, it can be frustrating but when it pays off it’s a good feeling.

How are your collages born?

The collages are born the instant I see an image I want to use, I never sit down and plan it, or make rough versions, I make so many, if one turn out shit it goes in the bin or on the floor and I set about making another.

Where do you get inspiration?

I get inspiration from a lot of things, the internet, books, film, television, other artists work, it’s hard to pin point one particular thing, the band storm and stress influence the way I work and how I want to tell a story and how its viewed, film and television often highlight themes or ideas I want to work on and the moods I want to surround them and books the philosophies and contexts.

Usually I make this question about photography but in the modern time all is digital, and you are full analogic, so what you think about digital technology ? It destroying the analogic world or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

I don’t think modern technology is destroying analogue ways of working, it’s certainly allowing analogue images to be shown to a larger audience, and I think people can tell the difference between the two types. Good can be done with both techniques, but it’s all down to opinion, I’m pretty oblivious, I have my way of working and I’ll continue to so, unless one day I decide to do something differently, but I do certainly prefer analogue and film.

What kind of camera do you use when you shoot?

Mostly disposables and cheap novelty cameras as I can’t afford to buy a ‘proper’ one, i have an Olympus 35 sp which is mostly point and shoot, and I’m happy with that.

Flower says…

If this is in regards to the flower collages, It’s about the celebration of life, and the speed and fragility of our existence, we exist and its bright, colorful, then it withers and dies and crumbles into the earth, like us, its personal though, for me it was when I was entering a new time, reaching the surface of water and taking a breath of air, appreciating what’s around me and embracing it.

Ben you are a full artist, make wonderful collage, you paint, draw, make music, take photos too… which are the art represents you the most?

The most personal work I have made is probably the video work, and there is a lot of hidden emotion in there, sealed away, a lot of feelings and memories I can’t express directly through talking about it or painting it. I think I’m mostly known for collage work, but I do more than that and I’m now moving into sculpture, once I’ve explored that, I’ll move into something else. I Don’t think one aspect of art reflects me the most though, it’s all connected and reflects each other.

Which are your instruments for work?

Scissors, Glue, found objects and found photographs.

Who are your favourite photographers?

I have always enjoyed Lukasz Wierzbowski.

And artist?

M.c Escher was a favorite growing up, I think at the moment Nick Van Woerts bust works are what’s impacting me the most, to be honest, I don’t know that many artists and It’s hard to choose a favorite, I just take in a lot of influences and inspirations without really realizing what they are. I’m better at talking about music, if it was a musician I would say Ian Williams or Zach Hill, just what they have contributed to each instrument and each genre of music they have helped define.

You have also an amazing group Cassetto, where you play with Toby Mayes, Oliver Pearson, Tom Hobbs & Isaac Nunn, talk about you. 

Cassetto is a group of five friends taking a wide range of influences and projecting them how they naturally come to us, while retaining a sense of identity in the group, no one is the leader, no one is an extra and we all approach it equally and share honest opinions on how to make it better.

Matthew Tammaro in our last interview wants to know what is your favourite food?

I think at the moment it has to be garlic bread or croissants, I just get cravings for both.

You have some future projects?

Just finishing off a couple of sculptures made out of toy soldiers, and then I will begin on another using toys and medications.

Where people can find you and your works?

I have a Flickr, cargo, Tumblr, Facebook & society 6.

We suggest vividly to jump on your society6, where people can buy your works. Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

There’s nothing I want to say that you didn’t ask me.

What would you like to ask our next Interviewee?

Where do you see yourself when you die, where do you think you’ll be, who do you think you’ll be with and will you be happy with what you have experienced/lived/achieved?

www.cargocollective.com/bengiles

[twtgeinterviews]

Crown

from TWTGE the flower issue, July 2012

The first photo by Mariam Sitchinava that I remind is a pale beautiful girl with a flower vase beneath her, and from that time, I fell in love with her photos and she became a lovely contributor of The World Through Green Eyes. Beauty and flower are a costant of Mariam’s Photography, a real love that express her personal style, as you can also see in her new set, “Jasmine”. Mariam is always an emotion, from every shots she is able to extract the brightness of woman , and “Crown” is the peak of that, thirteen Georgian girls aged 17 to 23 with their self-made flower crown, all shoot with film. This work is a search of a deep beauty that excludes the surface filling it with the elegance and color of nature, as she presents it, a project that expressed her desire of depicting women’s inner color palette alongside with her beautifulness with the help of flora.

Hi Mariam, please introduce yourself.

I’m a film photographer from Tbilisi, Georgia

When and how your project “Crown” born?

About 3 months ago. I love nature and as you know I’m shooting women, I thought about the idea which would combine these two aspects, so I came up with the idea of the project- CROWN.

Do you get ispiration from something or someone in particular?

It’s hard to say, inspirational can be everything.

Every crown reflect the personality of the girls or is it just a play of colors?

Yes, as the descriptions says all of them reflects.

Who makes the crown? Are you able to do that?

No, I’m not able. Every model made their own crown.

Who are the model in this project?

The girls are Tina, Katya, Tamari, Nino, Mariami, Sopa, Keta, Lika, Irina, Sofa, Ninutsi, Anka.

An uncomfortable question now.. What express mostly beauty, nature or your amazing models?

Both of them.

Which camera do you use for this project?

Several…

and which films do you use?

Same here.

Flower says..

I don’t know what its says, but I definitely know that flower gives positive emotions.

People can buy the photos?

Yes, they can. Through my etsy shop. All Photos are limited editions.

Do you have some other project in progress?

Yes. 

Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

No, you know that I don’t like talking about myself…

Where people can find you and your works?

On my personal site  and on facebook.

A last question, what is photography?

Everything for me currently.

www.mariam.ge

[twtgeinterviews]

The Best Food Blog Ever

from TWTGE the fashion issue, April 2012

For this article we thought of a menu, based on the color green. To start off, a green lasagna made of four different layers: pesto, spinach and ricotta, scamorza, and topped with parmesan cheese crust. Then, skewers with lightly fried artichokes and scamorza. For dessert, homemade cookies with pistachio ice cream. Enjoy!

Hi Cecilia, Hello Mattia. Please introduce yourself.

Hi, we live in a blue house in the woods. Five cats and a wild fox wake us up every morning, and Timothy, our brown bear, brings us breakfast in bed, directly from the middle of the forest (we support local food).. Meanwhile, Cecilia studies graphic design in Venice floating on water and Mattia likes to say he is a photographer around Italy – he’s actually studying to become the new Robert Downey Jr.

When and how was The Best Food Blog Ever born?

Last summer, after realizing that since we first met, food was playing such a big role. Even before we met, we wanted to cook together and often talked about it. Our first dish together was something like a stir fried soy spaghetti with veggies, shrimp and lottalove. They looked pretty badass and thought of start sharing our meals. We both like the aesthetic part, so the blog is a reflection of that. 

Italian cuisine, foreign or sophisticated nouvelle cuisine?

Why not all of them? We set ourselves no limit, and like to experiment. There are a few exceptions even if we are young and reckless. For example Cecilia hates extra “garlicky” stuff and eats only meat that doesn’t look like real meat. Mattia recently promised he would stop eating meat that comes from (extremely) cute animals, like horses.  Really,  our only goal is to show what we like, regardless on the genre, from finger food to traditional italian cuisine, we like variety.

What’s your favourite dish? Favourite tea?

We have a weakness, it’s more like an addiction: we love sushi. Our favorite tea is raspberry white tea by Clipper (and their packaging is super cool).

A tipical Italian home question, long or short pasta?

Generally short. But sometimes long is better (if not the only way) for sauces like ragù and pesto.

In some of your posts you make a cooking playlist, how does music help and inspire you in the kitchen?

Listening to music while cooking is fun. Also because we dance while doing it and food tastes better this way! Cooking playlists are a way for us to share our musical tastes as well. 

What kind of camera do you use for your food photography?

All of the photographs on the blog are shot by us, unless where specified, but to us it doesn’t really matter with which camera. When possible we use a digital SLR , like the nikon D700, but we often also shoot 35mm film with an old Praktica. Sometimes even the Iphone camera helps. To be honest we hate technical stuff and just try to be spontaneous with our photography.

Some anticipation, future projects?

We are going to add more information about ourselves on the blog, show our faces a little more, so people can love us more. We look forward to spring so we can start cooking and eating outdoors. Stay tuned for more photos, playlists and yummy stuff.

Where can people find you and your works?

You can find us on our blog and you can get in touch by email at thebestfoodblogever@gmail.com. Let us know if you have any request or simply to say hi, we would love it.

www.thisisthebestfoodblogever.blogspot.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Paper St.

by Anna Hollow from TWTGE the fashion issue, April 2012

Chris Bidwell, 19, lives in Wildomar, California. He plays instruments. Jessee Fish, 18, lives in Chicago, Illinois. She sings. After a chance meeting through mutual friends, Chris and Jessee immediately bonded over similar taste in music. They became email buddies, and in a natural turn of events, started putting together covers of their favorite songs under the name Paper St. At the end 2011, Jessee flew down from Chicago to play alongside Chris in their debut show. It was a small affair, taking place at a small bakery in the small town of Lake Elsinore; but the audience’s love for them was big, and the only noise heard during their set was overwhelming cheering, non-stop clapping, and a collective begging for an encore at the end. 

On February 19th, I joined Chris in his bedroom for a short webcam chat with Jessee over Skype to discuss the band’s influences and ambitions. 

Anna Hollow: How did Paper St. start?

Jessee Fish: We started recording songs from far away, and doing it frequently enough that we could potentially put a name to it. And then we did that. 

Chris Bidwell: I think it was kind of our goal, right towards the beginning of recording songs.

JF: Yeah, we were always kind of like, “I wish we were in a band,” or, “We should start a band.”

CB: Even recording the first song, we wanted to make it a project, and not really just a song. 

AH: Who are some artists that influence you?

JF: Quick! to the Facebook page!

CB: Uh, Fleet Foxes, right off the top of my head. Obviously, Bon Iver, and . . . I don’t know. Bob Dylan! Bob Dylan influences me. What about you? I listed three right there.

JF: Well, um…

CB: Who’s influencing you right now?

JF: I’ve never really thought about this question. It’s just kind of, like . . . I know for me, personally, Bon Iver is a huge influence, sound-wise and, um…

AH: Lyrically? 

JF: Yes. That word. I think we would probably know better if we did more original stuff together.

CB: Yeah. It’s kind of hard to say that when we are covering bands–like, what our influences are. Because they’re essentially the bands that we cover.

JF: But for right now, it’s just, like: Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Bob Dylan. The Civil Wars, maybe?

AH: Do you have any non-musical influences?

JF: Like trees and the sunshine and stuff like that?

AH: Yes, exactly like that.

CB: I get influenced by [being] outside. Specifically, [staying] in cabins really influences me. And that sounds so, “Oh, I live in the mountains!”

JF: Oh, so original, Chris!

CB: No, really. I stayed in a cabin for a few days with my family–

AH: In Wisconsin?

CB: In Idyllwild. Wisconsin’s for girls. And, uh . . . I don’t know. It was really, really easy for me to just open up. Up in the mountains, you can’t hear anything. It’s awesome.

JF: It’s funny, but I have the same experience. When I was living up in my cousin, Heidi’s, house, which is literally in the middle of, like, gorgeous mountains and forests and, like, postcard material; that’s when I wrote the bulk of the songs that I’ve written. And I think most of it’s because I was in that environment.

AH: You record in two different places. How do you put the songs together?

CB: I record some instruments, and then I record my vocals. Sometimes I don’t even record my vocals first. But I record everything and then I send it to Jessee, and then she does her stuff and she records her vocals and then . . . then it’s a song!

JF & AH: [Laughter]

JF: Yeah, what he said. We usually talk about it beforehand and say, “What can we do for this song? Do we want harmonies or do we want to throw in some extra instruments or whatever?” And then if it sounds shitty, we don’t do that. Like that one song. [Laughter]

CB: Are you talking about the Robin Pecknold [cover] with the violin? 

JF: We don’t speak of that cover. [More laughter]

AH: How do you pick which songs you want to record?

CB: That’s interesting. You know what’s funny that I realized? It started off, like, we were both picking songs that we wanted to do, and then I would just kind of . . . a lot of it has to with me, actually, because it’s whenever I’m feeling like recording– 

JF: It’s all Chris. Chris is the band. 

CB: No! I mean, you can’t . . . you have to kind of wait for me to record something.

JF: It’s true. I can’t do anything except for sing and play the damn xylophone.

CB: And hope that I’ll record the song that she wants to record.

JF: Yeah.

CB: Sometimes I don’t.

CB & JF: [Laughter]

CB: But it’s pretty fair. It’s pretty evenly picked. I mean, we both like the same music, so it works out.

JF: It’s the combination of songs that we really like and songs that are even doable. 

CB: Yeah. 

JF: And, obviously, we’re not just choosing some song. We kind of have a certain flavor to the covers we do already, so…

AH: Right now, you only have covers up on your Bandcamp page. Are you going to do an album? Of originals?

CB & JF: [Laughter]

JF: Oh, the age-old question!

CB: That’s–that’s the question . . . I wouldn’t say soon, but I would say yes.

JF: It’s definitely a goal that we have, to write original things and put them out in an album.

CB: I would like to be able to come out with an album that is completely, entirely of our stuff; not covers. But for now, it’s kind of good. Being able to do covers, you kind of just grow a fan base, which I’ve realized, y’know?

JF: Yeah.

CB: Like, I feel if we just wrote some songs, it wouldn’t have got us the kick-start that we have right now.

JF: Yeah, it’s like, people know that they like the bands we cover, so they know that eventually, when we put out original things, that they’re gonna like that too.

CB: If we do a good job covering songs, then they know we’re gonna do a good job writing songs.

JF: I think it’s just a matter of Chris, like, growing a pair and writing some original songs that he wants to show me.

CB: No, you have to send me your songs! “I’ll send it to you tonight.” That’s what you said, like, four years ago!

JF: [Laughter] That’s because I’m busy, not because I don’t want to! I’ve sent you, like, all my songs!

CB: Except for the recent ones. You said there was a list of a bunch of new ones that you just did, and you were like, “I’ll send them to you, just tell me what you think.”

JF: Okay, I’ll send them to you tonight.

CB: Do it.

JF: Wait, you have to send me yours.

CB: I’m workin’ on a bunch of stuff, it’s just gotta…

JF & AH: [Laughter]

CB: Mesh together.  

JF & AH: [More laughter]

JF: Okay, you mesh things.

CB: I’ll mesh things.*

Anna Hollow is 17. She lives 20 minutes away from Chris in an even smaller town in California, called Menifee. She takes pictures, the ones for this article, included.

To see more of Anna’s photographs, you can check out her website or her blog.

You can listen to Paper St.’s music by accessing their Bandcamp page.

www.paperst.bandcamp.com

[twtgeinterviews]

Prague in Low-fi

from TWTGE the fashion issue, April 2012

Holga My Dear is Silvia Ianniciello, an Italian photographer who likes to play with cameras, it’s thanks to people like her that the world of photography grows more and more. After “Polaroid, a brief introduction” and “Impossible Emulsion” that she wrote for our first two numbers of TWTGE, we now know her well, she is a friend and, above all, we know her passion for toycameras, lomos and polaroids. This time Silvia tells us about her beautiful project Prague in Low-Fi through the wildness of plastic lens, and of her first time in the darkroom; hoping that one day she will explain better how it works. PRAGUE IN LOW-FI is a personal journey in the beautiful east City, all done with low-fi cameras and film, precisely, all processed and printed homemade, in the teeth of those saying that for doing beautiful photos we necessitate an expansive equipament! Silvia shows us the real photography, and tells it through this project.

Hi Silvia. Please introduce yourself.

Hello to all the friends of TWTGE, I’m Silvia Ianniciello, I was born in Rieti in 1986 and I currently live at Rome, where I study philosophy at La Sapienza University. I’m keen on analog photography and toycameras;  since more than a year I run a blog that talks about  low-fi photography, Holgamydear.

How  was “PRAGUE IN LOW-FI” born?

The project PILF was born by chance, I would say. In December 2010, me and my boyfriend planned to do a weekend in Prague, during the holydays season.  To avoid bringing home the same souvenir-photos, I decided to put in the case my favorite toycameras cause I knew they would give me a different result, more personal.

Why do you choose Prague as your first (official) project?

I would say that it was not a mediat choice. It just happened to join two of the things I love most of all: photography and travel. At that time my destination was Prague.

Which cameras and films do you use for this project?

I used a Holga 120 GN with a Fuji Neopan 400 and a Ilford FP5+ films; with the Lubitel 166U, instead, I wanted to get the effect of sprocket holes, so I mounted a 35mm Fomapan 400 (Yes, I always carry a roll of insulating tape with me?). Then a LC-A with a colorslide film to crossprocessing, a Fuji Velvia 100 exposed to 200. I choose these cameras just to emphasize the magical atmosphere that reigns in Prague, especially during the holiday season. Before leaving, I was informed about this beautiful city and I wanted to bring home some of that strange magic; moreover, I knew I could trust in the plastic lenses.

Why did you choose B&W?

I chose B&W cause the main idea of the whole project was that I did everything by myself: from the development of films to the print in the darkroom. I practiced the monochrome development for several months, even though I wasn’t very expert (as you can see from some smearing), while I have never done printing. However, a few months ago I found a  Meopta darkroom enlarger with a head for the black and white, so for that the choice has been forced.

and the colorslide film for the LC-A?

The LC-A was also a new purchase and I wanted to try it in colors, with the cross-process technique.  The development of Velvia was home-made with the C41 kit by Tetenal. I chose the color film simply trying to give a little of liveliness to the project.  However I did the prints of the LC-A digitally ‘cause I couldn’t really do that by myself.

For those who don’t know, what’s the cross-process?

The cross-process is a technique that exchange the chemical development of color film. In practice, a positive film that normally develops in E6, would be developed in the bath of the negative film, or rather the C41; and vice versa. This type of technique helps to have hyper-saturated colors and strange tonings, these effects change according to the film used.

Which films do you use for the polaroid?

Yes, I use also a Polaroid. I brought my beautiful SX-70 Sonar Onestep  with Polaroid Artistic TZ. At that time I wasn’t so practical with the Impossible Project’s films, I trusted more to use the TZ. However, the Polaroid I took became greenish!

What do you think of the Impossible Project films?

I think they are a breakthrough! I mean: I realize that this films are difficult to use and they are not cheap; but, I’m totally in love with the output they can give and I’m always inquiring about the best way to use them. [http://www.the-impossible-project.com/ourfilm/] For Italian readers, I suggest you to follow the Polaroiders.itforums, where a lot of where many fans report their experiences using these films in order to share all the right tricks.

What are the fascinating aspects of Prague that your camera wasn’t able to keep in the click? 

Prague fascinated me cause time never seems to pass, as if it is not running. Although there is the famous astronomical clock marking the passing hours,  the city seems freezed. Walking through the alleys of the center, in the Jewish ghetto or in the castle, It is like being in a period not well defined, in which anything can happen or not happen at all. I don’t know if I could account it in my shots.

Is there some moments that you regret for not having take the shot?  

Unfortunately when I visited the castle the Golden Lane was in restructuring , it’s a particularly beautiful place, where the alchemists sought the formula to turn base metals into gold. At number 22 of the street lived a certain Franz Kafka … well, just one of many reasons to return back to Prague. If I’ll have to redo everything, however, I would make some photos differently. One of the positive aspects of this project was, after one year, to see how has changed my way of photographing.

Some funny anecdote during the trip…

Do I really have to tell it? Ok, but I will probably lose in a moment that little credibility I’ve reached till now. Just landed in Prague, I was so excited to go around the city that I forced Alessandro, my boyfriend, to left the suitcases at the hotel and go out. As we walked through the Old Town Square, full of stalls and stand where they serve the famous Prague ham cooked on grill, taken by the enthusiasm I shouted: “Look, a turning pig!!!” and BAM!, I fall to the ground ‘cause the ice on the road. I took a really big crash, but I couldn’t do anything for helping myself but laugh at the ridiculous scene that I made.  Sometimes it happens to me to look so foolish…

Do you visited some photo shops?

Yes, only one and it was really pretty. I was hoping so much to bring home an old analog glory, but I haven’t found it. I must to confess, though, that I haven’t tried so good, I was really into taking photos and enjoy every minute of light!

Now we talk about the homecoming, was it for you the first time in the darkroom?

Yes, it was my very first time in the darkroom. I knew nothing, I had no idea at all what it meant to see the image appear in the paper while it still immersed in the developer. It’s something moving, it is like you moulding your photo from nothing.

What did you use for development and printing?

For the development of B&W I used the R09 OneShot in 1 +50 dilution, for the color I used the C41 kit by Tetenal;  and for the paper, however, I used the Ilford Multigrade.

How did you get that strong vignetting, blur at the edges and sharp contrasts that every new lomographer wants but hardly achieve?

Actually the blur and vignetting are a typical effect of the Holga and toycameras in general. But I think that it was more emphasized by deliberately contrasted development of black and white. Even in print I have chosen to emphasize particularly the contrasts.

After your two articles on TWTGE and this project we  know your love for analogue photography, so I want to ask you a question so frequently in our interviews, do you think that digital technology is destroying analogue or creating nostalgia and bring him back?

I simply think that they are two different worlds and it’s fair that everyone has the opportunity to choose their ways for expression and having fun. I don’t know if there is some nostalgia for the analog, it seems instead that the market is realizing that there are people who prefer the film and others who prefer digital, they simply trying to satisfy both. It’s a like a dress, everyone chooses those ones looks best on you. Personally, I prefer analogue because I enjoy it very much, satisfies my desire to create something, to botch, to change without being in front of the screen of a PC.

Do you have some future project?

I have several ideas that are buzzing in my head, I would to realize them all immediately! But it takes patience, we must be able to wait for the right time.

Where people can find you and your works?

Mainly on my blog and Flickr; furthermore, I’m keen on updating my Facebook page lately

Last question, Do you want to say something that I don’t ask you?

I just want to thanks the person who stands beside me and encourages me in this great adventure. Without him, I couldn’t do anything. 

www.holgamydear.wordpress.com